The 2026 Mahindra Australian Volleyball Super League season begins this weekend, with Perth Steel heading to Melbourne for a highly anticipated Round 1 clash against the Melbourne Vipers. After months of preparation, both Perth Steel teams are eager to begin their national campaign and test themselves against some of Australia’s best volleyball talent.
The opening round provides an early opportunity to build momentum and lay the foundations for what promises to be another exciting Super League season.
The Perth Steel Women arrive as defending champions, carrying the confidence of last year’s success while embracing the challenge of maintaining their position at the top of the competition. Women’s Head Coach Pauline Manser believes the season presents an opportunity for the squad to continue developing and raise its standards even further.
“The 2026 season provides an exciting opportunity for us to further develop our style and strengthen our game. As the current champions, we know there will be added pressure and expectations, but we see this as a chance to grow, rise to the challenge, and continue setting high standards.”
Women’s Captain Shelby Maher said the squad has continued to build on the foundations of its championship-winning campaign and is excited by the depth and quality within the group.
“I’m excited to head into another year with such a strong lineup of girls. We’ve continued to challenge each other at every training session, constantly building on the high standards we’ve already created as a team. You can expect the same level of military systems and intensity on court, with a little extra spice from some exciting new additions to the squad.”
The blend of returning experience and fresh talent has created healthy competition across the roster, with the team eager to showcase its identity and continue setting the benchmark in the competition.
Meanwhile, the Perth Steel Men are looking to build on consecutive silver-medal finishes and take the next step towards a championship. Entering his third season with the program, Men’s Head Coach Rory Read said the group has put together its strongest preparation yet and is excited by the blend of experienced players and emerging talent within the squad.
“Coming into my third year working with the boys it has been great to have a mix of new and old faces involved in the group. The boys put together their best pre-season training block and the depth across all positions and mix of youthful excitement and senior leaders has seen the group continue to grow the base we have worked on for the last few years.
“The team welcomes back Ky Landers and Ryan Slater from overseas and is excited to see how Jose Martinez grabs his opportunity in Spain this season. We are excited to start our season against the Vipers and once again try to get ourselves into a position to compete for the title and represent WA and our fans the right way.”
Men’s Captain Dylan Wood said the group is motivated to go one step further after back-to-back runner-up finishes and is confident the mix of returning leaders and younger athletes will strengthen the squad.
“Coming off back-to-back silver medals, the boys are definitely hungry to take the next step this season. We’ve got a really interesting mix of experienced players returning and some young guys coming through, and I think that’s going to bring a lot of energy, new ideas and excitement to the group.
“With more away games this year, we’ll have some new challenges to deal with, but I’m excited to see what we can build together and hopefully give ourselves a chance to go one better.”
The Melbourne trip will provide an important first test for both Perth Steel teams as they open their Super League campaigns against a strong Vipers outfit. While the women look to begin the defence of their title on a positive note, the men will be aiming to continue their progression and establish themselves among the championship contenders once again.
With new faces, returning stars and months of hard work behind them, the opening weekend marks the beginning of another exciting chapter for Perth Steel. Fans can follow the teams throughout the season as they proudly represent Western Australia on the national stage and chase success in the 2026 Australian Volleyball Super League.
Massive thank you to our Perth Steel sponsors and partners. The success of our teams is not possible without their support.
