Since this is the Asian volleyball forum, here’s A bit about Australian volleyball.
Volleyball was not very popular when I first arrived in Australia in the 70’s. Players and teams then mostly comes from European ethnicities that has family background in playing volleyball!
In my time there were ethnic based teams like Vostok from Russia, the Greeks ‘Olympic’, Lebanese Cedars, etc.
My University NSW team was most cosmopolitan!! 2 Czechs, one Ukrainian, one Estonian, one Brazilian and one Malaysian!! 😆. The style of play was mainly European based, high sets to the side positions 4 and 2. My UNSW was the first team to employ the short balls through the middle and dummy combinations to break up the big blockers.
Volleyball is wholly an amateur sport to this very day and the better more athletic Aussies sportspersons are obviously not attracted to this sport.
However, Volleyball’s popularity in Australia has experienced a positive surge, captivating both sports enthusiasts and casual participants.
Australian national teams have achieved remarkable success in international competitions, solidifying the sport’s reputation and inspiring aspiring players. The triumphs of teams such as the Australian Volleyball Team (The Volleyroos) and the Australian Beach Volleyball Team have elevated the profile of volleyball in the country, attracting a growing fan base and further fuelling interest.
The Australian men’s team is currently ranked No. 37 in the world.