Australian captain Aidan Zinger leads the celebration following the victory over Cameroon on Sunday
Wroclaw, Poland, August 31, 2014 – Australia avenged a painful loss suffered four years earlier in Italy by defeating Cameroon in straight sets 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-18) in the nightcap of day one at Centennial Hall in Wroclaw on Sunday night.
In the 2010 FIVB World Championships, the Cameroonians had prevailed against the Aussies in a decisive match during the preliminary round pool-play. Effective spikes and blocks were the key to Australia's first victory in pool A.
• Third victory of Australia in 24 matches at the World Championships
• Australia snapped an 11-game losing streak at the World Championships
• The Aussies finished 19th four years ago in Italy
Edgar Thomas topped Australia with 18 points, including four blocks while Nehemiah Mote added 10 with three blocks. Adam White also tallied 10 points for the winners.
Cameroon’s Jean Patrice Ndaki finished with 12 points, followed by Nathan Wounembaina and Yvan Kody each with 9 points in the loss.
The second match at the Centiennial Hall was fairly level, although Australia quickly managed to gain a three-point lead as they capitalised on Cameroon’s errors. However, the team from Africa showed some spectacular spikes including one from Nathan Wounembaina and they recovered to draw level at 5-5. Afterwards, Sem Dolegombai served an ace and killed brilliantly for Cameroon to lead 8-7 at the first technical time out. There were more perfect serves from Yvan Arthur Kody Bitjaa as the Aussies struggled to stop him twice in succession, but Jon Uriarte’s team did not let the opponents to lead for long. Serves by Luke Smith and Grigory Sukochev’s spikes gave Australians the advantage, as they led 15-13. Cameroon coach Peter Nonnenbroich's time-outs motivated Cameroon, but Australia were out of reach. Following Wounembaina’s poor serve, Australia won the first set 25-22.
A promising second line of the Cameroon team was the reason that Australia could not move ahead at the beginning of the next set. The African team started better than Australia, but their opponents were well focused and for a long time the teams were tied. Cameroon showed some great volleyball, including a fantastic double-block by Mefani Olivier Nongni Zanguim and Ahmed Awal Mbutngam. However it was not enough to stop Australia and they got off the court for technical time out with two-point lead at 8-6. Following the break, Australia gradually increased their lead and they managed to go ahead by six at 18-12. Uriarte’s team was controlling the set right to the end and thanks to the strong spike by Adam White they won 25-15.
Cameroon made up for it in the third set. They showed some great volleyball like an ace by Kody Bitjaa and Dolegombai's brilliant spike which gave them a two-point lead before the first technical time out. The situation changed in the next few points when Cameroon made some simple mistakes. Before the second technical time out, Australia were leading 16-13 and they committed few errors thereafter. The match finished with a spike from Thomas Edgar as the volleyroos won the final set 25-18.