Women's play-off preview – Darkstar Derbyshire (Super League) v London Giants (NVL Division 1) 

On the one hand, they have secured their highest ever position in the MAAREE Women’s Super League by finishing in seventh spot. On the other, because of restructuring, instead of being safe - as has been the case when they have finished eighth previously - they instead find themselves in a battle to stay in the top flight. 

As a consequence, their play-off game against London Giants tomorrow (12th April) is likely to decide whether the campaign is one to be fondly remembered, or not. 

Win, and they can be proud of the fact they have hit back strongly from a precarious position at the turn of the year to preserve their Super League status. Lose, and the club will need to regroup and, along with neighbours the University of Nottingham, who have already been relegated, look to bounce straight back. 

It’s a scenario not lost on long-serving middle Rachel Murray, who says the team are determined to get over the line. 

“We feel like we have had a really good season overall because we have finished higher than ever before and we made it to the National Cup semi-finals, having previously never been beyond the quarters,” she said. 

“But we are still in a position where we have to fight for our Super League Lives because it’s eight teams next year, not 10. 

“If you’d asked a few months ago how we would assess the season then it would have been a very different answer to now. 

“For whatever reason, it seems quite typical of us to have a slow start and things were not looking too good, but we have managed to turn things around and built some momentum into the second half of the season. 

“Even from set points down we have won sets and there is more belief. 

“I think the game where we saw things start to change was the Super League Live game we played at Leeds against Lionhearts Vinarius. 

“Although we lost 3-2, we had lost 3-0 just a few weeks beofe and didn’t look and feel good, whereas we took it to five the second time and looked like we could win it. 

“I think we had a break then, around Christmas, and you wondered if we could carry it into the New Year, but we did and, with a lot of hard work, we have been much better in the second half of the season." 

In fact, Darkstar won five out of their last six league matches, meaning they were transformed from a side seemingly doomed to relegation to one that pushed Durham Palatinates hard to stay in Super League as of right. 

Now Murray hopes she and her teammates can get over the line in the play-off to complete a great escape, but know taking on a Giants side - whose only two league defeats were to league champions Newcastle Knights - that it will be no easy task. 

She said: “Playing a team from Division 1, we are a bit more in the dark about what to expect from them as there isn’t the same access to footage and analysis as in Super League. 

“We have a quiet confidence because of how we finished the season, but we also need to be of the understanding that when you’re playing a side that’s had such a great season, if we are not on top of things, then things are going to go wrong and we are going to be punished. 

“It would mean a lot for us to stay in Super League and show that we are developing. For me, as one of the older players who has come through the divisions from the regional leagues, it would be great to carryon playing at the top level.” 

Giants captain and libero Venous Khodabandehlou is just as hungry to clinch a place in the country’s elite clubs, having helped the team hit the ground running following promotion. 

The 2023-24 season saw them remained undefeated in league fixtures in winning Division 2 South and they have carried that excellent form into playing at the higher level. 

But for the excellence of the Knights, who lost just one game compared to the Giants two, the team might already be celebrating going up. 

But they still have the opportunity to make that a reality at the second time of asking and are champing at the bit to do so. 

“It’s been a great achievement to finish second in Division 1, and we’ve been on amazing journey as a team,” said Khodabandehlou. 

“We have had a core group of players who have stepped up followed the promotion and added some new players to that. 

“We have carried that same spirit through and competed well in all our games and we have taken something from the matches we have lost to Newcastle and Durham in the National Cup, and believe we can compete. 

“We have to be ready to go up against the big blockers and make sure that we are ready from a defensive perspective. 

“We are absolutely buzzing to be in the play-offs and we will be putting every bit of preparation and effort into this game." 

Assessing their opponents, Khodabandehlou recognises that Darkstar have really hit their straps of late, making it as tough an assignment as they have faced all season. 

She added: “I have been looking at their results in the second half of the season and the middle of the table was quite close. 

“In previous years in this play-off we would have played the team in ninth position, but now we are playing the team that finished seventh, which makes it that much harder. 

“But from our perspective, we aren’t going to worry about the opposition too much and instead focus on what we can do. We have done a lot of refining throughout the season and worked very hard, so we don’t want to let this opportunity go. 

“I am beyond proud of what each and every one of the girls has put into the team this season and to get promotion to Super League would really cap it off.” 

There are also six other matches taking place involving women’s teams who are looking to secure promotion to NVL Division 1 or NVL Division 2. 

The two teams with the best record from the round-robin between Miners Doncaster (2N), Bedminster (2W) and Northampton (2E) will go up to Division 1. 

Leeds Gorse 3 (3N) and Darkstar Derbyshire 2 (3C), as well as Tendring (3SE) and Bristol 2 (3SW), will play semi-finals and those two winners will contest a final that will decide who is promoted to Division 2 for next season.  

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You can watch the Darkstar Derbyshire v London Giants match by clicking here and also tune in to all the women's play-off matches on the Volleyball England YouTube Channel.