Canberra, Australia, May 8, 2017 - The Australian players have gathered in Poland over the last week to train before heading to Berlin for two friendlies against Germany and to Sicily for two more matches against Italy. They will begin their campaign in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League on May 24 in the French city of Rouen.
“The Competition is going to be the toughest competition there is. Our team motto is “The next step”. We will be focused on taking a step forward from what we were able to do last season. We are all very excited for this new competition. It is going to be something else and we will be ready,” said Australia head coach Mark Lebedew.
“I’m personally competing in the Polish league. I’m working day to day with the best players in the world, coaching against the best players in the world and matching wits with the best coaches. It’s really important to me that the Australian team has a chance to do the same thing,” he added.
The first stage of the Volleyball Nations League will take place over five weeks before the top five teams join hosts France at the Finals in Lille from July 4 to 8.
“Gruelling is the exact correct way to describe it. It is going to be really tough. We will be playing three games each week and then travelling in between. We start off in France, we go to Bulgaria, Canada, Korea and then Australia,” said Lebedew.
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“Each week is a Monday travel day, Tuesday arrival day. One day getting our sea legs so to speak, one day practice and then play. Every week will be a major challenge.”
The Australian men will hope to be in good shape when they play in front of their fans in Melbourne from June 22 to 24.