Five set thrillers set up Men’s Final

AVSL

12/10/2024

Five set thrillers set up Men’s Final

Spectators at today’s Men’s Semi-Finals of the Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League certainly got value for money with both contests going all the way to five sets.

In the first match, Perth looked set to be playing for bronze on Sunday before a stirring performance in the final three sets, while Queensland needed to come from behind twice to book their place in the decider.

Perth Steel d Melbourne Vipers 3:2 (14-18, 8-18, 18-11, 18-12, 18-10)

Perth Steel are in with a chance of defending their Super League title after a comeback for the ages in the first semi-final.

Melbourne came out firing to win the first set but went to another gear in the second, winning the set by a ten point margin.

However after suffering their biggest set loss in the Super League era, the 2023 champions not only got back on track in the third but evened the match up at two sets apiece.#

Holding a small advantage midway through the fifth, Perth invoked their final powerplay and after winning two of the three points, opened up a 14-8 lead.

While the two sides traded points through to the finish, Melbourne were unable to close the gap with Perth winning 3:2 in just over an hour.

“I didn’t know if we were going to do it after the second set – it was pretty intimidating by them, they served pretty well,” said Perth captain Daniel Piggott. “But we’ve been doing it all year, coming back.”

Piggott said that losing their only match in the Super League era to the Vipers earlier this season gave the 2023 champions all the motivation they needed going into the semis.

“We played Melbourne in Melbourne – they beat us. We took that pretty personally, we don’t like losing.

“From then on we’ve been hungry but they almost got us again!

“Semi-finals are the hardest. No we can enjoy the win, recover… and we’re gonna get it!”

Queensland Pirates d Adelaide Storm 3:2 (15-18, 18-13, 10-18, 18-14, 18-15)

Queensland have the opportunity to land their first men’s championship since 2019 after twice coming from behind to defeat Adelaide in the second semi-final.

Adelaide Storm were looking to qualify for a final at home and were out of the blocks quickly to take the opening set.

The Pirates hit back to even up the contest however the home side restored their advantage in the third and were just one set away from booking a rematch of the 2023 final against Perth.

The experienced Queensland outfit did not give in though, taking the fourth to even the match up and set up the second fifth set showdown of the day.

The Pirates edged ahead midway through the decider and while Storm did close the margin, Queensland were not to be denied.

“They are in incredible side, Adelaide, they played some great volleyball and it could have gone either way but we just stuck to it,” said Queensland captain Kieran Ivers. “We were really strong on the mental side of the game and in the end we got there.”

Going into the final, Ivers says the Pirates have nothing to lose as they attempt to raise the trophy for the first time in five years.

“Tomorrow we’re up against a great side in Perth,” he said. “Coming here we knew it could be a toss of the coin – all four teams in the semis are really strong. Now we just want to get the job done.”