Men’s Matches –

• Game 1: 1 - 3 QLD Pirates
• Game 2: 0-3 QLD Pirates

The Pirates had some key players missing, but this just gave the opportunity for some young up and comers to get on court and prove they have what it takes to compete at AVL.

Players not travelling to Sydney for QLD were Captain Kieran Ivers, Libero Jack Halley and Opposite Connor O'Neill.

Both teams full of young players, the first match saw a shaky start from the Phoenix with too many errors to compete with the Queensland Pirates. While having the bye weekend in round 1 proved a little extra time for training there is no comparison to match toughness and the Pirates were better equipped to compete.

Tim Taylor brought some strong offence scoring 16 points for the match for Phoenix, and Jonah Pearce and Sam Pittorino both came away with 15 points each in match 1.

The second mens match between Queensland and NSW started very similar to that of the first. While the Phoenix fought back in the second set to take an early lead high error rates in serve and attack meant that the Pirates offence was too reliable giving them the second win for the weekend

Tim Taylor returned after taking some time off volleyball following his last professional season in Indonesia, having played VNL in 2021.

The Pirates were too strong for us this weekend, but we will take a lot away from our first games of AVL as a team. With a lot of talented young players in our squad every match will be an opportunity to learn, and we will keep getting better every week. - Phoenix Head Coach Chris Todd

Women’s Matches –

• Game 1: 3-1 NSW Phoenix
• Game 2: 3-0 NSW Phoenix

In what was an incredible weekend for our women’s team with each athlete contributing their best for the team and preparing in a way that would support the teammates around them, NSW Phoenix left with 2 critical wins against a strong side in the Pirates.

In the first game, Phoenix started well and immediately found ourselves up 2 sets to 1. The fourth set saw a turning point for NSW. At 19-19, we played out a rally with around 25 attacks and over a minute and a half of continuous play, a rally that we came out victors. It was this moment, that we knew we could win and we were going to do it together.

Laura Reeks, NSW Phoenix Women’s captain commended her teammates saying

“It was awesome to see the whole squad work so well together for our first game of the season”.

Our second game was a display of quality volleyball, very tidy and everyone knowing their role. It was best described as intense but beautiful. Fatigue set in during the third set seeing us down 20-16 but we didn't let this defeat us. NSW surged to take the set 25-23 and ultimately the game.

It would be an impossible task to choose an individual who stood out but the teamwork and grit these girls showed put them all in the best position to shine.

Everyone played for a common goal and the belief of the coaches, staff and supporters pushed us to achieving a second win for the weekend.