Perth women show Steel to claim title

Perth Steel have taken out the 2023 Scape Australian Volleyball Super League women’s final with an entertaining 3:1 victory over the Queensland Pirates at Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena.

The West Australians jumped out to a two-set advantage before Queensland came within two points of forcing a fifth set. However some of Perth’s big names stood up when it counted most to seal the win.

Earlier in the day the Melbourne Vipers claimed their second bronze medal in as many years with a 3:1 victory over Adelaide Storm.

2023 WOMEN’S FINAL
Perth Steel v Queensland Pirates 3:1 (18-13, 18-9, 16-18, 18-16)

After Queensland defeated Perth in the 2022 Australian Volleyball League final, the Steel exacted some revenge in round two of this year’s competition however true retribution could only be gained by reversing the result in this year’s decider.

Perth started the match looking to do just that, streaking to an 8-1 lead before a long serve kickstarted an arm wrestle midway through the set. The Pirates claimed eight of the next 11 points to close the margin to two at 11-9.

Momentum swung back Perth’s way and they led 15-10 when the Pirates went all out on a mission to save the set by calling a powerplay. While they won the first point, the Steel claimed the next two before a lethal finish from skipper Shelby Maher rounded out the opener.

The second set started in much more even fashion, however Perth managed to open up a 10-5 lead when they used their first powerplay. The Steel claimed double points on two of the next three points to open up a commanding eight-point lead, eventually going on to claim the set 18-9.

It was the Pirates who gained the upper hand early in the third set, however Perth clawed their way back to even it up at 10-all before both sides called powerplays with Queensland up 11-10.

The Pirates won two of the next three points to lead 15-12, and while the Steel were able to save one set point, a vicious Rebecca Ingram closed the set out 18-16.

The fourth set was one for the ages with neither side letting the other out of their sights: when Queensland opened up a 7-4 lead, Perth evened up 7-all. The Pirates called a powerplay at 11-7, and after Perth countered with one of their own is was locked up again at 13-all. Back-back points for Queensland were matched by Perth and when they traded the next two points, a set or match point was on the line at 16-all.

Caitlin Whincup buried a ball into the floor to set up match point for Perth and when Tessa Browne capped a stellar performance with a pinpoint block, the Steel bench victoriously stormed the floor.

Captain Shelby Maher said the experience of going down in five sets in last year’s AVL final made the title victory all the more special.

“I think it just means a lot more now,” she said. “The resilience of all the girls to come back, to train harder and work harder is pretty amazing. We knew what it felt like last year and there was no way it was going to happen again.

“I’m so proud of the girls, so proud of the team, so proud of the squad. This was a long time coming and I’m just so happy.”

Steel claim first-ever men’s national title

Perth Steel may have finished the regular season in second place on the competition ladder, but a near-flawless performance in Bendigo this weekend saw them claim the 2023 Scape Australian Volleyball Super League men’s final.

A 3:1 victory over Adelaide Storm in today’s decider completed an undefeated season where they won seven from seven matches, claiming Perth’s first ever national title.

Earlier in the day, Melbourne denied Canberra a medal in their title defence, taking the third place playoff in straight sets.

 

MEN’S FINAL
Perth Steel d Adelaide Storm 3:1 (11-18, 18-16, 19-17, 18-16)

After an epic encounter eight days ago, it was unsurprising the first five minutes of the final saw both sides trading heavy blows. When each team enacted a powerplay, it was Adelaide who gained a three-point advantage at 13-10. After that they were never headed on the way to an 18-11 first set win.

They kept that momentum after the break winning seven of the first eight points of the second set. When Perth won three on the trot, the Storm used a powerplay and finished it with an 11-6 lead.

Adelaide maintained that advantage through to 14-9 when the Steel went all out by using a powerplay of their own and it proved to be a masterstroke. Perth won all three of the powerplay points to take an unlikely 15-14 lead, and although Adelaide evened it up at 16-all, the Steel took the next two points to even up the match.

The Storm gained the early advantage again in the third set and used their final powerplay with a 10–6 lead. After sharing the next two points, Perth called their last powerplay as well. By the time both sides had exhausted all of their double point opportunities, Adelaide held a two-point advantage, but soon after the set was locked up 13-all.

Both sides continued to trade rallies until Adelaide earned the first set point. Perth were not only able to defuse the next rally, they won three points straight to gain a 2:1 lead.

Adelaide opened up a 7-4 lead in the fourth, but after Perth evened it up at 7-7, neither side could gain more than a one-point advantage until Perth went ahead 15-13. Adelaide quickly squared the ledger but the Steel went bang-bang to earn two Championship Points.

While Adelaide were able to save the first, the next serve sailed long and the men completed an undefeated season to turn 2022 bronze into 2023 gold.

“Our whole season has been about 12 in the team, not six on the court,” said Perth coach Mark Petersen. “It’s a combination of the whole pre-season and in every game we’ve built on it. We had belief in ourselves and just to see it in action is great.

“It’s about having confidence in your game and knowing that if you stay patient, stick to what you know; don’t have to do anything extra.

“We talked about ‘our game’ winning this competition and the more we play our game the more we’ll win points and I think it just paid off in the end.