30 January 2015 | Tennis Victoria

The 2014 ATL South East Conference women’s champions the Bayside Thunder have taken out the 2015 ATL Women’s Playoffs defeating the South Australian Flagstaff Freighters team in a hotly contested final at Melbourne Park. The Freighters looked to be gaining ascendancy in the doubles until Storm Sanders and Varatchaya Wongteanchai recovered from a set down to secure the rubber and the title 4 rubbers to 2.

The Bayside Thunder came into the Playoffs as favourites with a line up that included star players Olivia Rogowska, Daria Gavrilova, Arina Rodionova and Storm Sanders. Their performance was not hindered by their favouritism as they thumped international team the Pacific Oceania Dolphins in the first round, and then defeated Victorian rivals the MCC Stars in the semi final. The hat trick was completed when they defeated the highly touted Flagstaff Freighters featuring Jessica Moore, Katarzyna Piter and Viktorija Rajicic.

The Bayside Thunder’s win continued Victoria’s great history at the ATL Playoffs following wins by the Liston Seagulls (2013 men’s champions) and the Royal South Yarras (2014 women’s champions).

The MCC Stars (ATL South East Conference runners up) were granted a late call up to the Playoffs, and highlighted the strength of the South East Conference by finishing in third place.

In the men’s ATL Playoffs the ATL South East Conference winners the Kooyong Classics competed well, finishing in fifth place. The ATL South East Conference runners up the Royal South Yarras were also fortunate to receive a late call up and like the Stars finished in third place. The Brisbane Chargers claimed the men’s title over the Japan Phoenix.

Tennis Victoria’s Competitions Manager Jeff Downes was pleased with the Victorian results “ The ATL South East Conference was phenomenal in terms of playing standard across the entire league and this again was highlighted at the Playoffs with first and third place in the women’s and third and fifth place in the men’s playoffs. The Bayside Thunder’s winning of the women’s playoffs was outstanding and a great reward for the club for their efforts and planning. It is great that it has continued Victoria’s dominance at this high level event with a title for the third year running”.

Highlights of the ATL South East Conference Final are available here.