Posted by The following was originally published in the Australian Volleyball Journal, Volume 1, Issue 4, December 1976. George was at the time the Australian captain. He also wrote about the early days of the Australian volleyball team in the 1970s.
George Mraz is undoubtedly one of the outstanding volleyballers to emerge during Australia’s formative period and has played a vital part in the progress the sport has made in recent years. Born in Germany, George was brought to Australia at the in recent age of two years in the wake of the post war migration programme, at a time when volleyball in this country was little more than an obscure recreational activity. From participating in social volleyball and captaining his high school team he has advanced to the captaincy of the Australian national team in the Asian Championships last year and shares with John Kruk of Victoria the distinction of having played in every international game contested by Australian teams. A specialist setter with a devastating spike as a ‘secret’ weapon, George has on numerous occasions demonstrated his qualities as a player and leader on the court and a great person and dedicated family man outside the volleyball rectangle.
His decision to take up volleyball as a serious sport was made fairly late in his career and he relates how at the age of twenty two he arrived to his first training session with the Wallabies Volleyball Club in Melbourne –
“As I approached the hall, the yells and sounds of the ball hitting the floor stopped me in my tracks. The previous impression I had of volleyball was that of a gentle and quiet game. My fears grew worse when I opened the door – balls flying all over the place, bodies hitting the floor and the new type of hit, called the “dig” was being used. For a terrible moment I felt as though I just didn’t belong! Mr. Joe Hiller remembers that I arrived wearing Collingwood football socks and other garb which made me look very much out of place. With grit and determination I lasted the first training session, only just, returning home with bruised forearms.
I played that year in the Wallabies “B” side, who managed to win the premiership.
The biggest influence on my volleyball career came from Kurt Lüttin who was one of came the stars in the Wallabies No. 1 team. Kurt had recently arrived from Switzerland and accepted the invitation to take up board at our home. We trained almost daily from then on and this intensive training rapidly improved my game. The following year I was promoted into the first team and also represented Victoria in the Good Neighbour Championships in Canberra.
The 1971 Australian Championships were played in Adelaide, Victoria competing with a very young and inexperienced line-up, Ilkka and Nark Veijalainen appearing as veterans. The team performed extremely well and went through the competition undefeated until the final against N.S.W. The match was played in extreme heat and humidity, with Victoria racing to a 2:0 lead only to see N.S.W. draw level. At one stage during the match I nearly collapsed from exhaustion and thought to myself “why am I here and torturing my body and mind” – such reflections lasting only a split second. N.S.W. eventually won the match 3:2 after we held match point in the fifth set. The best thing that happened to me at those Championships was the first meeting with my future wife Helen, who represented N.S.W.
From humble beginnings I went on to represent Victoria in all Australian Championships and as a member of the Australian team toured the South Pacific, China, South-East Asia and New Zealand, Indonesia, Phillipines, Hongkong, French Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Guam and New Caledonia.
There have been many memorable events during my years in volleyball. Selection in the Australian team for the first time in 1971 (Adelaide) and captaincy for the Asian Championships in Melbourne 1975 being some of the highlights. State captaincy of the powerful Victorian team in 1975 came as a most pleasant surprise. The responsibility of captaincy has changed my attitude towards volleyball. It has made me more aware of my fellow players on the court, encouragement and guidance was expected from me, instead of concentrating on my own form and general play. Possibly my game has suffered to some extent with the added responsibility. Further extension of activities cane with my appointment as Wallabies captain-coach for 1976. This year we have already won an invitation tournament in Warrnambool (March) against the Renegades, the Australian Club Championships in Melbourne and this year’s Victorian finals. These major performances have been of tremendous personal satisfaction.
Over the years I have played on various types of surfaces and halls. From concrete courts in New Caledonia and Tahiti to clay courts in Tai Shan (China) and grass paddock in Desdaper, Bali. The facilities have touched both extremes from the 19,000 seat capacity stadium in Peking to Brighton
Volleyball at higher levels has changed in concept over the years. Originally, you only had to train once or twice a week to maintain your place in either club or Victorian teams. Now it is not uncommon tor the majority of top Australian players to train or play up to six times a week. Training sessions themselves have become more rigorous and demanding. The professional approach to volleyball has meant that each top-line game is taken seriously with team as well as personal reputations at stake.”
To add to the recollections George answered a few direct questions, always topical with a top line sportsman.
BEST TEAM PLAYED WITH – The 1971 Victorian team, primarily because it comprised mostly of first year State representatives who moulded into a fighting combination.
BEST TEAM PLAYED AGAINST – The team that had us completely baffled and demoralised was the Japanese Club team that toured Australia in 19731. Their “dummy” combinations and court coverage had to be seen to be believed.
BEST PLAYER PLAYED WITH – Very difficult to answer, in my time not one player stands out but to give a summary of players with special qualities and skills would be better. ‘Ozzie’ Ozolins (S.A.) for his inspiration and leadership on the volleyball court. Hans Siig (A.C.T.) for his blocking prowess, Jack Atkins for his hitting power, especially “chook” balls2 and Ilkka Veijalinen for his manouverability when spiking around the block. The combination of Andrew Burns and Wolfgang Woerner as an effective blocking force has maintained Wallabies supremacy in Australian volleyball.
BEST PLAYER PLAYED AGAINST – The most effective was a little Chinese player who captained the Tai Shan team. His incredible leap (40″ plus) and ambidextrous spiking made him almost impossible to block. Nekoda, the Japanese captain, whose understanding with his spikers was uncanny.
GREATEST AMBITION – To represent Australia in an Olympic Games. If not as a player, then as a coach or administrator.
FUTURE PLANS – To koep on playing international volleyball as long as possible. Coaching a hand picked squad of juniors, so that they could be moulded into the correct style and methods of play. To travel overseas to gather more information about volleyball. One day to coach the Australian team.
