Super League Review (7th and 8th March) - Giants men surge back to top and Rebels women back in top four

Mihail Stoev’s side have been battling with Newcastle Knights and Malory Eagles UEL for top spot in the table for much of the season, particularly in the last few weeks. 

But there 25-16, 25-18, 25-22 victory against Essex Rebels in front of the live cameras saw them reassume leadership on set quotient from the Knights, with the Eagles now struggling to keep pace at four points further back. 

For Essex, defeat means they are now very much second favourites in the race with University of Nottingham to claim the last Final 4 spot, although the teams do play each other in their final regular season game. 

However, the Colchester-based side look pretty secure in fifth place and only a freakish set of results would drag them into relegation play-off between sixth and seventh. 

The result also ensured that Malory have now claimed their place in the Final 4 event at Crystal Palace on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April. Get your tickets here.

Giants’ libero George Ivanov was named MVP for his side, while Hassan Farhat took the honours for the hosts as he made five kills had seven digs and successfully returned 10 out of 11 balls with a serve receive rating of 1.91. 

The only game in the MAAREE Women’s Super League was the other game on the Super League Live line-up and saw Essex Rebels secure an impressive victory over Team SideOut Polonia. 

The home side’s 25-23, 25-16, 25-22 triumph on International Woman’s Day saw them leapfrog their opponents and move back up to third and into the play-off places. 

Both sides are in the thick of a race to reach Final 4 behind the already-qualified Durham Palatinates, with just four two points separating Newcastle Knights in second and Polonia in fifth.  

With all teams having two games left, it will be an exciting finale to see which three out of the four – Malory Eagles UEL are also in the frame – make the final cut. 

In a game that saw a number of pulsating rallies, captain Makena Smith was the Rebels MVP as she completed two kills, three blocks, 39 assists from 85 attempts and 10 digs. 

MVP for SideOut was Carla Mulli, who served one ace, had a serve receive rating of 2.45 with eight perfect returns from 11 attempts, completed 13 kills with a hitting percentage of 0.24 and made one block and eight digs. 

Images by Keeran Marquis (@kdp.sports)

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

To watch back all the Super League Live matches, go to the Volleyball England YouTube Channel. 

Get your tickets here to attend Final 4 in person.