Opening Weekend 2026 day one - Knights break Eagles' hearts after thwarting comeback

The crowd at the Sir David Wallace Building, Loughborough University were on the edge of their seats as Carol Gordon's side fought back dramatically from two sets down after the North Easterners had looked to be in cruise control. 

But with the scores locked late on in the 15-point decider, Sam Shenton's Knights dug deep when it mattered to clip the Eagles' wings and edge to a 25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 18-25, 16-14 in what was a great advert for women's elite level volleyball in this country. 

The other women's fixtures were far more clear-cut, with each of them being decided in straight or four sets. 

In the first-game-of-the day battle on the MAAREE Women's Court between the two newly-promoted sides, London Giants and University of Nottingham, it was the former who emerged triumphant. 

With 24-25 Women's Player of the Year, Grace Lazard, having been signed to bolster their bid, those in red ran out victors by a 25-16, 25-13, 25-15 margin. 

Last year's champions Durham Palatinates, suffered misfortune in their clash with Essex Rebels – a repeat of last season's Final 4 gold medal match, which was third on court. 

With only nine players in their team sheet, the North East club were unable to complete the match because two injuries to setters Soniya Kandrashuk and captain Melissa Morelli left them with only seven players – two liberos – meaning they could not continue. 

With the match at 5-3 in the second set when the second injury happened, it meant the final scoreline was 25-11, 25-3, 25-0 to the Rebs. 

Volleyball England would like to wish both players a speedy recovery from their injuries. 

The women's side of things concluded in the evening London derby between Lionhearts Vinarius and Team SideOut Polonia, which was every bit as entertaining as last season's five set nail-biter, even it did not last as long as that two hours 45 minutes epic. 

Polonia edged two very hard-fought sets to put themselves in the driving seat, but Lionhearts refused to buckle and took another to-and-fro third to breathe fresh life into the match. 

However, Mark Kontopoulos' side redoubled their efforts in the fourth and came on strong once more to clinch a 25-23 25-22, 24-26, 25-17 win. 

It was old hands versus newbies in the first men's clash of the day as perennial challengers Malory Eagles took on newly-promoted Newcastle Staffs on the DYNAMIK Men's Court. 

Having drafted in a number of England players over the summer – including Thomas Jefferson, Ephraim Mills, Cameron Rhodes and Thomas Shatimehin – the Londoners took control early on and never let go. 

Staffs never stopped fighting, and gave a good account of themselves but could not prevent succumbing to a 25-20, 25-18, 25-18 defeat. 

This season is Scot Euan Fraser's first in charge of Essex Rebels and he got the campaign off to a winning start against University of Nottingham, who reached Final 4 last season. 

The second and third sets, in particular, were close, but the Rebels just had enough on each occasion to edge to a 25-18, 25-22, 25-23 success. 

The third match on the men's court paired the champions from the last two seasons, London Giants, with capital rivals Richmond Docklands. 

Like the match before it, the encounter was over in three sets, but Ali Toloo Kian's side were made to work hard for it before closing out a 25-22, 25-22, 25-21 triumph and secure the W. 

Finishing off was an engrossing clash between last year's silver medalists Newcastle Knights and Essex Blaze, winners of Division 1 South last season. 

Head Coach Andrew Tuck's side showed early on that they were not going to be intimidated early on and they had decent leads in the second and third sets.

But on each occasion, the experience of Knights, who have retained a good chunk of their starting six from last season, shone through. 

It enabled them to eventually eke out a 25-21, 25-23 success, but there is no doubt that Blaze. 

Images by Abdoulie Ndure and Nathaniel Macrae

Don't forget tickets are available on the day to watch tomorrow's second round of matches, or you can order in advance here. 

You can also watch the action on the Super League YouTube Channel here.