The Chinese men’s volleyball team arrived in Brisbane ahead of its three-match series against Australia
Brisbane, Australia, May 12, 2015 – China arrived in Brisbane on Tuesday to face Australia in a three-match series at the Logan Metro Indoor Sports Centre on May 15 and 16, before heading to Canberra for the third game on May 19.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our Volleyroos to be playing China ahead of the opening round of the (FIVB Volleyball) World League,” Volleyball Australia CEO, Mathieu Meriaux said. “China is also one of the main contenders for the Asian Men’s Championship in Tehran, Iran, in August, so it will be good test to ourselves against them at the start of the season.”
The Chinese team is currently ranked No. 17 in the world and will provide 13th ranked Australia with a strong test ahead of this year’s World League campaign. The two teams have played each other 55 times, with Australia winning 44 of those matches.
China appointed a new coach after its team failed to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games, with the goal of returning to the Olympics in Rio 2016.
The Volleyroos have been promoted to Group 1 of the World League in 2015, after successfully winning Group 2 on their return to the premier annual men’s tournament last year.
They will kick off with their World League campaign against world volleyball powerhouse Italy in Adelaide later this month, while China will head to Mexico for its opening matches in Pool G of Group 3.
The Volleyroos have been training at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and will head to Brisbane on Thursday to play against China in the friendlies.