Straight Sets Win Opens Vipers Women Title Hopes

The Melbourne Vipers Women took a 0-5 win against the NSW Phoenix in their last regular season match of 2023, putting them in a strong position to make a challenge for the 2023 Scape Australian Volleyball Super League title during the finals series on the weekend of 16-17 September in Bendigo.

A see-sawing opening set had the Vipers take it by the narrowest of margins, 17-18, but then they showed why they are an outside chance for the title by cruising to wins in the next four sets 10-18, 10-18, 12-18, and 13-18.

Emalini Toleafoa, having a superb individual season, was again a stand-out for the Vipers with her work at the net on defence and offence, while team-mates Jemma Stokes and Giorgina Todesco had influential games as well.

Todesco said the team were pleased with their performance and will now shift their focus to Bendigo with their eyes firmly set on a position in the grand final. 

“We are feeling confident and came up to get the job done and we got it done, so that is really positive, we needed to get it done today purely to get into the finals and then from next week it’s a whole different game. Yeah, it’s a good feeling going into finals for sure,” she said.

For the Phoenix, Volleyroo Laura Reeks returned from a history making performance in Asia a week earlier and delivered another solid performance

The Vipers ended the season just two points shy of top spot, and will play Queensland Pirates in their Semi-Final this Saturday at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo.