Elizabeth Alchin and Georgia Johnson of Australia overcame a nervy finish against Japan’s Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami to claim the bronze medal in the Rebisco Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open on Saturday in the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna with a 21-17, 17-21,15-11 victory.
The Australians recovered from a tough second set that Japan won using several mini-runs, highlighted by Murakami’s pinpoint crosscourt hits.
Alchin and Johnson finished the match at the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts in 47 minutes
Johnson and Alchin, the second-highest rated team in the field, held the upper hand throughout the third set and showed mental resolve even as they called out the match referee for being a little too lenient on lifts and double contacts.
“It’s important in this sport to not let those things affect our process,” Johnson said. “We try not to get frustrated.”
“As long as it’s fair among the teams teams, it is what it is,” Johnson added.
It was a fine finish for the Johnson and Alchin, who dropped their morning semifinal against New Zealand’s Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald, 16-21, 21-23, which prevented an all-Australian women’s title match in the tournament organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, also chief of the AVC.
“We’re very happy with the bronze, very happy that we bounced back after that match against New Zealand,” Alchin said.
“Happy to come back out and play a cool game, three sets, it’s awesome.”
Stefanie Fejes and Jasmine Fleming of Australia advanced to the title match by defeating Shiba and Murakami, 26-24, 24-22, in the semifinals.
