Janine Sandell was delighted to come ‘home’ to London and help Great Britain’s women make volleyball history with an Olympic debut against Russia at Earls Court today.

Born in Bromley, the young Sandell would go along with her brother to basketball practice at Brixton Topcats during her childhood.

Daniel Sandell went on to play professionally for Guildford Heat in the British Basketball League, but his sister changed sports after the family moved to the United States.

And although GB fell to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-10, 25-16) defeat on their Games bow, Sandell felt her side made an impression.

“We competed with one of the best teams in the world,” she said.

“There’s not a big volleyball history here in England and it’s huge in other countries.

“But to see all the people here, they definitely made a lot of noise.

“I’m just glad the first one is done now.”

GB, ranked no.69 in the world, showed the determination and fighting spirit, which has become something of a trademark, in a spirited defeat against opponents ranked 60 places higher than them.

The British squad only began full-time training in 2007, with a five-year plan for London 2012. But they lost their funding in 2010 and were forced to try and raise their own money.

The group cycled 310 miles from their base at English Institute of Sport in Sheffield to Earls Court to raise awareness and were able to continue their preparations thanks to support from local businesses, schools and families.

An intensive strength and conditioning programme was used to fast-track the players physically and left them determined to put GB volleyball on the map during this competition.

They certainly came flying out of the blocks, energised by an enthusiastic crowd who were soon stamping their feet along to ‘We Will Rock You’.

London-born 18-year-old Savanah Leaf, who moved to California at the age of eight, may have only joined the GB programme in April, but she was named in the starting six and produced a good early spike to put the hosts 2-0 up.

They held an 8-7 advantage at the first technical timeout, which was rightly described as a “dream start” over the PA, but the world no.9 Russians found their form to move 14-11 up after the restart, forcing coach Audrey Cooper to call a timeout.

Russia used the spike of the 6ft 4in Nataliya Goncharova to good effect and moved five points clear when British captain Lynne Beattie sent a serve into the net.

It was one of four serving errors by the home side as the opening set slipped away and they made a slow start to the second set, calling a timeout at 6-2 down.

Although they hit back with the next point, the Russians replied with a strong spike from Ekaterina Gamova – the joint tallest women in the tournament along with teammate Iuliia Merkulova at 6ft 8in – and moved 8-3 up as the court sweepers came on again for another technical timeout.

The gap grew to 10 before Leaf made way for Sandell, who moved to the States aged 11.

But the damage had already been done in the set and the Russians steadily pulled clear to claim it for a 2-0 lead.

Sandell, who admits she likes to take out her aggression on the ball, produced a strong spike early in the third set which was blocked out of play to help GB stay on terms at 5-5.

But the Russians took seven of the next eight points to reassert their authority.

A spike from Lynne Beattie and block at the net by Ciara Michel helped close the gap to three and had the crowd screaming with delight.

But such is the nature of this fascinating, fast-paced sport, the visitors reeled off four successive points for a 16-9 lead at the second technical timeout.

Sandell earned her side another point with a deft touch over the net and Rachel Bragg’s serve was knocked out of play to make it 18-15, prompting more foot stamping in the stands.

But the Russians flexed their muscles again and a tight line call on a service ace, plus another borderline decision, helped them pull seven clear and within sight of the finish line.

Leaf came off the bench to spike home another point as some consolation, only to miss her next serve which handed Russia match point.

And they made it count, with a block at the net sealing a 25-16 success.

Sandell had her mum in the crowd, after she flew over from the States, as well as some friends and brother Daniel.

She added: “My brother used to take me everywhere with him. He would beat me and let me know about it.

“My coach at Brixton, Jimmy Rogers, was the first one who showed me to work hard and would tell us to ‘drive the body’. He’s still coaching at Topcats.

“But I was about 12 or 13 when my PE teacher asked if I wanted to play volleyball.”

And Sandell seemed grateful for the switch, having won two championships in Spain ahead of these Games.

Next up for GB is Algeria on Monday and Sandell added: “We’re going after Algeria.

“We were meant to have a scrimmage with them before the Games, but they didn’t show up. I want to go after them.”