The girls of Fleur de Lys Royal Panda were called to defend the league title after last season's success with the debut match against their most difficult opponents Balzan Flyers. They managed to secure another win in three straight sets just a month following the win against the same opponents during the Super Cup final.
The two teams presented themselves with almost complete roster, ensuring that the spectators present at the Cottonera Sports Complex a good level of play between two teams that have proven to deserve their place at the top of the Maltese volleyball Super League. Fleur de Lys Royal Panda were still without Daniela Xuereb, who will not be fit to play for the time being, but recovered Francesca Paola Sarcina and Maria Caruana Demicoli who were missing during the Super Cup Final.
The first set saw Fleur de Lys Royal Panda attacking with very effective services and with impeccable defense by libero Ilaria Polato and good management of the counter-attack by setter Maria Costa, they were able to consolidate a good advantage until the set was closed with two winning blocks by middle blocker Thais Gatt. The second set was more balanced as Balzan Flyers were often in the lead. However, the girls coached by Salvatore Gennuso and Dalton Caruana, together with a well-thought substitution which saw the introduction of setter Sarah El Gasi, managed to re-organize themselves during the final stages of the set. Attacks by outside hitter Francesca Paola Sarcina and an ace by opposite Viki Sebok were decisive in closing the second set in favour of the girls in blue.
In the third and final set, middle blocker Isabel Cutajar handed her opponents a number of well-placed blocks and with outside hitter Maria Caruana Demicoli being instrumental with her attacks and defense, the team was led to the first success of the season in the Super League division. By securing this win with three clean sets against one of the most likely contenders of the Super League title, Fleur de Lys Royal Panda managed to build an advantage for what is promising to be a very interesting season.
At the end of the match Fleur de Lys Royal Panda captain Maria Costa said, "We are very happy with this win. It was important for us today to confirm that we can win again after our latest success in the Super Cup. Today's merits go to the whole team who trains hard during the week. But this was only the first match of a long season and we have to keep working like that."
Malta Super League - Women Category
Saturday 24 November 2018 - Cottonera Sport Complex
Fleur de Lys Royal Panda - Balzan Flyer 3-0 (25-19/25-23/25-20)
Fleur de Lys Royal Panda: El Gasi, Gatt 8, Caruana Demicoli 9, Costa (K), Cutajar 10, Sebok 12, Sarcina 14, Bolgar, La Rosa, Valkova, Polato 1 (L), Borg (L). (Gennuso - Caruana)
Picture: Captain of Fleurs de Lys Royal Panda, Maria Costa
Weekend Results 24th & 25th November 2018
Swieqi Phoenix EY vs Sliema Kavallieri 2 (1-3) (25-17, 22-25, 22-25, 15-25)
In their first encounter of the season, Sliema Kavallieri 2 and Swieqi Phoenix EY fought for the 3 points during a balanced game. Swieqi Phoenix EY caught Sliema Kavallieri 2 off guard in the first set managing to win at a comfortable margin of 25-17.
Second set Sliema Kavallieri 2 team got back into the game with the result of winning the set with 25-22. Sliema Kavallieri 2 continued with their momentum and marched to win the 3rd and 4th set with scores of 25-22 and 25-15 respectively. Swieqi Phoenix EY performance was also affected with the slight injury of the setter Jelena Tancic during the 3rd set.
Referees Tony Sammut and Sarah Bonnici directed the game.
Fleur de Lys vs Birkirkara Luxfair Reality (3-0) (25-14, 28-26 & 25-15)
The first set showed a very well disciplined team of Fleur de Lys which managed to take control of the set from the very first points with the services coming from Kelly Fenech. Libero Claudette Mifsud defended and covered well all the spikes from Birkirkara Luxfair Reality resulting in significant help for the setter Judith Scerri Valletta to pass the balls properly to her spikers.
During the second set, Birkirkara Luxfair Reality did all their best tactically and technically to change the game in their favour and managed to stay head to head with Fleur de Lys. In the end, Fleur de Lys managed to win the set on 28-26.
The last set was almost a repetition of the first one with Fleur de Lys having more confidence in their abilities after winning two sets in a row. Good attacks from Becky Manduca and Sarah Bonnici helped the team to win the last set resulting in a 3-0 win for Fleur de Lys.
International Referee Frankie Tanti managed the game.
The full results of the weekend are the following:
SATURDAY 24th November 2018
Under 18 League - Women Category
13:30 Swieqi Phoenix Tough Cookies vs Swieqi Phoenix Sugar N' Spike 3-0 (25-1, 25-8 & 25-7)
Super League - Women Category
15:30 Fleur de Lys Royal Panda vs Balzan Flyers 3-0 (25-19, 25-23 & 25-20)
17:30 Swieqi Phoenix Yobetit vs Paola Volley 3 - 0 (25 - 22, 25 - 13, 25 - 10)
SUNDAY 25th November 2018
1330 Mellieha Volley vs Mgarr Volley (0-3)(4-25, 13-25 & 17-25)
15:30 Swieqi Phoenix EY vs Sliema Kavallieri 2 (1-3) (25-17, 22-25, 22-25, 15-25)
17:30 Fleur de Lys vs Birkirkara Luxfair Reality (3-0) (25-14, 28-26 & 25-15)
Next Games
SATURDAY 1st December 2018
Under 18 League - Women Category
1330 Paola Volley vs Swieqi Phx Tough Cookies
Super League - Women Category
1530 Swieqi Phoenix Yobetit vs FDL Royal Panda
1730 Sliema Kavallieri vs Balzan Flyers
SUNDAY 2nd December 2018
1st Division League - Women Category
1330 Sliema Kavallieri 2 vs Falcons Volley
1530 Mellieha Volley vs Fleur De Lys
1730 Mgarr Volley vs Birkirkara Luxfair Reality