Super League review (14th and 15th December) - Polonia and Eagles women now clear front runners

Team SideOut Polonia remain at the summit after registering a 3-1 victory over Durham Palatinates at UEL SportsDock on Saturday. 

They bounced back strongly from dropping a closely-contested first set to claim a 23-25, 25-7, 25-13, 25-23 overall success. 

Yulia Tokarenko was nominated as MVP for the hosts after serving two aces, completing all nine attempts to return service and making 13 kills and eight digs, while Jamie Daley was selected for Durham. 

Three points further back, but having played two less games, are Malory Eagles, who made it eight from eight with a not unexpected triumph over bottom-of-the-table Wessex at Ernest Bevin College. 

The Eagles have still only dropped five sets all season after their latest 25-17, 25-11, 25-13 win on Saturday. 

Stephanie Boyce claimed four kills, two blocks, two assists from eight attempts and made four digs to be MVP for Malory. 

Kamila Maciejewska took the honours for Wessex with two aces, 15 out of 16 successful service return attempts, four kills and 10 digs. 

 

 

It proved to be a miserable weekend for Durham on the road as they also came unstuck against Cambridge ARU on Sunday. 

The North East side slipped to a 5-5 record and were leapfrogged by the hosts, who ran out 25-21, 25-16, 27-29, 26-24 victors. 

Katarina Knezevic was named MVP for the victors and Claire Cossarini for the Palatinates. 

The other women’s match played on Sunday, saw Essex Rebels move back into fourth spot and take their record to 6-3 with a straight sets win over the University of Nottingham. 

Their 26-25, 25-22, 25-16 success compounded the Green and Golds woes as they remain third from bottom in the table and facing a battle to avoid relegation. 

Chelsea Simmons served one ace, completed three kills, registered one block and made six digs, in addition to claiming 35 assists from 77 attempts to be chosen as MVP. 

Fellow setter Abi Ketley notched 26 assists from 85 attempts as well serving one ace and competing one block and eight digs to be picked out for Nottingham. 

 

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In the Dynamik Men’s Super League, Essex Rebels and the Malory Eagles continue to be the two dominant forces as both won again and have lost just once each this season. 

Malory were the first of the rivals in action on Saturday as they made it seven wins from eight to retain leadership at the top, this time beating Stockport 25-15, 25-12, 26-28, 25-18. 

Nathan Fullerton was MVP for the home side and Haydn Lawson for the visitors. 

The Rebels followed up with their own maximum points haul after digging deep to come from a set down to beat the University of Nottingham 19-25, 25-18, 30-28, 25-23. 

Jacob Kern claimed a game high 26 kills to be MVP for the Rebels and also added 20 successful service returns from 23 attempts, one block, one assists and six digs. 

 

 

Griffin Walters was voted UoN’s MVP for his five aces, eight successful service returns from eight attempts, 20 kills and three blocks. 

It proved to be a frustrating weekend for the East Midlands side, who also lost out 3-2 in a hard-fought battle at Essex Blaze on Saturday. 

The visitors twice led but were eventually edged out in the tie break decider to give the improving hosts a third triumph of the season (19-25, 25-22, 14-25, 25-25, 15-12). 

One ace, all 13 service attempts successfully returned, eight kills, six blocks and six digs saw Nathan French given the MVP award for the Blaze. 

Walters was again the stand-out player for the visitors and could consider himself to be unlucky to be on the losing side after four aces, all 24 service return attempts being successful, 31 kills, three blocks, two assists and eight digs.  

 

 

The round of fixtures also saw a Thursday night match, where Newcastle Knights completed the double over Stockport and are now fourth in the standings. 

Following a 3-0 home victory over the Greater Manchester side last weekend, the Blue and Reds again came out on top at Life Leisure Brinnington Park, securing a 25-20, 19-25, 25-21, 25-21 success. 

Oliver Tuck served four aces, successfully returned service 19 times from 20 attempts and completed 10 kills, five blocks, one assist and eight digs to be Knights’ MVP. 

Haydn Lawson took the first of his two MVP awards for the fixtures round in serving three aces and completing all 17 service return attempts, 10 kills, one block, one assist and eight digs.

Images from Essex Rebels v University of Nottingham matches by Keeran Marquis

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