Gold Steel: Perth Women Triumph Over Pirates

The Perth Steel have been crowned Women’s Champions for the 2023 Scape Australian Volleyball Super League season, defeating the Queensland Pirates 3-1 in the Gold medal match at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo.

The Steel came flying out of the blocks and established a solid five-point buffer before the Pirates could really get themselves sorted. The combination of Elysse Hislop, Shelby Maher, and Victoria Wells were dominant once again for Perth. Queensland called their PowerPlay at 15-10 to try to make up the difference, but Perth defended two out of three rally points before taking their second set-point opportunity to round out the opener 18-13.

Queensland made a challenge in the second set, but Perth had answers for every question the Pirates asked of them, eventually dominating the set and winning 18-9.

But the Pirates found their groove in the third set, with Lucy Watkins and Amy McCarthy both influential in giving them a lead. The teams called duelling PowerPlays at 10-11, but Queensland came out the better, winning two of their next three rallies, giving them just enough momentum to close out the set 16-18 and open the title race again.

In the fourth set the Pirates continued their form, racing out to a 7-11 lead thanks to some great efforts by Rebecca Ingram. Duelling PowerPlays were again called, but Perth benefited the most and Tessa Browne proved her value at the net to draw the sides level at 13-13. Browne was also on hand with a Monster Block on match point do deliver Perth the Gold Medal, winning the fourth set 18-16.