Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League | Semi Final Preview
The competition in the Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League will be electric this weekend as teams make their final push to secure a Championship trophy.
Adelaide is set to host the all-important Finals Series – supported by the City of Charles Sturt – which will first see the Adelaide Storm, Melbourne Vipers, Queensland Pirates and reigning champions, Perth Steel, go head-to-head in Saturday’s semi finals.
MAHINDRA AUSTRALIAN VOLLEYBALL SUPER LEAGUE
Saturday 12 October | 36ers Arena, Adelaide SA
Men’s Semi-Final #1
[1] Perth Steel v [4] Melbourne Vipers
1pm ACDT/10:30am AWST | Watch LIVE on SBS On Demand
Round 3 Result: Vipers d Steel* 3:2 (18-13, 18-13, 12-18, 18-17, 14-18)
The men’s Perth Steel and Melbourne Vipers teams will be first cab off the rank on Saturday when they go head-to-head in the weekend’s opening semi final.
After finishing the regular season on top of the overall standings on 39 points, the Perth Steel are in pole position but will need to reverse their round three result when Melbourne denied the defending champions a 10th straight Super League victory.
The Melbourne Vipers will take immense confidence from their round three win over the west-coast side and will use their underdog status as fuel to strike and hopefully secure a spot in Sunday’s Final.
Men’s Semi-Final #2
[2] Queensland Pirates v [3] Adelaide Storm
2:30pm ACDT/12pm AWST | Watch LIVE on SBS On Demand
Round 2 Result: Storm d Pirates* 3:2 (18-14, 13-18, 11-18, 18-11, 18-12)
The Queensland Pirates and Adelaide Storm will be up next at 36ers Arena, with both teams looking to go the distance on the final weekend of competition.
Despite their recent losses to the host side, the Pirates men’s side finished above the Storm’s on the overall standings, proving their skills and strategies are not to be taken lightly.
On the flip side, the Storm will look to use their home-ground advantage and continue their momentum from both this season and continue on their path to go one better than 2023 and take the Super League title.
Women’s Semi-Final #1
[1] Perth Steel v [4] Queensland Pirates
4:30pm ACDT/2pm AWST | Watch LIVE on SBS On Demand
Round 4 Result: Steel d Pirates 4:1 (18-12, 18-16, 18-8, 11-18, 18-10)
The women’s sides will take to the court after the men to deliver a show-stopping finale to Saturday’s semi-finals.
In the opening clash, old foes Perth Steel and Queensland Pirates will meet yet again in their quest for the Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League trophy.
The battle is a rematch from the 2023 decider which saw the Steel emerge victorious 3:1.
The defending champions Perth will look to continue their momentum and utilisation of key players to claim the win and secure themselves a chance for a second-straight title.
Not to be underestimated, the Pirates will leave nothing on the court in their quest for victory, and after falling to Perth two weeks ago, will be striving to turn the tables from their last two results.
Women’s Semi-Final #2
[2] Melbourne Vipers v [3] Adelaide Storm
6pm ACDT/3:30pm AWST | Watch LIVE on SBS On Demand
Round 4 Result: Storm d Vipers* 3:2 (18-14, 18-15, 13-18, 15-18, 18-16)
The last match of the day will feature the Melbourne Vipers and home team Adelaide Storm as they both look to catapult themselves into Sunday’s Final.
After triumphing against the Storm in last year’s bronze medal match, the Vipers will come out all-guns blazing in an effort to stick it to their opponents in Adelaide and relive that Finals feeling from last year’s competition.
Determined to redeem themselves, the Storm have already shown their opponents what they’re capable of, beating them in Round 4 less than three weeks ago. They will look to utilise their home crowd to notch another win against the visiting Vipers and book themselves a Finals start.
Click here to purchase tickets to this weekend’s Finals Series.
