Phoenix Women Rise in Nailbiter Against the Steel

The NSW Phoenix Women collected an impressive 1-4 win on the road against the Perth Steel in their opening round match of the new Scape Australian Volleyball Super League.

Phoenix’s serve maestro Taciana Moreira had an exceptional night, opening the first set and helping her side take the first five points of the match unanswered. Perth attempted to claw their way back, with Elysse Hislop blocking strongly at the net to keep the Steel in touch, but when Moreira returned to serve NSW opened their lead back up to eventually take the first set 11-18.

Tessa Browne had a big influence on the start of the second set as Perth took the early points, inspiring them to call their first powerplay to build on their advantage. However, NSW defended well to stay 6-6 when the powerplay expired, and from there the two teams traded points until Perth found a groove and pulled away towards the end to claim the set 18-12.

The third set again went point-for-point early on, with both teams calling Powerplays around the same time, cancelling each other out to be locked at 10-10 until some superior blocking and finishing gave the edge to the Phoenix to win it 14-18. The fourth set proved to be a nail-biting decider, but NSW claimed it and the win 17-18. Hislop, Shelby Maher, and Keete Kreen all scored big points for the Steel to get to set point at 17-16, but two unforced errors in the next two points delivered the set to NSW.

Even with the overall win decided the final set also went down to the wire, NSW prevailing 16-18. Phoenix’s Harriet Gilson scored early points with some big hits at Opposite, and the set continued point-for-point all the way. The deciding moment in the set came at 15-15, with a long rally going the way of NSW and giving them the momentum to close it out and confirm the 1-4 win and 8 competition points. The Steel, by virtue of winning a set and keeping the overall points difference below 10 collected 3 competition points.