Final 4 review - Malory Eagles and London Giants are national champions after gold medal successes

The Eagles, who finished top of the regular season table, overpowered both their Saturday opponents London Lionhearts and Essex Rebels in Sunday's final by straight sets scorelines. 

In contrast, the Giants, who qualified in third, had to do it the hard way, going the full five sets in both their semi-final against Malory Eagles and then again in the final against regular table toppers Essex Rebels. 

For Malory women, it was a first top-fight league title triumph since the noughties, when the club won the Division 1 title five times in seven seasons during the pre-Super League era, the last of them in 2009-10. 

They had underlined their intentions in the weekend's opening match, coming through a first set where they were pushed hard to gradually exert their dominance against Lionhearts, eventually prevailing 25-21, 25-17, 21-14. 

The other semi-final, however, produced plenty of drama as Team Sideout Polonia looked well set to face the Eagles after winning the first two sets against Essex Rebels. 

However, the BUCs champions hit back hard to take the third set and that changed the momentum of the match, allowing them to complete a reverse sweep by taking the decider by just two points (20-25, 14-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-13).  

The Rebels' men followed next in the first of the men's semi-finals where they were made to work hard extremely hard for victory against Newcastle Knights. 

The North East side took the first set and the Colchester-based side the next two before Sam Shenton's side found a second wind to level at 2-2. 

A tense decider followed, where Alex Porter's men edged over the line by the narrowest of margins to wrap up a 23-25, 25-22, 25-18, 13-25, 16-14 victory. 

The second semi-final was just as hard-fought and tense, with London Giants exerting themselves early by taking the first set, before Malory battled back to go 2-1 in front. 

But player-Head Coach Mihail Stoev rallied his troops and got the response he wanted as the Giants first squared the match and then edged a third two-point final set in a row (17-25, 25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 13-15). 

That set the scene for a memorable medals day on Sunday with the women's and men's bronze medal matches preceding the fight for gold. 

First on court were Team Sideout Polonia and London Lionhearts, who served up an entertaining encounter that swung first one way and then the other. 

Polonia stole in front twice, but each time Davide Tiberti's team found the spirit to hit back, before the National Cup holders eventually stretched away in the fifth (25-19, 17-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7). 

On the men's side, things were far more straightforward for Malory Eagles, who had just enough in each of the sets to see off the challenge of Newcastle Knights 25-21, 26-24, 25-22. 

Next up were the gold medal matches, as the women played first, where Malory's 3-0 triumph was well deserved. 

Led by a mesmerising display from England Middle Blocker Grace Lazard, who won the MVP award, they had too much for Alex Chinery's side on this occasion to emerge 25-23, 25-22, 25-19 victors. 

"I couldn't ask for a better result and a better team to have the moment with," she said afterwards. "I'm incredibly happy and proud of what we have achieved. 

"Everybody has the skill and ability to be here, but the fact we were all united as one team has brought the best out of each and every single player. 

"We brought our best volleyball to the table when it mattered and our squad strength really makes a difference." 

The men's final that followed was a fitting ending to a thrilling weekend of volleyball in another match that went the distance. 

At 2-0 down, Essex looked dead and buried, but found the inner strength and resolve to haul themselves back level at 2-2. 

However, the Giants got off to the better start in the decider and held their nerve to seal a 25-13, 25-14, 16-25, 26-28, 13-15 success. 

It means they have become top-flight champions at the first attempt, having won promotion via the play-offs at the end of last season. 

Indian Opposite Lovepreet Sandhu, the game's MVP, said: "There's a lot of hard work gone into this and I love that we have ended up winning it. 

"It's because of our coach and managing team that we have managed to do it. We played well in first two sets and then finished it at the end. The fans also helped us get over the line, cheering every point." 

The weekend saw more than 900 spectators in attendance across the eight matches, while there were almost 18,000 views on Volleyball England's live streaming service. 

Volleyball England Chief Executive Officer Charlie Ford said: "From bringing the event to Crystal Palace and some amazing, nail-biting matches to some excellent, enthusiastic crowds and growing viewership online, the event has been a big success. 

"With each passing major event we are trying to push the sport forward by increasing engagement and interest in it, and I think the weekend was another sizeable step forward in that process. 

"As ever, I would like to thank all the officials, volunteers, Hub staff and spectators as well as, of course, the coaches and players, for making the second edition of Final 4 the fantastic spectacle it was." 

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Don't forget you can relive all the action from Final 4 Weekend 2025 on our YouTube Channel by going to youtube.com/@vballengland.

If you're thirsty for more great volleyball action, don't forget that tickets are available for Cup Finals Weekend 2025 on 26th and 27th April by clicking here.