Round 4 SN Reserves match report | Lightning Bolts vs Vixens Academy

Bolts led the entire match with their SSN-experienced lineup proving no match for Vixens Academy’s multiple combinations and 10 super shots to Bolts’ 5.

Q1 | Vixens Academy 10 – 19 Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts

Vixens Academy head coach Wendy Jacobsen made some changes to this week’s starting lineup following the last-minute elevation of captain Ally O’Connor to Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) yesterday where she became Melbourne Vixen #68. In her place today, Casey Dunstan started in centre, while Mia Lavis returned to the starting seven in goal attack. Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts opted for an experienced lineup, bringing SSN-contracted athletes Ava Black (WD) and Ashleigh Ervin (GK) into the starting seven for their first SN reserves minutes of the season, alongside 11th-player Tippah Dwan (GA).

It was a tough start for Vixens Academy, with Bella Hodgson missing some nervous shots before the early change of Sahara Ball into goal shooter. Goal defence Ruby Turner was a standout for Vixens Academy, while Zali Anderson (WA) and Lavis worked hard to bring the ball down court. Guilty of stopping on the take and missing shots, Vixens Academy went into the power 5 down by 7. Gains couldn’t be converted, while Bolts continued to find Sally Jenkins under the post with ease. Ball scored a super shot to end the quarter break down by 9.

Q2 | Vixens Academy 25 – 35 Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts

Bolts started the second quarter with SSN athlete Gabby Sinclair at goal attack, while Vixens Academy injected O’Connor into centre, Gabby Dwyer into goal keeper, and moved Caris into goal defence.

Vixens Academy couldn’t control the pace of the game, causing multiple errors and hesitation on the shot, before bringing Hodgson back on at goal shooter. Despite Bolts making their own turnovers, Vixens struggled to convert and attempts to hunt ball often left Jenkins on her own under the ring. Up by 11, Bolts changed to a moving circle with Dwan in goal shooter, as well as Shannon Eagland into goal defence, and Sophie Westover at wing attack. Come the power five, Vixens made their own changes, with Georgia Moody into goal attack, soon joined by Lavis in goal shooter. Under pressure when down by 14, Lavis and Moody both sank super shots and Dwyer picked up an intercept to bring the margin back to 10 at the half.

Q3 | Vixens Academy 36 – 53 Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts

Vixens Academy brought Dunstan back on at centre, Turner at goal defence, and moved O’Connor to wing defence to start the quarter, while Jenkins returned to goal shooter for Bolts.

It was another shaky start for Academy despite Dwyer managing to disrupt Bolts’ attack by holding front space. Vixens continued to trial different combinations, with Brown coming back on at centre, and tall shooters Ball and Hodgson combining briefly, before Lavis returned. Ruby Pekin-Schlicht was later injected goal defence after her 25-minute SSN debut yesterday to become Melbourne Vixen #69. Read the Round 10 SSN match report here. Lavis scored two more super shots in this quarter, before Dwan returned and sank one to finish the quarter and push Bolts out to a 17-point lead.

Q4 | Vixens Academy 55 – 71 Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts

Vixens Academy started the fourth quarter well with Anderson moving into centre, Moody into wing attack, Brown into wing defence, Turner into goal defence, and Pekin-Schlicht inro goal keeper to disrupt Bolts’ moving goal circle. As Micheala Kadlecek came on at centre for Bolts, Vixens Academy brought the margin back to 14 via Lavis’ baseline dodges and connection with Hodgson. It was a super shot shootout to end the game against Bolts’ goal defence Samaya Cook and Vixens Academy debutante Eliza Molino at goal keeper, who both came on in the final minutes. Vixens Academy won the quarter with Lavis scoring three super shots, but Sinclair sank two of her own, and Dwan one, to ultimately win the game by 16.

THE COACH & CAPTAIN SAY

Despite mounting comebacks in previous games, Vixens Academy head coach Wendy Jacobsen said Bolts were too strong to overcome today with their possession plays and gains. “Bolts were able to slow the progression of our play in attack and win ball early and converted,” she said.

The highlights were Lavis’ relentless work in attack, and the team’s cohesive final quarter performance. “[We learned] from what we could control and improve from the strategy of Bolts,” Jacobsen said.

Co vice-captain Zali Anderson was proud of her team’s persistence in this match. “The jump they got on our early was a big challenge for us to overcome today. Typically, our starts have been super strong and connected, but I’m really proud of the way we reconnected.”

She added, “Moving to next week, maintaining composure and converting when it’s crucial will be an important focus for us coming up against Swifts.”

Anderson said Lavis was a standout today especially considering Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts’ experienced defenders. “Sunshine Coast’s Ash Ervin had a really strong presence today, which was something we wanted to get on top of… Mia’s ability to sink super shots was crucial today and really kept us in the match in pressure moments.”

NEXT UP

Vixens Academy will play at home against QBE Swifts Academy on Sunday 24 May at John Cain Arena at 6.30pm following the Round 11 Melbourne Vixens vs NSW Swifts match. Admission is included with all SSN tickets to this match.

Stream all Super Netball Reserves games via Kommunity TV/Code Sports and keep up to date with scores via Play HQ.