AVL Round 7 Preview – The last AVL Finals spot are up for grabs
It’s the seventh and final round of the regular season! As the Storm enjoy a bye week and focus on preparing for the AVL Finals, a few teams are still playing for a top-four finish, with both NSW squads still fighting to book a ticket for the Gold Coast in the last weekend.
WA Steel v Tasmania Echidnas
Gold Netball Centre, Jolimont WA
Saturday, 19 November: Men 4pm / Women 6pm AWST
Sunday, 20 November: Men 11am / Women 1pm AWST
Ticket Info
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The Steel will end their AVL regular season at home, hosting the Echidnas. With a spot in the 2022 Finals already secured, the men’s Steel will try to gain more momentum after defeating the Storm on the road last week. With the Echidnas celebrating a positive first season in the AVL, it should be a spectacular weekend of volleyball in WA.
The Women’s Steel are not guaranteed a spot in the Finals yet, but clinching a playoff berth in front of their home crowds is within their grasp. A win is all they need in their double-header against the Echidnas, with the Tassie team still eager to take their first win of the season in the closing weekend.
Melbourne Vipers v Queensland Pirates
State Volleyball Centre, Dandenong VIC
Saturday, 19 November: Men 5pm / Women 7pm AEDT
Sunday, 20 November: Men 11am / Women 1pm AEDT
Ticket Info
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The Men’s Vipers will be hoping to finish the season in style at home, but they face a red-hot Queensland team that extended its winning streak with two more wins against Tasmania last week. The Pirates have now won nine matches in a row, their last defeat dating back to their season’s debut against the Heat. With the Storm hitting some bumps in the road lately, the Queenslanders look like the most exciting men’s team in the AVL right now, and have got all the momentum heading into the Finals.
With the fourth place in the women’s standings still three points away, the Women’s Pirates need to beat the Vipers and hope for some favourable results in Canberra to qualify for the playoffs. The Phoenix showed that Melbourne is not unbeatable last week, but the Vipers’ 9-1 record is solid enough to require a dazzling performance from the Queensland team if they want to extend their season all the way to the Finals.
Canberra Heat v NSW Phoenix
Australian Institute of Sport, Bruce ACT
Saturday, 19 November: Men 2pm / Women 4pm AEDT
Sunday, 20 November: Men 11am / Women 1pm AEDT
Free Entry
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The Men’s Phoenix has been improving all season and they will hope to be peaking at the most crucial time to defeat the Heat and earn their way through to the Finals. Four consecutive wins should give the NSW team plenty of confidence, but the Heat are well-rested after their bye week and playing at home means they still look like they have the upper hand.
In the Women’s League it’s almost mission accomplished for the Phoenix. NSW have their fate in their hands and a winning performance in the nation’s capital will be enough to secure their place in the Finals, and stop the Pirates’ attempt to upset the standings on the very last match weekend.
BYE: Adelaide Storm
