PERTH AND QUEENSLAND CROWNED 2025 MAHINDRA AUSTRALIAN VOLLEYBALL SUPER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
The 2025 Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League season came to a spectacular close on Sunday November 2, with two thrilling Grand Finals delivering an unforgettable finish at South Pine Sports Complex in Queensland.
Both championship-winning teams were led by female head coaches, a powerful reflection of the growing strength of women in Australian volleyball. Perth Steel’s Pauline Manser claimed her fifth title, while Queensland Pirates’ Kylie Marshall secured her second, each showcasing exceptional leadership and composure under pressure. Their success showcases the rising influence of female coaches and sets an inspiring example for the next generation.
In the women’s championship decider, Perth Steel claimed their second title in three years, defeating Adelaide Storm in an electric five-set battle that had the crowd on their feet. Both teams produced an incredible display of skill and determination, with Perth ultimately edging ahead to secure the 2025 title.
“Yeah, it feels good. It was definitely a hard game and we were very uncomfortable, as you could see in a lot of the sets, but the girls just came through with the win,” Perth Steel Women’s Captain Shelby Maher said.
“It’s pretty awesome [to also have our men’s team in the final]. We see each other train every week, we see how each other works, and it’s just exciting that we both got here.
“We knew we could keep going and just be super patient, we used that word a lot because we’d done all the hard work.”
“It’s amazing, very stressful but amazing to come through the season and be undefeated. That’s an impressive effort by the girls,” Perth Steel Women’s Coach Pauline Manser said.
“We did focus on the process, and as expected, every team was a challenge. We thought if we could get close to our best, we’d be okay.
“It’s always good for WA to come all this way and represent. We did this in 2023, and we’re glad to repeat it today.”
The men’s Grand Final saw the Queensland Pirates complete a perfect season, overcoming Perth Steel to defend their title and be crowned back-to-back champions.
Cheered on by a passionate home crowd, the Pirates’ consistency and composure under pressure proved decisive as they capped off an undefeated 2025 campaign in style.
“Yeah, extremely proud of the boys. We’ve taken some time and it’s sunk in now, and we’re definitely celebrating,” Queensland Pirates Men’s Captain Andrew Maclean said.
“It’s definitely a bucket list item to get one of these titles undefeated, for myself and this group.
“We came in really prepared, and even though we had a little stumble at the start, we were ready for whatever WA were going to throw at us, and it showed in our progression through the match.
“The home ground was awesome. I think a grand final throws different situations and scenarios out there in the game, and with some level heads we were able to take advantage of that, and we did that quite well today.”
“It’s pretty exciting [to get the win today]. We worked really hard all season and it was pretty tough and we didn’t do it easy, we had to make it work for us,” Queensland Pirates Men’s Coach Kylie Marshall said.
“Being defending champions is amazing. We only had two guys on the court at the start of the game from last year’s grand final, so it shows the amazing depth we have in our team.
“The crowd was incredible, especially the noise that was made when they were running out. I’ve only heard that at an international competition, so it was really awesome to hear that.”
The Finals showcased the very best of Australian volleyball and a vibrant atmosphere as fans celebrated another outstanding season of the Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League.
