Vixens elevate three Victorian pathway players for Round 10 clash

The Melbourne Vixens have elevated three Victorian pathway athletes for the Round 10 clash with the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

Ally O’Connor a current Melbourne Vixens squad member and captain of the Vixens Academy has been elevated to replace Hannah Mundy. O’Connor from Warrnambool has built strong form through the pathway program and brings leadership as well as valuable defensive depth to the line-up.

Ruby Pekin-Schlicht has been elevated to replace Rudi Ellis. A 2026 Melbourne Vixens Academy athlete from Boroondara Express, Pekin-Schlicht has continued to impress through the pathway system and now earns the opportunity to step into the squad for Round 10.

Pekin-Schlicht also gained valuable exposure during the Melbourne Vixens’ 2026 regional pre-season tournament the Ballarat Blitz, stepping into the defensive line-up when Emily Mannix was unavailable.

Following fitness testing, it was confirmed that Hannah Mundy and Rudi Ellis would not play this week. Defender Maggie Caris also comes into the side in place of Emily Mannix, who is unavailable due to illness.

The elevations reflect the strength of the Victorian pathway program, which continues to provide athletes with valuable opportunities to step up across pre-season and both the Vixens Academy and the elite SSN competitions.

Netball Victoria General Manager, High Performance and Pathways, Sharelle McMahon, said:

“We’re proud of the depth of our squad and know how important it is to provide a clear pathway through to our SSN team. It’s exciting for the players to know that their consistency week in and week out has been rewarded.”

Melbourne Vixens Head Coach, Di Honey, said:

“Ally, Maggie and Ruby have gained great experience in the starting line-up for our Vixens Academy. It’s an exciting opportunity for them to be involved with the Vixens Team.”

The Melbourne Vixens will take on Sunshine Coast Lightning at UniSC Arena this Saturday, 16 May, at 5.00pm AEDT.