AVL Round 2 Preview – It’s time for the Phoenix to rise as Adelaide teams chase perfect record
The AVL returns tomorrow for Round 2 after an exciting opening weekend.
The Tasmania Echidnas get a bye week, but with the NSW franchise making its debut in this year’s tournament and many teams still experimenting with different line-ups after the two-year break, there will be plenty of stories to watch out for – all live streamed on Cluch TV.
Canberra Heat v WA Steel
Australian Institute of Sport, Bruce ACT
- 15/10: 3pm Women / 5pm Men AEDT
- 16/10: 10:30am Women / 12:30pm Men AEDT
In the women’s league, the Heat and the Steel will try to put their first points on the board after both conceded straight-set defeats in Round 1. Heat captain Georgia Niedermeier will lead a team keen to prove the opening weekend was just a bump in the road, but the WA Steel won’t be an easy match-up for the ACT squad.
On the contrary, the men’s Heat team were off to a good start, winning their opening game and taking the Pirates to the decider before losing an exciting five-setter to the defending champions. They will now try to make the most of their home debut against a Steel squad that looked already in great shape against the Vipers last week, and as Head Coach Ben Gray said “is ready to shock a few people this season”.
Live stream Canberra Heat v WA Steel Round 2 matches at https://cluch.tv/sports-volleyball/avl/act/
Melbourne Vipers v Adelaide Storm
State Volleyball Centre, Dandenong VIC
- 15/10: 4pm Women / 6pm Men AEDT
- 16/10: 11am Women / 1pm Men AEDT
The red-hot Adelaide Storm are the only franchise coming out of Round 1 with a perfect 4-0 record across the men and women’s tournaments. The South Australian women will face another unbeaten team, with the Melbourne Vipers pegged by many as one of the overall favourites in the league, mostly due to their strong tradition.
The league’s two-year break meant teams are still introducing new and exciting young talents into their rotation, but if the opening weekend is anything to go by, the Vipers will be once again a force to be reckoned with.
The men Vipers will try to bounce back from a difficult debut in Western Australia, but the Storm were pretty solid in their first outing, claiming both games behind some strong hitting from Brendon Clewes and Rory Welsh and a solid performance from libero Henry Ambagtsheer.
Live stream Melbourne Vipers v Adelaide Storm Round 2 matches at https://cluch.tv/sports-volleyball/avl/vic/
NSW Phoenix v Queensland Pirates
Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park NSW
- 15/10: 5pm Men / 7pm Women AEDT
- 16/10: 11am Men / 1pm Women AEDT
The NSW Phoenix are eager to get amongst it after receiving a bye in the first round. Tough challenges lie ahead for the Phoenix’s debut with the women Pirates showing off their good shape in Round 1 and the men’s team motivated to boost their title run after splitting games at home against the Heat. With plenty of promise coming from their Youth and Junior sides, the NSW representatives hope to start off the season on a high note in front of their home crowd in Homebush.
Live stream NSW Phoenix v Queensland Pirates Round 2 matches at https://cluch.tv/sports-volleyball/avl/nsw/
