Super League Review (31st January and 1st February) - Knights thrive in front of live cameras 

A crowd of over 350 watched the matches in Colchester, while both games were streamed live to those watching at home - and they witnessed things not going to script for the hosts. 

A MAAREE Women’s Super League defeat for the Rebels came as a shock to most, particularly as the hosts had gone into the fixture losing just one of their league matches in 2025-26. 

But Sam Shenton’s visitors proved to be more than up to the challenge, edging a tight first set by two points and never looking back, clinching the match in four sets (25-25, 17-25, 25-11, 25-19) and boosting their Final 4 hopes in the process. 

Newcastle MVP Jenna Vaske served one ace, made eight kills and completed two blocks and six digs. 

Essex setter Makena Smith served two aces and completed two kills, one block and 12 digs, in addition to 30 assists from 86 attempts, to be her side’s MVP. 

The victory for Knights’ men was less of a surprise, but they were made to work very hard for it. 

Essex made a flying start to wrap up the opening set before the match swung in Newcastle’s favour as they took the next two. 

But the Rebels did not take things lying down and fought back hard to take an extended fourth set and tee up a decider. 

It was then that the Knights regained control and were able to eke out the winning result in a straight race to 15 as the match finished 18-25, 25-16, 25-23, 27-29, 15-12. 

Before the two games began there was an impeccably observed moment of reflection in memory of four people - three members of the Essex Rebels basketball squad and one from its dance squad - who sadly died in a car accident a year ago.

As a result, Newcastle are up to second spot – above London Giants on set quotient – and could now go top of the table, providing they win their game in hand. 

Hassan Farhat was MVP for the beaten home side, while captain Oliver Tuck took the honours for the North East side. 

DYNAMIK Men’s Super League 

League leaders Malory Eagles suffered a setback in their bid to secure top spot in the weekend’s other men’s match, losing another five-set thriller, at University of Nottingham. 

After the visitors took the first set and the Green and Golds, the next two, Eagles found another gear to force a tie break. 

But Freddie Fairbairn’s side were able to respond in kind to edge a thrilling tie break and the match (22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 21-25, 15-12) taking their record to 5-4 and moving them up, ahead of the Rebels, into the top four as the race for Final 4 intensifies. 

Kana’i Akana hit a game-high 29 kills from 56 attempts for a hitting percentage of 0.375 and backed that up with two aces, four blocks and 19 digs to be UON’s MVP. 

Eagles’ MVP winner, Nathan Fullerton, was not far behind on the kill count (27 from 55 for a hitting percentage of 0.382) and also added two aces, five blocks and nine digs. 

MAAREE Women’s Super League 

It was not all bad news for Essex Rebels, who, on Saturday did seal victory against London Lionhearts, again at home. 

Alex Chinery’s side ran out 25-20, 25-17, 18-25, 25-23 victors as Haley Gilfillan was named MVP for the hosts after serving four aces, completing seven kills from 18 attempts for a hitting percentage of 0.278 and also registering two blocks and seven digs. 

Lionhearts’ MVP was Madoka Weldon (a former Essex Rebels athlete) , who made six successful returns of serve from seven attempts for a serve receive rating of 2.14 and also contributed eight digs. 

The weekend’s other women’s match saw Malory Eagles consolidate their position in second place behind unbeaten league leaders Durham Palatinates. 

Their opponents Darkstar Derbyshire initially threatened an upset as they clinched the first set, but the Londoners reeled off three sets in a row to secure a 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-17 triumph. 

Ariadnne Sierra was MVP for the victors and Viktoriya Glazewska won the vote for Darkstar. 

Action images by Keeran Marquis and Evelyn Lee.

For all the Super League results and latest, click here.