That Volleyball Guy
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Super League - Time Out
The Heritage Show
Digger Deeper
That Volleyball Guy
Super League Timeout - 15th and 16th March 2025
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In this episode of Super League Time-Out, I break down all the action from this weekend's matches across the Maaree Women’s Super League and Dynamik Men’s Super League!
Joining me this week are three American athletes from the Essex Rebels Women’s team—Thea, Chelsea, and Alexis—as they discuss their win over UON, reflect on their season so far, and share how they’re preparing for their Final Four semi-final against Team Sideout.
Elsewhere in the Maaree Women’s Super League, the final relegation spot has been confirmed—Cambridge ARU’s time in the top flight comes to an end, while Darkstar Derbyshire secures a playoff place.
Over in the Dynamik Men’s Super League, despite a loss to UON, Essex Rebels clinch the regular season title with a win over Essex Blaze, setting up a Final Four semi-final against Newcastle Knights. Meanwhile, Essex Blaze join IBB Polonia and Stockport in relegation after Richmond picked up a crucial point to secure 7th place and a playoff spot.
Tune in now for all the latest on the Super League, and don’t forget—Final Four is happening on 5th & 6th April at Crystal Palace Sports Centre! Get your tickets now at the Volleyball England website.
Connecting Through Conversation
That Volleyball Guy.
Speaker 3:Hello, I'm Luke.
Speaker 2:Wiltshire, the host of that Volleyball Guy, and if you love volleyball as much as me, then you're in the right place. That Volleyball Guy, hello and welcome to another episode of that Volleyball Guy Super League Time Out Show in partnership with Volleyball England. Wow, what another exciting weekend of volleyball we had for you as the regular season comes to the close, with just one more league match to take place in the Maori Women's Super League this season. And can I just start by saying what a season of volleyball. It has been Probably the most competitive I have seen in my time in volleyball in the UK, and I've been involved in volleyball in England for the last 15 years. A reminder that last year's winners Durham in both the Women's Super League and the Men's Super League, both securing their place in the Super League for next season but not making the final four this time round. So just shows you the changes that we've had in both the Maori Women's Super League and the Dynamic Men's Super League. So this weekend's fixtures then. They have now confirmed the order of the top four and, more importantly, they've confirmed the six teams which will now be relegated from the Super League and the teams that will be finishing in seventh playing off against the teams that finish second in the National League and the teams that will be finishing in seventh. Playing off against the teams that finish second in the National League, division One, to claim their place in next season's Super League, which will be a league made up of the top eight teams in a slightly new format with Volleyball England. A reminder, then, that you can get your hands on some final four tickets at the Volleyball England website.
Speaker 2:The event is going to be epic a huge showdown of the best volleyball in this country for sure and it will be taking place on the 5th and 6th of April at the Crystal Palace Sports Centre in London, a really, really iconic venue for volleyball in this country, which has hosted many international games and cup finals over the years, and a really, really iconic venue to play volleyball in. So it's going to be great. It's going to be an amazing weekend of volleyball Four matches for you on the Saturday, four matches for you on the Sunday. So if you can get yourself down there, you are going to be part of a really good crowd and it's going to be a great atmosphere to watch some of the best volleyball in the country. If you're not able to get there, don't worry, because the event will be streamed from the Volleyball England media team, with a great commentary team for you, and you'll be able to watch all the action from home. But if you can get there, I would urge you all to do it because it is going to be a great weekend of volleyball.
Speaker 2:So before we dive into this weekend's action, then I just want to start by saying a huge thank you for all the love and support that I am getting for this podcast. I started this podcast last year in the summer last year and in January this year partnered with Volleyball England to produce more content for our amazing volleyball community. I'm blown away by the messages and support that I receive on social media and messages to myself and, like I said, this podcast is all about growing our sport in this country, sharing stories with the amazing volleyball community, and I just urge you all to share it. Spread the love, because it's a real sense of community we've got in this country with volleyball. And look, volleyball in this country is definitely evolving like, for me, my opinion, super League has really evolved and developed over the last couple of years the streaming, the Final Four concept but volleyball's not always been like this in this country and it's definitely on an upward trajectory.
Speaker 2:Interestingly, I sat down with ex-BVF British Volleyball Federation President, richard Cullycott and Chairman of Volleyball England in a Heritage episode, which is an episode of this podcast dedicated to celebrate and share the stories of people from our sport who have given so much of their time and made volleyball in this country what it is today.
Speaker 2:So if you haven't listened to that episode yet, I'd urge you all to go and listen to it, part one of the conversation with Richard, as he shares his experience and his journey and all the hard work and dedication he's put in, like so many volunteers out there, to make volleyball what it is today. So this week let's start with the Marey Women's Super League and I'm going to start with the Essex Rebels women's team, who had an expected win over already relegated side University of Nottingham, and the Essex Rebel team finished third in the regular season and I'm really pleased today to be joined on the show by Chelsea Simmons, alexis Diaz-Infante and Taya Shamblin from the Essex Rebels team, who have all joined us on the show today. So thank you for joining us and welcome to the show all of you.
Speaker 4:Hi, thanks for having us.
Speaker 2:Thank you for being here. I know you've just got off the court, so I really appreciate you giving some of your time. So, chelsea, I'm going to start with you. Then talk to us about your win at the weekend over the University of Nottingham. How was your team's performance?
Speaker 4:Yeah, we had a great team performance over the weekend. We were all pretty excited. It was our last game of the season and it was just a good time and a great way to close out what's been such a long season, but also really rewarding. And we had a great time and we were happy to win 3-0 and get some people on the court that maybe aren't playing all the time. And everybody played great and it's always just really great giving everybody their time because we're all putting in the same amount of effort and time every week. So it was great.
Speaker 2:Awesome, and you mentioned there about giving people court time. You've got I know from your roster that you've got a good depth in your squad so able to sort of bring in some players that, like you say, might not have had as much court time during the season. In a game that you know, on paper, you were favourites to obviously go and win. But what were you really pleased about then? About the team's performance from the weekend? What aspect of the game?
Speaker 4:Yeah, I think, overall, our team is a great hustle team. So, no matter what um everyone, when they get their time on the court, we were all just running down balls, not being scared to swing and um, knowing that all of our teammates had their backs with covering or making calls or, you know, supporting whoever um, you know, supporting whoever you know was making the contact at that moment and, yeah, it's always just really fun to support, you know, everybody else. When someone makes really cool play, we're all just, you know, jumping up and down just the same as if it was the final four games. So it's really awesome that we have such great depth.
Speaker 2:Awesome. So, Alexis, talk to me a little bit then about this season. So, finishing in third how has the season been for you guys and how are you with your finishing in third? How do you feel about that?
Speaker 3:I think the season has definitely been pretty awesome for us. I think we've done we've gone leaps and bounds, especially for this year for the Essex Rebels. I think obviously we'd love to finish always, you always want to finish higher, but I think finishing third is a really good place for us to be at, and I think we've done an amazing job of, with the length of the season, making sure that we're consistently supporting one another through practices and through games and just being one unit together as we play.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you mentioned there about being slightly disappointed, or you would always want to finish higher than you can, so is there any game in particular for you?
Speaker 3:that you were disappointed in or thought we should have won that one. Oh gosh, I feel like every game you lose, you feel like you could have won at some point right. So I don't know if there's maybe particularly one game. You know, I think that the desire to finish higher is just from never being satisfied. I think we are a very hungry team. I think we're a team that always wants to be getting better and better, so I wouldn't say there's one particular game. I think any time in which we maybe lost a set or lost a game, there's always an opportunity to find a way to be better and to maybe to have won. That I really just think it's because we're a team that's never satisfied and we want to keep getting better and better each time high standards.
Speaker 2:I like it. So talk to us a little bit about your preparation in in your preparation for your final four match against um side out polonia. So you know you're going to be taking them on um they've won against you. Uh, you won. You beat them recently three, two in an epic game and I know there was lots of, lots of sort of debate and there's some big points in that game, um, and then obviously they beat you earlier in the season. So how are you feeling and how are you preparing for that match?
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I think, coming off of a loss to side out, we came back extra hungry, as Alexis had mentioned like those are ones that don't really sit right with us, especially when we feel like we haven't played our best, which is super disappointing because we work so hard in our preparation. We practice five, six times a week. We lift two, three times a week. We watch film once or twice a week. We study our team. We study our own team and our opponents. So we put a lot of effort and time and energy into these preparations for these games and with our win against Side Out, we also did a lot of preparation with film and studying their players, their um and our coach, alex Jennery. He made a great game plan for us. We stuck to it and it worked for us, along with all of our hustle and hustle plays, like Chelsea mentioned earlier yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2:I've managed to watch some of the highlights from your team over the season and hustle hustle is a good word to describe what you, what you guys, do on the court. You know, never, never, let the ball touch the floor flying around. Good, some epic defence. So what do you think is going to be the key to beating team side out in your semi-final match? Then? What do you think is going to be the key for you?
Speaker 1:I think for side out specifically, but also for most teams. I think, and a lot of us think, that whoever wins serve and pass wins the game. Serve and serve, receive is going to win us this game for sure.
Speaker 2:Awesome, yeah, no, it's such a crucial part of the game, right, and it's if you're newer to the sport, some people don't often recognise and realise how important serve and pass is. You know, and it's great to get a ball, hit a ball as hard as you can inside the three meter line, but the game's won its 11 pass in my opinion. So I completely agree with you. Um, chelsea going coming back to you then. So you've got a big game before your semi-final. You've got a Bucks final where you're taking on Durham, I believe, this Wednesday yep and how are you feeling about that?
Speaker 2:because last year they, they, they beat you. How are you feeling about this match?
Speaker 4:yeah, oh, I am very excited that our team has gotten back to the finals.
Speaker 4:Uh, I know I came in last year mid-season and, um, I was really excited to be playing in the finals but, you know, kind of just being rushed into it this year.
Speaker 4:I'm just so proud of the team that I've been playing on. Being able to be here from the start and seeing our team, you know, evolve from August until March is really crazy and amazing, day in and day out, every all the work that's been put in. So we're all really excited to have ended up in the finals because we definitely worked for it and, um, durham has been an amazing program, that's. You know, they've always put up great teams and this year, um, I'm just really excited to be playing them again and knowing that we can compete with them and also understanding that our players from last year kind of learned our program's history and what some of the teams that some of the girls on our team have been through their seasons have looked like and how they're going to be able to be program changers and, you know, really make history for our coach, our program and, you know, our other teammates and I'm really proud of all of us for getting there, and we're all really excited to play in the game as well.
Speaker 2:Awesome, so I just wanted to finish by just asking for your opinion, really. So, alexis, I'm going to start with you.
Speaker 3:You've obviously played in America and I believe you've played in Italy, so talk to us a little bit about how volleyball in england compares to your experiences um, yeah, I had the the honestly a blessing of playing in rome for about nine months last year for an italian team, and it was a really great experience.
Speaker 3:I have loved playing here in the super league. I think it keeps getting more and more competitive every single year. You mentioned at the beginning of the podcast that you consider this one of the most competitive years, and that's really cool, and I feel really fortunate and grateful that not only I get to be a part of that year, but that all of us get to be a part of the Super League being in one of its most competitive years, and it's been really amazing to see that it continues to grow and it continues to bring in more talent every single year, because that's what you want for a program and what you want for the Super League in England. So I think it's been an amazing year, full of some very competitive teams and very competitive players, and it's been such a pleasure to be a part of it.
Speaker 2:Thank you, taya. How about you then? So I know you've played over in America, so how are you finding volleyball in England?
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I came from a smaller d3 program um, we were hustlers but it was a smaller program and to be able to come here and play at essex where we have such great facilities, our coach, alex chenery he runs an amazing program. It's super organized, it's it's very um rigorous in a lot of ways and a lot of time and effort, but I think it's amazing, the community over here, everything about it, has just been such a great experience.
Speaker 2:Awesome, and Chelsea then captain of your team. How are you finding your volleyball experience in England and how does it compare to playing elsewhere?
Speaker 4:Yeah, I can just support what the girls just said. It's just been a great program through volleyball and basketball, men and women's, there's just been this really big drive towards working hard and being hustlers and getting extra reps and, you know, going the extra mile, and it's just something that I'm really proud to be a part of. And I'm also proud to be a part of the development of women's sports, specifically in England, and being Americans where, you know, we're helping the development of youth sports and also women's sports in not only our own country, which we have before and now we're also doing it in another country. So both of these girls and the rest of our team definitely, and everyone else in the Super League have, you know, a lot to be proud of and it's really cool to see how the sport is continuing to grow and specifically this Super League as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I couldn't. I agree with what you've all said. I think you know I've been around volleyball in this country for the last 15 years and the Super League in the last couple of years has really stepped up a gear, developed itself with a new concept like Final Four, the streaming that we get, you know the crowds, and I know that the Final Four being at Crystal Palace, being, you know, being hosted in the capital, is going to attract a much bigger crowd. So, yes, I thank you ever so much for giving us uh, you know, giving me up some of your time, and I know you've just come off the court, so I'm gonna leave you to to enjoy the rest of your evening and, um, good luck for your matches on wednesday and thank you ever so much for joining us thank you, thank you great stuff.
Speaker 2:So really, really privileged and, yeah, loved the conversation with all three of the women there from the Essex Rebels side. So elsewhere in the Maori Women's Super League. Then Cambridge ARU. Their time in the top flight has come to an end following their home defeat to second place team Sideout Polonia. The home team did push last season's runners-up and cup winners, but the London-based team were just too strong for Cambridge and managed to get a 3-0 win 25-22, 25-21, 25-22. Cambridge have been in the top flight since the 2019-2020 season, but their time has now come to an end. A really disappointing second half of the season for them, where they won just one game out of eight, means they will be playing their volleyball in National League Division One next season. They'll be joined then in Division One by South Coast side Wessex, who were beaten by the fourth place team, london Lionhearts, at the weekend. Maori Super League top blocker Mallory Porcher for London Lionhearts picking up another MVP with one ace and five kills, and another MVP award going to the experienced Olympian, vicky Palmer, with one ace, a solid passing game, four kills and two blocks. Wessex have struggled this season, new to the league, and it's tough. It's really tough, going from Division One to the Super League. I know that as really tough going from division one to the super league. I know that as a coach previously who coached in the super league, it's tough to adapt and change the style and the speed of the game at this level. And also teams, as the essex rebels uh women just explained there, take it up a gear with their programmes and especially the teams that are linked with universities. The standard in the Super League is is just developing all the time. So, as I mentioned, one game left in the regular season in the Maori Women's Super League where we see Dark Star taking on the University of Nottingham. Dark Star have confirmed their place in seventh position, so that means they are in the playoff place and they'll take on either London Giants or Newcastle Knights from Division One. They both have two games left and second place in Division One will, like I say, take on Dark Star.
Speaker 2:So to recap then, let's recap on the Maori Women's Super League. So finishing the regular season in first is Mallory Eagles, who finished third last year, winning 17 out of their 18 games, losing just one game to second place team Seidau Polonia. In second is team side out Polonia, runners up from last year and the cup winners winning 15 out of their 18 games. In third sees the Essex Rebels winning 14 out of 18.
Speaker 2:In fourth, then, and sort of performance of the season for me, is the London Lionhearts. Last year they just managed to stay up in the Super League, this year, finishing in fourth, and I remember speaking to their coach at the opening weekend who said that his team will be a team that develops as the season goes on. And they have done just that, finishing in fourth place and securing their place at Final Four. In fifth then we have Leeds Gorse, improving on their sixth position from last year and winning seven games out of 18. In sixth is Durham and, like I said, last year's winners, this year not so successful, still managing to get eight wins out of 18, but they'll be disappointed after winning the title last year. Finishing in sixth means that they do secure their place in the Super League next season.
Speaker 2:As I mentioned, dark Star Derbyshire finishing in seventh and in that playoff place, and the three relegated teams, then Cambridge University of Nottingham and Wessex. So, with that being said, we now know our final four semi-finals. So in semi-final one, it will see first place team Mallory taking on fourth place team London Lionhearts Mallory will go into this as the favourites as they've won both their league games against the fellow London team, winning 3-2 and 3-0. But London Lionhearts are a team that fight. They've got some determination, they'll definitely have looked at the footage and come into that game with a game plan and it is set to be a great semi-final indeed. In the second semi-final then then we see team side out polonia, who finished in second, taking on the essex rebels in third and, like we said earlier chatting to the rebels women that joined me on the show tonight essex getting a 3-2 win recently over the team side out polonia team, but side out beating them 3-0 earlier in the season. So it's one all as they go into the tiebreaker and again it's going to be an epic, epic semi-final. Some cup action for us this weekend as long, as well as that one remaining league game. Two of the four final four teams are in action in the cup as we see team side out Polonia taking on Leeds, gorse and Dark Star Derbyshire taking on Mallory. Wow, a really, really competitive Maori women's super league and you are in for a treat in the Final Four weekend with what will be two really really fantastic semi -finals.
Speaker 2:So, moving over then to the dynamic men's Super League, this weekend the regular season came to its conclusion with five games. For you, the Final Four had already been confirmed going into this weekend, but the main issue would be who would join Stockport and IBB Polonia in relegation and who would finish in that seventh place playoff place all up for grabs before going into the matches this weekend. So Richmond went in as the strong favourites. They needed just one point to condemn Essex Blaze and relegate the Essex-based team. Richmond were up against last year's winners, durham, and they found themselves 2-0 down but somehow managing to fight back hard to level the match at 2-2 and therefore getting that much needed point which secured them the seventh place. They did, however, go on to lose the game 3-2, but, as we said, they got that point that they needed and means that they guarantee seventh place and a playoff match against the team that finishes second in National League Division 1.
Speaker 2:So Essex Blaise then did all they could on Saturday, winning 3-1 against the final four-side Newcastle Knights. But even with this win, they knew they were relegated due to Richmond's point. But do you know what? They showed some grit, some strength, some fight, and they went on to win 3-2 versus the fellow relegated side, ibb Puglia, coming back twice to take the game 15-13 in a epic fifth set. Another MVP then for Olympian Nathan French. A good fight, two big wins. At the end of the season. They'll be back in Division 1 next season but they could be favourites to return again next season if they can keep their squad, strengthen it in key areas.
Speaker 2:But a good effort from the team that were new to the league this season, university of Nottingham securing fifth place by beating league leaders sorry, essex Rebels 3-1. Essex already knew their place was secure at the top. So coach Alex Porter choosing to rest some players, with some big matches upcoming, with a Bucs final, as they knew the top place was theirs and they've got a semi-final this weekend too in where they play in form London Giants in a big, big cup semi-final. Second place team Mallory beat the relegated Stockport side with a fairly easy 3-0 win, logan Clarke picking up another MVP for Mallory and Matt Perch picking up another MVP for Stockport. Interestingly, both teams in action again as they play each other again this weekend in the Cup. Mallory making the trip up north again to take on Stockport, this time in the Cup.
Speaker 2:So to recap on the dynamic men's Super League, then, as we finish the regular season, let's go through the league final standings. So in first place at the end of the regular season is Essex Rebels, who finished third last year, getting the bronze medal. They have had a great season, winning 15 out of 18 games, and they have a big Bucks final ahead of them as well this Wednesday. In second then, mallory Eagles, who finished fourth last year. They won 14 out of 18 games. Again, in third place and performance of the season in the men's super league from from my perspective, is London Giants, new to the league this season and finishing third. That is a huge achievement, a huge achievement, and since Christmas they've really been on the surge and picked up lots of really good results. So yeah, amazing effort from the London-based team finishing in third. In fourth is Newcastle Knights, who again have had a great season. They finished eighth last season and picking up a fourth place and a spot in the final four. Fifth is University of Nottingham, sixth ofth of last year's winners, durham. Seventh, as we've mentioned, are Richmond Docklands, who will be playing off against the second place in Division One, and then the three relegated teams are Essex Blaze. In eighth. Ibb Polonia, one of the biggest clubs in the country, are relegated and play their their volleyball in division one next season. And in 10th place is stockport, who will be disappointed after they finished seventh last year. So we now know the top four, we now know the relegated three and that means we now know who will be playing who at the final four.
Speaker 2:Weekend. Semi-final one, then will be first place team Essex Rebels taking on the Newcastle Knights team. And yes, essex will be the favourite going into that game, as they have beaten Newcastle Knights twice in the regular season 3-1, 3-1, both times the regular season 3-1, 3-1 both times. Coach Sam Shenton from Newcastle Knights, a very experienced coach, and I'm sure will be watching lots of footage and coming up with a game plan to beat the Essex Rebel team. But you are in for an absolute treat of a semi-final there.
Speaker 2:And the second semi-final then will be Mallory Eagles taking on London Giants, and for me that is the semi-final of the weekend. Mallory have won 3-0 against London Giants earlier on in the season, but recently London Giants beat Mallory 3-1. So it's a tiebreaker again, all to play for. London Giants are in form. You know they've won a lot of games in the road. I was just speaking with the coach of the London Giants last week on this show, so perhaps go back and listen to that episode and find out more about the London Giants team and how they've managed to perform and get a third place in the league after being promoted from Division 1 last year. Some cup action for the men this weekend as Stockport, like I said, take on Mallory and the Essex Rebels take on London Giants in a really big semi-final at the University of Essex. So that is it. That is the regular season done.
Speaker 2:Yes, one game left in the Maori Women's Super League, but we are pretty much done, and what a season it is. But, but final four I'm going to say again, final four tickets. You need to go and get your hands on some of these tickets. They are the hottest ticket in town at the moment, with just some amazing volleyball on display. Four matches for you on the Saturday, four matches for you on the Sunday. As we finish the weekend with the gold medal matches, head over to YouTube and watch back all the action from last year. Even better, you can also watch some of the the highlights and footage from this year, as Volleyball England have introduced the Super League Live concept and you'll see some of the games from this season on Volleyball England's YouTube channel. So, yes, the regular season's finished. We will be back to talk all things Final Four in a Final Four special preview episode and we'll be back after Final Four weekend to talk about all the action from the Final Four.
Speaker 2:Competition on the 5th and 6th of April at Crystal Palace, where the Maori Women's Super League and the Men's Dynamic Super League reaches its conclusion, champions will be crowned and you are in for some epic, amazing volleyball. So, for me, just want to say a huge thank you for all your support. Whatever you're doing, keep playing, keep supporting but, more importantly, keep that volleyball spirit alive. I'm Luke Wiltshire, the host of that Volleyball Guy. Thank you for listening. That Volleyball Guy, it's that volleyball guy.
