TEAM COMPOSITION

The Australian Volleyball Federation was founded in 1963, and the sport of Volleyball has rapidly increased in popularity since then, particularly in schools and recreational centers.
 
The team entered the new century with an appearance in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where they placed 8th, beating Spain in the process and taking a set from World Champions, Italy.

Having participated in the Sydney Olympics as the host nation, Australia set out to qualify for Athens, in its own right (for the first time).  At the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo, Australia achieved this goal becoming the Asian Volleyball Confederation’s representative in Athens as the highest ranked Asian team, when it defeated traditional Asian powers Japan, Korea and China for the first time in an International tournament.
 
Australia eventually finished 11th at the Athens Olympics while taking a set off the USA and World and Olympic Champions Brazil
 
A new look Australia competed in its fourth World Championships in 2006, to follow up its appearance in the 1982, 1998, 2002 editions of the tournament.
 
Following on from their first-place finish at the Asia Pacific Cup, the side traveled to India for the 2nd Commonwealth Championships for Men and won their second successive tournament in the space of two months as preparation for the 14th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship in Indonesia.
 
At the 14th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship VTAM created Asian Volleyball history by winning the championship after playing ten games in ten days with only one loss.  With the win Australia qualified to its first Volleyball World Cup in 2007 where they finished eighth.

With a number of retirements at the end of the 2010-11 international club season, a new look VTAM side coached by former national coach of Australia and Argentina, Jon Uriarte, will look to once again represent Asia at the Olympics in London 2012.