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Perfect Finnish: Australia beat hosts 3-1

Australia have made it a clean sweep in the second weekend of volleyball's World League in Finland after beating the hosts 3-1 in front of a record crowd.

The Volleyroos have finished unbeaten in the second weekend of the World League in Finland, wrapping up their clean sweep with a 3-1 win over the host nation in front of a record crowd.

On Saturday night Australia took the first set 25-21 but fell apart in the second, going down 25-14 before rebounding to take the next two.

Captain Paul Carroll again led the way for Australia with 22 points.

"The difference was, when we were down in the second set, and then again in the third and not looking so good, we were able to get a small run, get a bit of confidence, and shift the momentum a little bit," coach Mark Lebedew said.

"They weren't able to serve as strong when the score was close, and we were able to run away with it.

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"We played the last set and a half really well."

The Volleyroos had beaten China and Slovakia 3-0 in the preceding days and Lebedew said his charges are learning quickly.

"Everybody did a great job," he said.

"There's pressure from playing World League, there's pressure from playing for Australia.

"I don't know if there was so much pressure from playing in front of a big crowd, especially after we've played in front of 50 people on the past two days. Whatever the pressures were the guys handled them really well."

The Volleyroos travel to China next week to face the hosts, Turkey and Japan.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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