Super League Review (9th and 10th November) - Rebels men leapfrog Giants at summit

The Colchester-based club made it three wins out of three with another confident display where they became even more dominant in terms of the scoreline as the match went on, eventually winning 25-21, 25-18, 25-15. 

Jacob Kern was MVP for the victors after serving one ace, completing all seven attempted returns of serve and making eight kills, two block assists and four digs.  

Middle Daven Pascal made 11 kills from 13 attempts and completed five blocks, two of them solo, while Noah Lassandro was selected for the Giants. 

 

Durham Palatinates moved up to third in the table – one point behind the Rebels and on the same points as the Giants, but having played a game less – with victory at Essex Blaze that was closer than the 3-0 sets margin suggests. 

All three sets were tight, but the North East visitors won the crucial points to claim a 25-22, 26-24, 25-23 success. 

Andrew Boyle was chosen as MVP for the Palatinates and Nathan French took the honours for the hosts. 

The only other game on the men’s side saw the University of Nottingham, improve their record to 2-1 and go fourth with a straight sets success over Richmond Docklands. 

After a promising start that saw them win their opening two matches, the Londoners have now lost their last two following this 25-15, 25-16, 25-22 setback. 

For the Green and Golds, Griffin Walters was picked as MVP in serving six aces, completing all 16 service return attempts and notching 12 kills and one block. 

One ace, nine kills, one block and five digs saw Ihor Slota selected for Docklands. 

In the MAAREE Women’s Super League, Team SideOut Polonia have hit the front after seeing off Darkstar Derbyshire – who they played at Opening Weekend – by the same 3-1 (25-12, 25-19, 25-27, 25-11) scoreline. 

Valeria Busquets was named as MVP after contributing four aces, nine kills, three block assists and two digs in their fourth successive win to start 2024-25. 

Hajar El Alouani was picked out as Darkstar’s leading performer with two aces 18 out of 19 successful service receipts, 14 kills, one block assists and 12 digs. 

Darkstar also took on London Vinarius on their trip to the capital and were on the wrong end in that match too, with the hosts securing a 25-11, 25-19, 25-15 triumph. 

 

Although yet to pick up a point in four games, the East Midlanders can at least console themselves that they have had a very tough start to the season, with games where they will hope to bounce back to follow. 

The result for Vinarius, meanwhile, was part of a mixed weekend for them as they also lost 3-2 to an Essex Rebels team, for whom back-to-back five-set victories in as many days has carried them up to second in the table, albeit having played more games than some of those around them. 

The Rebels versus Vinarius clash saw Essex dig in to come back from 2-1 down and win the decider in an overall 25-16, 19-25, 20-25, 25-19, 17-15 scoreline. 

MVP for the home side was Kathea Schamblin, who served one ace, made 15 of 16 attempts to return serve, 17 kills, two blocks and 17 digs in a fine individual performance. 

Mallory Porcher was the London MVP thanks to 12 kills, five solo blocks and six digs. 

The previous day, Essex's modus operandi against Cambridge ARU, again at home, had been almost exactly the same. 

Again they lost two out of the first three sets before rallying to prevail 25-22, 26-28, 25-27, 25-22, 15-8. 

Julia Haynie weighed in with one ace, 11 kills, five blocks (one solo, four assists), two assists and two digs to be the Rebels’ MVP. 

ARU’s Raquel Pereira dos Anjos recorded a game-leading 25 kills, as well as one ace, two block assists and seven digs, to be her side’s choice. 

Elsewhere, Leeds Gorse jumped above the University of Nottingham into fifth in the table after a comfortable straight sets (25-18, 25-13, 25-14) success over their opponents. 

Setter Molly van Essen took the MVP spoils for the visitors after serving four aces, completing two kills and five digs and registering 26 assists from 54 attempts. 

Tsz Yeung Lai took the honours for the Green and Golds with 17 successful service returns from 19 attempts, seven kills and six digs. 

Images by Nathaniel Macrae

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