25 Mar 2024
Super League review round 17: Sunderland and Lionhearts strengthen survival hopes
The North East club secured what could turn out to be a vital victory over Richmond Docklands to move themselves three points clear of the bottom two in eighth spot, with just one game remaining.
They could still be overtaken by Leeds Gorse if they lose their final game to the Malory Eagles and the West Yorkshire side convincingly win theirs against fellow strugglers Newcastle Staffs.
Nevertheless, beating the London club in five sets (25-16, 25-22, 21-25, 18-25, 15-13) puts them in control of their own destiny going into the final weekend after the Easter break.
Kelechi Bell (one ace, 19 out of 20 successful service returns, 23 kills, four blocks, two assists from six attempts and four digs) was voted as MVP for Sunderland, while Vitor de Oliveira (one ace, seven kills, five blocks, seven digs) got the nod for the visitors.
Lionhearts, meanwhile, were able to complete a remarkable turnaround that will now see them contest the play-off against the second-placed team in Division 1 for the right to stay in the MAAREE Women’s Super League.
Two weeks ago, the London club looked dead and buried, but consecutive victories of Darkstar Derbyshire and now Coventry and Warwick Riga – the side who were just above them in the table – means they have moved off the bottom, with the West Midlanders making the drop instead.
They were always in control of their season-defining match and ran out 25-19, 25-12, 25-23 winners.
Anu Munkhtur (seven of seven successful service returns, three assists from 13 attempts and 13 digs) played a pivotal role in Lionhearts’ win to be nominated as MVP, with Marta Pietrunko (10 out of 20 successful service returns, seven digs) was chosen for Riga.
Elsewhere, in the Men’s Super League, Durham Palatinates underlined that they are a real danger going into the Final Four after making it six consecutive wins and securing second place in the table with a straight sets success on Saturday against local rivals Sunderland.
Brad Peters (three aces, 19 of 19 successful returns of service, 15 kills, two blocks, seven digs) was MVP for the Palatinates and libero Thomas Graham-Jones (16 successful service returns from 17, nine digs) for those in navy and orange.
Richmond were also in action on Saturday but were more successful than they were 24 hours or so later, beating Stockport 3-1 in Greater Manchester (25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 25-22).
Oliveira was MVP in a fine weekend for him and Haydn Lawson continued his recent run of MVP-winning performances for Stockport.
In-form University of Nottingham ended their campaign on a high with a fourth victory in five matches, easing to a 3-0 home win over bottom club Newcastle Staffs (25-21, 25-23, 29-27) where they were kept honest in each set.
Slater Bird (eight out of eight successful service returns, 13 kills, one block, six digs) rounded off an excellent season for the Green and Golds with another MVP vote, while England Senior player Michael Lee (22 of 23 successful returns of serve, four assists from 16 attempts and eight digs) took the honours for Staffs.
The battle of two teams who have qualified for the Final 4 saw IBB Polonia keep up their impressive record and make it 16 wins from 17 as they triumphed at capital rivals Malory Eagles 25-18, 27-25, 25-21.
Dahmane Bentiti picked up the MVP award for Polonia, as Logan Clark did so for Malory.
In the MAAREE Women’s Super League, Team Sideout Polonia finished their regular season with a 16th success from 18 matches with a clinical victory at Malory Eagles (25-15, 25-19, 25-20).
Merve Akin was MVP for the home side and Ariadnne Sierra was picked for the Eagles.
They can still be dislodged at the top, however, by Durham Palatinates on set quotient after the North East side made it 16 victories from 17 in seeing off the challenge of Darkstar Derbyshire.
After a 25-16, 25-14, 25-17 triumph, they can secure the top spot they have held for much of the season by beating Lionhearts in their final game on Saturday 6th April.
Durham’s MVP was Alice Brand, while Hajar El Alouani was selected for Darkstar.
Like their male counterparts, the University of Nottingham ended their season on a high and moved to a 9-9 overall record with a comeback win over Cambridge ARU.
They finish in fifth place after fighting back from dropping the first set to take the next three (15-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-17).
Sandra Korusiewicz (nine out of nine successful service receipts, 14 kills, one block, 11 digs) and Krystalynn Leomiti (three blocks 21 assists from 88 attempts, 10 digs) were chosen as the respective MVPs for the home and away side.
Pics by stephen_sportphotos and Phil Gibbin photography
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