WESSEX chief Geoff Allen believes Team GB’s volleyball stars can use London 2012 as a springboard to excel at the Rio Games.

Britain’s hopefuls have been trying to rise from amateur to world-class level in rapid time in a bid to challenge at this summer’s Olympics on home soil.

Wessex Volleyball Club will be well represented after achieving a remarkable hat-trick when former players Dan Hunter (men’s indoor), Lucy Wicks (women’s indoor) and Zara Dampney (women’s beach) were selected.

The trio, all from Poole, will fly the flag for Dorset and local outfit Wessex after being picked by the host nation this week.

Proud Wessex chairman Allen is confident Team GB’s men can cause a few shocks, but he thinks Rio de Janeiro in 2016 could be a more realistic target.

Allen told the Daily Echo: “The indoor men’s team have got hopes of getting into the quarter-finals.

“They have got a very talented group of players who are quite young.

“If they could get the funding and if the Government decide they should be funded, they could actually do even better in four years’ time.

“It takes more than three or four years to go from amateur to world class in a team sport.

“I think we have got a talented group of players and they could well shock one or two teams if they can get their full act together.

“The women were seen as not being quite as strong as the men.

“They have showed their determination to get there despite a lack of funding.

“I really admire their efforts and I just hope their results recognise those efforts.

“On the beach, with two, it takes a lot more experience and it is a case of whether in four years’ time, it will be better for them.

“Zara and her partner Shauna are outstanding competitors – very strong and tough.”

Wessex could yet have a fourth former player at the Games, with beach hopeful Gregg Weaver still waiting to learn his fate.