Valletta Mapei became the first team to qualify for the Men’s League playoffs final after beating Mgarr Volley 3-0 in the second semi-final match between these two teams. Their opponents will be Aloysians, who managed to turn the tables around in the semi-final series against Fleur de Lys Twistees after losing the first match last week.

Valletta repeated the same score that they had against Mgarr in the first semi-final played last week, although the latter played much better than in their first match. After leading throughout the first set, Valletta were shaken up by Mgarr’s resilience at the end of the set, the former managing to win only at 26-24. However, Mgarr could not keep up the same level of play throughout the remaining sets, losing 25-11 and 25-19, with Valletta becoming the first finalists and extending their run of unbeaten matches to a total of 11 matches this season.

In the other semi-final series, Aloysians managed to turn the series in their favour by winning the second and third matches, thus managing to book a place in the final series against Valletta Mapei. In the second match, Fleur de Lys, leading 1-0 after the first semi-final played last week, started on a high note, taking the first set 25-13 with Aloysians not able to compete on the same level. However, Aloysians soon equalised in the second set, and again in the fourth set to stretch the match to a deciding fifth set.

This was a do or die situation for Aloysians, however, they won 15-5 to extend the series of matches to the deciding third match. In the decisive third match, Fleur de Lys again started better, taking the first set 25-23. Aloysians however were always very much in the game, taking the second set 25-20, and then completely overwhelming their opponents in the third set, winning it 25-15. Fleur de Lys could not manage to up their game in the fourth set, while Aloysians kept playing well, closing this set 25-20, and the series of matches 2-1 in their favour.

Balzan Flyers Crosscraft increased their lead at the top of the Women’s Senior League after beating Mellieha 3-0, whilst their closest rivals, Paola, only managed to beat Balzan Flyers’ second team 3-2 in another tight match. Balzan found the going tough in their first set against Mellieha, but then sailed through the next two sets to obtain their sixth win in the Women’s Super League.

On the other hand, Paola found the going very tough against the second Balzan Flyers’ team, the latter winning the first two sets 30-28 and 26-24 to take a two set advantage. Paola, however, managed to turn the match in their favour, winning the next three sets in a row.

In the Ladies’ First Division, Sliema Wanderers obtained another three points after beating Mgarr Volley 3-1. The first two sets were very balanced, with Sliema taking the first set 29-27, and Mgarr equalising by winning the second one 25-23. From the third set onwards Sliema kept playing well, and with Mgarr committing too many unforced errors, they won the next two sets to obtain three valuable points.