and Hockey Centre last Wednesday night.

The Lightning hardly put a foot wrong in amassing a better than double-your-score 35-point win, moving one rung up the ladder into fifth and a game out of the top four.

The 69-34 victory was the Lightning's most goals in a game since the VNL's inauguration last season and winning coach Joy Grubb was taken aback by the scoreline. "We did hope and anticipate that we would win," she said. "Not to that extent."

The on-court general Brooke Thompson was again at the coalface for the Lightning.

The goal defence was named the most valuable player for the second week running.

The addition of Thompson clearly lifts the Lightning.

"When she's on the court everyone lifts," Grubb said.

"She sets up so much of the play.

"It's an asset to have her in the team."

The defensive combination of Thompson, goalkeepers Fiona Themann and Erica Schippers and wing defence Olivia Cameron were like a brick wall in restricting the Waves' attack.

Cameron excelled in a run-and-carry role turning defence into attack. "I call her the X-factor of the team because she can play in a number of positions," Grubb said.

"Players like her are fairly rare. She reads the play well, has a lot of speed and drives beautifully through the centre circle."

The finishing touches were provided by goal shooter Sophie O'Shea and goal attack Julia Knott.

O'Shea hit 34-of-38 for a return of 89per cent and Knott turned from provider to scorer hitting 35-of-42 at 83per cent.

"They were both on song," Grubb said.

"It's a very good combination, they're very compatible.

"The goalers shot 69-from-80 so we were pretty rapt."

A sour note for the Lightning was news of the North East Blaze's shock win over top-of-the-ladder Monash University Centre.

The Lightning, who meet third-placed Southern Saints in the 13th round on Wednesday at the SNHC, would have leapt into the top four with a Blaze loss.

"That's a blow to us," Grubb said. "The Saints game is huge for us now."