Super League Review (30th November and 1st December) - Eagles women move back to summit after double success

They have now won seven matches out of seven after coming through their latest two matches against Durham Palatinates (Saturday) and Essex Rebels (Sunday) with maximum points.  

Against the North East side, Malory edged a crucial tight first set and then took control, eventually winning 25-23, 25-17, 25-20. 

Captain Chloe Allen led from the front with one ace 18 out of 19 successful service returns, 15 kills, three blocks and four assists, while Selena Baptiste claimed 23 assists from 68 attempts. 

For Durham, Tyla Cutrie completed five kills, three blocks and four digs in a losing cause. 

Malory were pushed a little harder by Essex, who had lost only once prior to this meeting, losing the first set 25-10. 

But they came back in determined fashion to win the next three 25-21, 25-22, 25-21 and underline their credentials as strong contenders for the overall crown this season. 

Grace Lazard was the Eagles’ MVP, while Julia Haynie took the honours for the visitors. 

At Super League Live in Leeds, Lionhearts Vinarius won a five-set thriller against Darkstar Derbyshire to move into second with a 6-3 record, just ahead of the Rebels, but having played two more games. 

The East Midlanders twice led in front of the Volleyball England livestream cameras, but the London side showed all their fighting qualities to dig out a narrow 20-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-17, 15-12.  

Clara Coles took the MVP vote for Darkstar and Maria Sviridova was selected for the Lionhearts. 

That result was after Vinarius had also earned victory on Saturday at the University of Nottingham, taking a 3-1 victory (25-19, 23-25, 25-15, 25-22). 

Middle blocker Mallory Porcher served three aces, completed six kills and made three blocks and three digs to be the visitors’ MVP. 

Adele Sotgiu made 16 of 18 successful service returns and 18 digs to be chosen for the Green and Golds. 

Durham, meanwhile, bounced back from their Saturday defeat to the Eagles with a narrow five-set win in Sunday’s other Super League Live match against Leeds Gorse – but they were made to do it the hard way. 

They twice led by a set, but each time Gorse fought back to level before the North Easterners prevailed in the tie break for a 25-20, 17-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-13 triumph. 

Elizabeth Perfection Uwagboe Akuetiehme was MVP for Leeds, with Malea Stanton taking the honours for the victors. 

Elsewhere, Cambridge ARU were rarely troubled as they eased to 25-14, 25-14, 25-10 over Wessex, who remain rooted to the foot of the table. 

It means they are now seventh in the table four points clear of UoN in eighth. 

Katarina Knezevic was Cambridge’s MVP after serving two aces and making 10 kills and 10 digs, while Sophie Turnock was selected for Wessex. 

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The DYNAMIK Men’s Super League remains wide open as just three points separate the top five teams. 

No side is now unbeaten after Essex Rebels suffered a five-set defeat to Malory Eagles at ACS Cobham International School. 

In a keenly-contested encounter, Malory twice led only for Essex to square the match at 2-2 before the Eagles clinched the tie break, making it four wins on the bounce (25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 17-25, 15-9) after losing their season opener. 

Dylan Coman and Jacob Kern were named as MVPs for the Eagles and the Rebels respectively. 

Another team who are hitting to form are the University of Nottingham who made it five victories from six matches this season to go second in the table. 

First, on Saturday, they were 3-1 winners over London Giants, coming through in four sets (25-17, 25-20, 17-25, 25-19). 

Griffin Walters served five aces, successfully completed all 13 service returns, made 19 kills, one block, two assists from four attempts and five digs in a fine all-round game to be voted Nottingham’s MVP. 

Geoff Mike (14 out of 14 successful service returns, 13, kills, one block, four assists and six digs) was the Giants’ MVP. 

Then, on Sunday, they were again at home and recovered from a sluggish start – in Walters’ absence – to complete a reverse sweep against Stockport claiming a 25-27, 17-25, 25-15, 25-19, 15-6 success. 

Rob Morgan (17 out of 19 successful service returns, 18 kills, four blocks, three digs) was MVP for UoN as Haydn Lawson (two aces, 31 out of 31 successful service returns, 20 kills, two blocks, four digs) proved to be the pick for Stockport. 

But it is reigning champions Durham Palatinates who are top of the pile – for now at least – having registered two wins in a hugely successful trip to London to take their season record to 5-2. 

First they inflicted a fifth straight defeat on IBB Polonia, who are still yet to claim a point, despite continuing to give their all. 

Things started positively for the hosts as they nicked the first set 25-23, but Durham responded to take the next three 25-22, 25-13, 25-19 to close out the match. 

Dahmane Bentiti made 14 kills, two blocks and six digs, as well as three assists from seven attempts, to be Polonia’s MVP. 

Alex Walisser won the vote for the Palatinates after two aces, 12 kills and two digs. 

Durham then took on Richmond Docklands on Sunday and again past the test, coming through two close sets to eventually prevail by a 25-23, 25-23, 25-14 margin. 

Jakub Graczyk was MVP for the visitors while skipper Vitor de Oliveira was selected for the hosts. 

It was a disappointing weekend for Docklands, who had also lost on Saturday to the Newcastle Knights, who have enjoyed an excellent start to their 2024-25. 

The North East club – who played as Team Sunderland last season – made it three wins from four as they triumphed 25-15, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22. 

Ihor Slota (Richmond) and Ollie Tuck (Knights) picked up the MVP awards. 

Images by Matthew Gavaghan and Jon Cornish

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