Super League Review (23rd and 24th November) - Eagles men and women flying high

In the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League, the men were winners over Essex Blaze on Saturday and then took part in the inaugural Super League Live at Crystal Palace on Sunday and were again victorious, this time over IBB Polonia. 

The women, meanwhile, maintained their 100 per cent record in the MAAREE Women’s Super League by securing a five-set comeback success over fellow high-flyers Team SideOut Polonia. 

Both Malory teams will have strong expectations of clinching a Final 4 place after excellent starts – and both will have one eye on bidding to secure the regular season top spot. 

At Ernest Bevin College, the Eagles men were 3-1 winners overt the Blaze, dropping a close second set by two points, but otherwise being relatively comfortable (25-8, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21). 

Remi Cadoret was voted as Malory’s MVP, with Nathan French taking the honours for the visitors. 

In South London in front of the Volleyball England live streaming cameras, opposite Nathan Fullerton put on a masterclass (two aces, 18 kills, two blocks, five digs) to be chosen as MVP as Polonia were swept aside 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-20). 

Fellow opposite Dahman Bentiti was MVP for IBB, having served an ace and completed 17 kills and five digs. 

Polonia can take some solace from the fact they have endured a tough start to the season in terms of the teams they have so far played, even though they have lost all four of their matches so far. 

But despite their triumphs, the Eagles are still two points behind leaders Essex Rebels, who stretched their unbeaten start to four matches with a four-set victory in their home derby match against Essex Blaze.  

It was the visitors who briefly threatened an upset by taking the first set 25-23, but ALex Porter’s side stormed back to take the next three 25-23, 25-17, 25-17. 

MVP for Rebels was Euan Fraser (two aces, 16 kills, two blocks, five digs), while French (27 from 28 successful service returns, 14 kills, seven digs) collected his second accolade of the weekend for the Blaze. 

Sandwiched in between the Rebels and Malory in the table are Richmond Docklands, whose own Super League Live victory came at the expense of hosts London Giants, carrying the former to a 4-2 record. 

The South West Londoners enjoyed a quick start after making the short trip and raced into a two-set lead and though the Giants took a third, Richmond reasserted their authority to close out the match (25-16, 25-22, 20-25, 25-19). 

Joao Alves was awarded man of the match for Richmond and Richard Uhlir got the nod for the Giants. 

Also having an excellent start to the season are the University of Nottingham, who, like Malory, moved to an overall 3-1 record thanks to a hard-fought 3-2 victory at reigning champions Durham Palatinates on Saturday. 

The Green and Golds looked well in control after establishing a two-set lead, but the hosts fought back to square the match at 2-2, before Freddie Fairburn’s side edged the tie breaker for a 30-28, 25-18, 20-25, 16-25, 15-12 success. 

Griffin Walters (five aces, 28 from 28 successful returns of service, 22 kills, two blocks, one assist and six digs) had a fine all-round game to be named Nottingham’s MVP as Chey Cooper (two aces, nine from 11 successful returns of service, 22 kills, one assist, seven digs) was selected for Durham. 

In the women’s section, Malory had to dig deep to eke out their aforementioned win over Team Sideout, who were in control a 2-1 up in sets. 

However, Malory held their nerve to first square the match and then take the decider by three points, with Grace Lazard securing the decisive hit (16-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-17, 15-12). 

Lazard led the kill count for Malory, with 14, and also accrued an ace, six blocks and four digs, while captain Chloe Allen had two aces, 44 successful service returns from 47 attempts, 12 kills, one block and 10 digs. 

Yulia Tokarenko (17), Carla Mulli (13) and Abby Russell (11) achieved double-figure kills for Polonia. 

It was another impressive weekend for the Essex Rebels as they moved up to second in the table with a clinical 3-0 win over Cambridge ARU. 

They have lost just once this season – to Lionhearts Vinarius – and now sit second in the table after a 25-16, 25-17, 25-23 triumph with a 5-1 record. 

Chelsea Simmons was MVP for the Rebels as served one ace, made three kills, three blocks and eight digs, as well as completing 24 assists from 55 attempts. 

Fellow setter Krystalynn Leomiti was selected for ARU after 16 from 69 assists and six digs. 

Durham Palatinates survived a mighty scare against the University of Nottingham as they completed a reverse sweep from 2-0 down. 

They eventually rallied to 23-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-23, 15-9 in a match where the sets were closely contested throughout. 

Jamie Dailey (one ace, 20 from 22 successful service returns, 25 kills, two blocks three assists and eight digs) was chosen as MVP for the Palatinates, while Emma Godwin (37 from 40 successful service returns, 18 kills, one assist, 14 digs was picked out for the visitors. 

Elsewhere, Leeds Gorse secured a fourth victory of the season to move up to fourth, winning 3-0 (25-0, 25-22, 25-16) against Darkstar Derbyshire at Derby University Sports Centre. 

Images by Andras Hari

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