Information and photos courtesy of volleyball.org.au
After the heroics of their women’s side earlier in the day, Queensland Pirates’ men’s team made it a perfect day for the club with a four-set win in the Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League Men’s Final.
The Pirates needed to fight hard to overcome a Perth side which was aiming for back-to-back titles, eventually emerging victorious in a thrilling encounter.
Earlier in the day Melbourne Vipers outlasted Adelaide in the longest set of the Super League era to take out the bronze medal.
2024 MEN’S FINAL
Queensland Pirates d Perth Steel 3:1 (24-22, 22-20, 14-18, 18-15)
Inspired by their women’s team which just claimed their own title, the Queensland Pirates men’s team repeated the result with a 3:1 victory over Perth to ensure both Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League trophies head to the sunshine state in 2024.
The opening set was a gruelling affair, with the Pirates eventually gaining the early advantage by emerging in front 24-22.
In the second set both teams called their first powerplays at 11-all, with Queensland coming out with a 15-13 lead.
Perth however not only reeled that in but earned three set points of their own, each of which was shut down by the Pirates. Queensland had two set points denied by the Steel, however they were triumphant on their third attempt to take a 2:0 lead.
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The third was going much the same way as the second with Queensland taking their second powerplay at 10-all, followed by Perth doing the same one rally later. When both powerplays were down, the Steel held a four-point advantage which they maintained to take the third set 18-14.
The fourth set was again an arm wrestle, and like the second, a double powerplay was called at 11-all. In a case of history repeating, Queensland emerged from the powerplays with a 15-13 lead.
However this time around Perth were not able to fight back and Queensland edged their way towards victory.
While the Steel were able to save one Championship Point, an errant serve brought an end to the match and sent the title to Queensland for the first time since 2019.
“Totally impressive to watch, totally impressive to be out there and see some of the big guys get it done,” said Pirates captain Kieran Ivers. “We had to come out with a new energy after the semi-final and the boys absolutely did it.
“I can’t applaud the coaching team enough, they’ve done all the scouting. We knew the Perth Steel inside and out and we’ve known that since earlier in the season and it was no different today.
“We were absolutely going to target their weaknesses and the boys went out and produced way more service pressure, attack pressure, block pressure than we ever could have imagined.”
MEN’S BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
Melbourne Vipers d Adelaide Storm 3:2 (18-15, 13-18, 18-8, 18-20, 27-25)
The Melbourne Vipers have emerged victorious from the longest match in the Super League era, closing out an epic fifth set to claim the bronze medal over Adelaide Storm.
With the two sides locked at two sets apiece, shrewd use of the powerplays looked like it may break open the match.
Melbourne were first to use the card at 10-all, then the Storm used it a rally later at 10-12. By the time the powerplays were complete, the two sides were locked at 14-14 and continuing to go point for point.
At 16-all, Adelaide won the crucial next point to create the first match point of the match, however Melbourne were able to defuse it.
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The Vipers continued to deny the Storm opportunities to close it out, crushing four consectutive match points to lock the match at 20-all.
It was then Melbourne’s turn to try and get their hands on the bronze medal, however this time Adelaide shut down five consecutive match points.
The Vipers finally managed to get the job done on their sixth attempt, winning the 52nd point of the set to take the bronze medal.
Vipers veteran Paul Sanderson commended the young players in the side who got tough when the tough got going.
“It was good to see some real men’s volleyball there at the end – that’s what it is, high quality men’s volleyball: sideout, sideout, sideout – try to get a break point by making good decisions, serve hard and block hard,” he said.
“It was great to see the young guys amongst it under the lights playing some real men’s volleyball. They’ve really stepped up as the year’s gone by.
“Yesterday we struggled in the last three [sets] but good to pick it up today after a short break, get out and do the job. The medal’s the wrong colour, but it’s always good to win the last game of the season.”
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