Super League Review Game Week 3 (7th and 8th November) - Rebs women and Eagles men top tables early on 

MAAREE Women's Super League 

Essex Rebels notched a third victory in a row to start the new campaign to head up the early MAAREE Women's Super League standings by beating University of Nottingham on Saturday. 

Alex Chinery's side had to do it the hard way, though, as they came back strongly from dropping the first set, where they gave up an early 7-1 lead in Colchester. 

As the Rebs grew into the game and found their rhythm, they were able to impose themselves on the Green and Golds and eventually run out maximum points winners (23-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-18). 

They are now the only side in the division yet to drop a single point as they head into a weekend without a game. 

Rebels captain Clare Sheedy was MVP, and she was ably assisted by 10 kills from Alhana Valasquez and six blocks by Catherine Tolley. 

Hajar El Alouani was picked out for UON in her first match following her summer move from Darkstar Derbyshire, having missed Opening Weekend. 

Second in the table, level on points, but with an inferior set quotient and having played a game more are Team SideOut Polonia (London). 

They had a mixed weekend as they hosted the two teams from the North East, first going down in straight sets to a strong Newcastle Knights side on Saturday (25-22, 25-19, 25-21), who are just a point behind the Londoners with a game in hand. 

MVP for the hosts was Carla Mulli (11 kills, four blocks, eight digs), and Daisy Boardman (10 kills, two blocks, 12 digs) was chosen for the Knights. 

But Mark Kontopoulos' team bounced back strongly on Sunday, registering a 3-1 success over Durham Palatinates, taking command when the game was locked at 1-1 in sets (25-17, 22-25, 25-11, 25-14). 

Libero Maeve Davitt was selected as MVP for SideOut as Natasha Frost (nine kills, one ace, two blocks, six digs) was selected for Durham. 

Although winless in their first four matches, Paul Welsh's Palatinates did, however, pick up their first point after being edged out in a five-set thriller as they were reverse swept at Malory Eagles UEL on Saturday. 

The North East side looked well set for their maiden victory of 26-27 when they raced into a two-set lead, but a tight and extended third set proved crucial and Carol Gordon's side were able to nick the decider by just two points (18-25, 23-25, 30-28, 25-17, 15-13). 

Jada Mitchell, for Malory, and Natasha Frost, for the Palatinates, were the respective MVP winners. 

After coming up just short against some difficult opposition at Opening Weekend, Lionhearts Vinarius (London) were delighted to register their first success of the campaign. 

In a hard-fought match against fellow capital side London Giants, they earned a 25-22, 28-26, 25-23 triumph at the Mulberry Shoreditch Academy. 

Julianna Nowaczek played a starring role for those in dark blue to be named MVP with 11 kills, three blocks and 12 digs, while Maria Grabovetcaia (11 kills, one ace, one block 18 digs) took the honours for the Giants. 

DYNAMIK Men's Super League 

Malory Eagles UEL are top of the pile in the DYNAMIK Men's Super League after they clinched their third consecutive straight sets victory. 

Having accounted for Newcastle Staffs and the University of Nottingham at Opening Weekend, they this time edged past Team Essex Blaze, battling through two very close sets before running away with things in the third (25-23, 26-24, 25-10). 

Blaze should have taken the second as they had two set points, but were unable to get over the line, allowing the Eagles to steal it at the death and then use the momentum built up to close out the match. 

Nathan Fullerton was nominated as MVP for the hosts, while Dorian Poinc got the nod for Essex. 

The visitors' competitiveness was underlined when they got back to their home court on Sunday as they recorded their first success of the season by beating fellow newly-promoted side Newcastle Staffs in three (25-22, 25-16, 25-16). 

Mattias Godron (eight), Dorian Poinc (six) and Orson Purves (six) led the kill count for the Chelmsford side, while Esosa Obayuwana had six for the visitors. 

Essex Rebels, meanwhile, took advantage of Newcastle Knights' inactivity to go second in the table, a point behind, Malory after outgunning Newcastle Staffs to win their third game of the campaign (25-21, 26-24, 25-20).  

Setter Thomas Martin was MVP for the home side, while Esosa Obayuwana (six kills, one block, three digs) was Staffs' pick. 

Theo Zaharewicz, with nine, and Oscar Curson-Hall, with eight, led the kills count for victors. 

A stiffer test of their credentials is likely to come in the next two weeks when they face first London Giants then Newcastle Knights. 

League standings (09/11/26)

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