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Super League review (15th and 16th March) - Cambridge and Essex Blaze relegated as Darkstar and Richmond live to fight another day
The university side have been part of the top fight since being promoted at the end of the 2018-19 season, but they will now be playing Division 1 volleyball next season after a disappointing second half of the season that saw them win just once in eight matches.
Their final game of the season gave them an outside hope of salvaging a play-off spot for finishing seventh, providing they could somehow overcome last season’s National Cup winners, Team SideOut Polonia.
However, it proved to be too tough of an ask against a side who have been in fine form throughout the campaign and the visitors ran out 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 winners at the Stephen Purse Foundation.
Yulia Tokarenko was the victor’s MVP after completing 12 of 14 attempts to return serve, 17 kills, one block and nine digs.
For Cambridge, Krystalynn Leomiti (pictured top) served one ace, made five kills, one block and two digs and assisted on 22 occasions from 84 attempts to win their MVP vote.
The result means the bottom half of the final table is now set, as, though Darkstar Derbyshire have a final game against the University of Nottingham this coming weekend, their inferior set quotient means then can’t improve on seventh, even if they win 3-0.
At the other end, behind Polonia, who finished second, Essex Rebels rounded off their regular season campaign with an expected victory over already-relegated University of Nottingham, triumphing 25-17, 25-23, 25-21.
Adele Sotgiu completed 14 out of 15 successful service returns and 12 digs to win the UoN MVP, while Veronika Rubinova took the honours for the Rebels with 25 successful service return attempts from 30 attempts and four digs.
There was also a routine success for Lionhearts Vinarius, who clocked up a 12th victory of the campaign by seeing off bottom club Wessex 25-18, 25-11, 25-20 in the captial.
Mallory Porcher was Lionhearts’ MVP with one ace, five kills, two assists from three attempts and three digs.
Vicky Palmer was the pick of the Wessex players to be MVP as she served one ace, successfully returned serve from all 17 attempts, made four kills, two blocks and 10 digs.
The upshot is that table toppers Malory will play Lionhearts while Team SideOut Polonia will take on Essex Rebels in the Final 4 at Crystal Palace on 5th and 6th April.
Get your Final 4 tickets here.
The weekend saw the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League regular season completed in its entirety, with the main issue still to be resolved was who would accompany Stockport and IBB Polonia in being relegated and who would live to fight another day by securing the play-off spot for finishing seventh.
Richmond Docklands went in as strong favorities to finish higher as the team with a six-point lead, but they knew they still needed at least one more to condemn Essex Blaze, who had a double weekend and the chance to earn six points, to relegation.
And the Londoners did exactly that by battling back from two sets down to square their match at Durham Palatinates at 2-2.
Though the hosts went on to eventually win the match 3-2 (25-23, 25-12, 24-26, 17-25, 15-6) it was enough to open up an unbridgeable gap.
Ace Backer was the Palatinates MVP and Vitor Oliveira was selected for Docklands.
Essex did all the could in their Saturday encounter, beating Final 4-bound Newcastle Knights in four at St John Payne School (25-23. 25-20, 17-25, 25-22).
Adam Ketley was chosen as MVP for Essex and Oliver Tuck was picked for the Knights.
They knew their Sunday match against IBB Polonia was effectively a dead rubber, but they nevertheless showed great pride and no little fighting spirit to edge to a sixth success of the season.
Twice they fought back from a set down before clinching the decider by just two points (24-26, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 15-13) underlining they could be strong contenders to bounce back next season.
Nathan French was MVP for the Blaze and Tai Yat Chau was chosen for IBB.
The University of Nottingham secured fifth place, ahead of Durham, by defeating table toppers Essex Rebels at the Davud Ross Sports Village.
Both sides were much changed but it was the Green and Golds who prevailed 25-23, 15-25, 22-25, 25-21.
Ben Gladstone was MVP for the hosts as he successfully completed all 14 attempts to return serves, made 14 kills, two blocks and four digs, as well as two assists from three attempts.
Malory Eagles warmed up for Final 4 with a straight sets victory in their final regular season game against Stockport (25-20, 30-28, 25-21).
Logan Clark, for the winners, and Matt Birch for Stockport picked up the MVP awards.
In the Men’s Final 4, Essex Rebels will face Newcastle Knights and Malory Eagles will play London Giants.
Get your Final 4 tickets here.
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