Vipers Men See Off Phoenix Challenge

The Melbourne Vipers Men have secured their spot in the 2023 Scape Australian Volleyball Super League Finals Series in Bendigo, weekend of 16-17 September, with an epic 2-3 win on the road against the NSW Phoenix.

A spot in the finals was still technically on the line for the winner, depending on final competition points haul, and NSW came out knowing that they had to win well in order to take that spot away from the Vipers. The Phoenix blew the Vipers away 18-11 in the first set to lay down the challenge.

Stung into action, Melbourne bounced back to claim the second set 13-18, but the Phoenix rallied again in the third to win it 18-16 and force everyone watching on to starting running calculations on exactly what was still possible ladder-wise with two sets remaining.

Scott Johnson was impressive throughout for the Vipers, and was instrumental in them winning the fourth set 14-18, forcing the match into a fifth-set decider. Despite staying within two rally points for most of the set, the Phoenix just couldn’t close the gap, leaving the Vipers to claim the final set 15-18 and take the majority of the competition points on offer, booking their place in the finals series.

Phoenix Coach Alec Walker noted that, while his young players got in some good blocks, it’s hard against a powerhouse like former international Paul Sanderson.

“Tough coming up against a former national player still near the peak of his powers. Some of the boys have never faced the heat of that serve before,” Walker said.

The Vipers now turn their focus to Bendigo and the finals with a focus on consistency and maintaining the high energy levels as they look to be crowned the 2023 champions.