Kieran Ivers Leading Queensland in 2024 Australian Super League
Well known on the Australian volleyball circuit for his skill and longevity, Kieran Ivers is set to return to the Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League in 2024 as outside hitter and team captain for the talented Queensland Pirates men’s team.
Having made his debut in the Australian Volleyball League in 2009, Ivers has seen the competition grow and flourish over the past 15 years.
Looking forward to continuing his career with Queensland and potentially securing his seventh Men’s Championship trophy, Ivers is excited for the season to come.
“I’ve been around for a while but last year was the first year for this all-new model – lots of rule changes, lots of ways to make the game more exciting,” said Ivers.
“The lessons from last year were all about how fast-paced and action packed the format was, so I think we’re expecting something similar this year.
“We’re looking forward to playing again this year and taking another crack at it. Hopefully the overall quality can really boost and we can shake things up a bit,” he said.
A steadying force, captain Ivers plans to priorite team cohesion for the 2024 season.
“One of the fundamentals of succeeding in the Super League, because it is so fast-paced, is having a super-cohesive team,” he said.
“We get a bunch of club guys from across the state coming together and instead of working against each other which we spend most of our year doing, we are working towards the same goal.
“It’s high stakes for sure, a pressure cooker of a format, so you need to be able to rely on the guys next to you. It’s so important you feel comfortable to push towards your maximum performance and that your teammates will be there to back you up.”
For the established Queensland side, the main goal over the course of the season is to perform well and hopefully return the trophy to the Sunshine State. Ivers also offers a more personal note.
“Our goal for this season is to win. Queensland has a really good, rich history of winning a lot of gold medals in the national league, so we just need to knuckle down and really get a team together that can go all the way,” he said.
“I’m confident we have the talent to do it; it’ll just be about understanding the new rules and putting our best foot forward on the court.
“I have a deep passion for volleyball, so every year that I can stay in the sport and keep playing at a high level I’m really grateful for. If my body holds up, I‘ll be throwing everything I have at it.
“I’m fortunate enough to know what it feels like to win Championships and have a good number of medals in my drawer at home, so I’d love to be able to share that experience with some of the newer players as well.
“It’s a very special feeling and it’s not just given to you, you’ve got to work pretty hard to get it, so it would be amazing to share it with those players that will be the future of volleyball as well,” he said.
Click here for more information on the 2024 Mahindra Super League.
