Rebels End Year with Solid 3-0 Win Over Nottingham

The Rebels closed out the year with a confident 3-0 win over rivals Nottingham, snapping their Super League losing streak just before the Christmas break.

The Rebels came out strong from the start, led by middle blocker Julia Haynie, who made her mark with three quick kills. Haynie finished with an impressive .380 attacking efficiency, proving too much for Nottingham’s defense to handle.

Nottingham fought back hard, showing great hustle and defense to stay in the game. Their sharp serving closed the gap, and the first set was tied at 24-24. That’s when Alexis Diaz-Infante stepped up, securing the final two points and sealing the set 26-24 after a Nottingham error.

Head Coach Alex Chinery shuffled the lineup in the second set, bringing Lea Borovec back into play. The set was close throughout, with strong serving and defense on both sides. Late in the set, Borovec broke through Nottingham’s blocks, helping the Rebels take it 25-22.

In the third set, the Rebels took control. Nottingham kept up their aggressive serving, but the Rebels’ serve reception held strong, led by MVP Fran Daye Smith, who achieved a perfect 3.0 passing average. Alexis Diaz-Infante continued to dominate, finishing with a .440 hitting efficiency as the Rebels cruised to a 25-16 win.

Head Coach Chinery praised his team’s effort:

“We knew Nottingham would make it tough for us. They played with nothing to lose, and it took us some time to settle. But I’m proud of how we pushed through and showed what we’re capable of, especially in the second and third sets. It’s a great way to finish the year.”

The Rebels head into the break with momentum and look to carry it into the Super League when play resumes in the new year.