Name: Lauren Bertolacci
DOB: 26/01/1985
Height: 170cm
Weight: 64kg
Position: Setter
Nationality: Australian/ Italian
National Team Games: 53
Years Professional: 5 years
Read my full CV
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Check out my highlight videos and some games clips on the Videos page
Visit the Gallery to see more action pics
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There has been a lot happening lately, and it’s about time for an update. I played the last season with German 1. Bundesliga team, Fighting Kangaroos. We had a disastrous season results wise, with some big long term injuries on the board very early, and with about 7 games left the club announcing the didn’t have the money to continue in first division, regardless of where we finished. For me personally, it was a steep learning curve, and I benefited from playing against some great players and captaining the team. I had a good year and improved a lot, it was a massive shame and a huge disappointment that we didn’t reach our potential as a team, but, it happens.
After a small break I was back into it at AVL. Yet another silver medal, but this time to a strong WA team. Yes, they went 12-0 
. It was good to be back in Aus, and getting some training in, but a nice break from the twice a day load. National Team camp followed, and as usual it was tough. I have been selected for Asian Senior Champs, and we are off next week. It will be another tough competition, and we are looking for some good results. I’m confident that all our work over the last couple of years will come out to show at this competition. I know I am very excited about it, can’t wait to get there. I hope to hear a lot support for us coming from Australia while we are in Vietnam.
It was a stressful time this year looking for a new team. Global financial crisis not helping much, with a lot of teams very reluctant to sign players early. Things came through for me late August and I signed with a team in the Spanish Superliga. CV Cuesta Piedra. This is a fantastic move for me, and I cant wait to get to my new club. Doesn’t hurt that it’s based in Tenerife…Canary Islands. It will be a big step up and we are getting a strong team together. I fly there directly for Asian Seniors and get straight into it.
Here are some pics from last season and AVL, and a highlight video I put together, a small part of what I sent to teams.
We are five games into the season and still with no wins. Not as big a disaster as it sounds, we have played some pretty good teams. This week we are up against Annas team Muenster. They also haven’t won a match, so its pretty desperate times for both sides. Heres a few pics and a bit of commentary on each match so far.
VCO Berlin
They are a Junior Academy Team. They have won a few games already, some massive surprises. Plus we lost an outside to an ACL this game, wasn’t the best season opener for us.
Hamburg
Our first away game. These guys have lost no games so far and are playing pretty good volleyball. We had an up and down game, it ended well, we lost in 3 but started to play some good points at the end. It was the first game our second setter was libero (meniscus) she did a really good job for us, but still had no settled lineup.
Schwerin
Second away game , we had played them in pre season and taken sets off them and this is what we expected to do. We had a pretty frustrating game and couldnt quite finish points and lost 3-0. Although we had played some good teams not winning a set for three games makes it hard! No pics from this one cos it was away.
Koepenick
Our second home game. These guys have actually only lost one game until now, but still a team that if we played a really good game against, we can beat. We did play a really good game, and it got to 15-16 in the fifth, we overpassed, I jumped, blocked the ball and the net ref whistled me for a net touch….AHHH. I definitely was not in the net…and thats a big point to call that on. Frustrating way to end a good game that would have been bonus points for us.
Dresden
Our third away game, they are only 45 mins away from us. Was a Sachsen Derby…they are a very good team, vice champs last yr, winners the yr before, should have probably rolled us 3-0 pretty quick, but we played the best game we have yet in front of 2500 people, and took the third set. The second was oh so close and we had a few set points too, it was good that we didnt die in the third and kept up our game. Was our best game so far and a good one to end it on and prepare for this weeks match against Anna! Wish me luck.
