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University Blues play volleyball friendship tour in Beijing

19 March 2008

Monash Sport Director Martin Doulton, Blues coach Qi Shen and Deputy Director of Physical Education at Peking University, Jei Li.

University Blues Volleyball, a 15-man squad from Monash University and the University of Melbourne, will return this week from a playing tour of 10 Chinese universities and schools.

The squad trained hard in preparation for the tour, with the experience a good opportunity to get match fit prior to the start of the 2008 Australian Volleyball League season.

The squad got off to a fantastic start, winning their first match against Tsinghua, which is ranked number three in the country.

It was a closely fought affair with the Uni Blues winning 15-10 in the decider. For more match results visit the Monash Sport website.

Monash Sport Director Martin Doulton said the playing group and support staff formed new friendships with Chinese players, teams and universities and had encouraged Chinese university volleyball teams to make similar visits to Australia.

"This is an important step in helping our volleyball athletes to develop and in building relationships between our universities, and the universities and schools we play in China," Mr Doulton said.

University Blues includes both a men's and women's team competing in the Australian Volleyball League, an amateur national volleyball competition.

The squads were formed to provide Victorian volleyball players, in particular club players, with an opportunity to play another level up from state league competition.

The teams include a selection of players from member clubs in our Victorian state league competition.

For further information contact Monash Sport Media Communications Coordinator Steve Pogonowski on +61 400 126 886