The 2022/23 Volleyball Ireland National League concludes this weekend with a number of league titles, relegations and playoff places up for grabs.
The new Grand Final system in the Premier Division has meant that four of the eight teams in the Women’s Premier Division still have something to play for with Gardians & Net Force fighting for the final Grand Finals slot, and Santry Premier and TCD trying to avoid the relegation play off. Santry Calypso have sawn up the League Leaders Shield and Naas Cobras will be playing in D1 next season.
In the Men’s Premier UCD have nailed a Sunday slot in the Grand Final, with TCDs win last week taking them and Aer Lingus to Kilkenny. Net Force will play a relegation showdown but against who is still be to determined. Division One Men really is all to play for.
Either Dalkey or Shield finalists Gardians will will win the League and gain automatic promotion. SETU Carlow and Longford will finish in the bottom with one of those likely to play Carrick Crows who are in pole position for the playoffs. The Crows finished just behind Gardians. Ballymun Dogs and UCD still have a sniff of second place.
D1 Women was confirmed last weekend with Cup finalists Balbriggan securing their place in the Premier. Tallaght Rockets will be going to the playoffs. Kilkenny Spartans are definitely down into D2. Who’ll be joining them has a big question mark. Santry will play either Dalkey or Tallaght Rockets – who are featuring in this week’s Game of the Week. The winner claims the D2 title.
The new Grand Final system and playoffs has really kept the leagues alive this season, right down to the very last games.
The Grand Finals will be played on May 6/7th in Kilkenny, with the Premier Division elimination matches and D2 – D1 playoffs on Saturday and the Premier Grand Finals and D1-Premier playoffs Sunday.
PM
Premier Men is now all confirmed.
Grand Final – UCD
Elimination Final – Aer Lingus & TCD
Relegation Play-Off – Net Force
Relegated – Kilkenny Spartans
PW
Grand Final – Santry Calypso
Elimination Final – UCD & either Gardians or Net Force
Relegation Play-Off – Santry Premier or TCD
Relegated – Naas Cobras
- Gardians play DVC Lions and Net Force play UCD on the last weekend of the season.
D1M
Nothing is decided for sure yet.
- Dalkey and Gardians are guaranteed to finish top 2, and Carlow and Longford are guaranteed to finish bottom 2. Carlow host Gardians on 22nd, with the other three D1M games scheduled for Sunday.
D1W
D1W is now all confirmed.
Champions & Promoted – Balbriggan
Promotion Play-Off – Tallaght Rockets
Relegation Play-Off – Santry
Relegated – Kilkenny Spartans
D2M
Champions & Promoted – Gardians
Promotion Play-Off – Carrick Crows, Ballymun Dogs, UCD
- UCD host Ballymun Dogs on Friday 21st and the winner will close the gap on Carrick, but Carrick play bottom placed Kilkenny on Saturday – if they win they will finish 2nd.
D2W
Dalkey Devils play Tallaght Rockets in the Final (awaiting conf from Dalkey but likely Sunday 23rd).
Winners are Champions and promoted; losers play in the Promotion Play-Off
