AVL FINALS STICK TO FORM GUIDE – SO FAR

The semi-finals of the Australian Volleyball League in Melbourne have unfolded according to the form guide, with red-hot favourites Queensland Pirates, in the men, and Uni Blues, in the women, cruising into the gold medal play-offs.

The Queensland Pirates, chasing a hat-trick of AVL titles, suffered only a minor hiccup, dropping the third set to the WA Hornets before sealing the match, 25-16, 25-23, 20-25, 25-14.

The Pirates, unbeaten this season, will take on the impressive Canberra Heat for the national title, after the ACT team beat Adelaide Storm 3-0.

In the women’s competition the dominant Uni Blues are one step closer to nothing up their third national title, beating Canberra Heat 3-0.

Like the Pirates, the Uni Blues are undefeated in 2015.

They’ll take on UTSSU in the final after they wore down VVA 3-2 in the closest semi-final of the day.

It was a massive disappointment for VVA, after they raced away to claim the opening two sets 25-22, 25-21.

But UTSSU regrouped, took the third set 25-17, breezed through the fourth set 25-10, and then sealed the match 15-10 in the fifth and final set.

GRAND FINALS:

Men: Queensland Pirates v Canberra Heat.

Women: Uni Blues v UTSSU.

THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF:

Men: WA Hornets v Adelaide Storm.

Women: VVA Vultures v Canberra Heat.