Europeans Abroad: Atanasijević and Kubiak lead Shangai to a great week in China

European volleyball players are spread all over the world during the 2023-2024 club season, playing big roles in their teams. Many of them are currently away from the continent, competing in some of the top leagues on the planet, and we’ll help you follow their journeys by providing periodic updates on how they’re doing.

China

European superstars Aleksandar Atanasijević and Michal Kubiak led their team Shanghai Bright to a massive week in the Chinese Men’s League, pushing them to three consecutive victories that moved the team to the top of the standings in the second round of the season – the top six teams will advance to the quarterfinals.

Shanghai secured three victories in a seven-day period and the first of them was a 3-1 triumph over defending champions Beijing BAIC Motor last Sunday. Serbian opposite Atanasijević produced an impressive 30 points (25 kills, three blocks, one ace), while former Polish national team captain Kubiak added 13 (12 kills, one block).

On Wednesday, Shanghai swept Hebei Baoding, with Atanasijević tallying 15 points (12 kills, three blocks) and Kubiak, who played only in the first set, contributing another three. The team’s fantastic week concluded on Sunday, with a three-set victory over Shandong which had 19 points (18 kills, one block) from the Serbian and 12 (all in kills) from the Polish

The Chinese Women’s League came to an end this weekend, with Tianjin Bohai Bank winning the best-of-five series against Shanghai Bright Ubest to secure their fifth-straight title. Turkish superstar Melissa Vargas was part of Tianjin’s squad, but didn’t get on the court this season because of a shoulder injury.

Japan

In Japan, another Serbian star, world champion Sara Lozo, was the big name of the weekend in the country’s V. League, leading her team Saitama Ageo Medics to back-to-back victories with 46 points scored across both encounters.

On Saturday, the 26-year-old Lozo was huge in a five-set battle against Toyota Auto Body Queenseis, delivering a team-high 19 points, with 18 kills and one ace. Playing for the Queenseis, Belgian opposite Lise van Hecke led all scorers with 28 points (22 kills, five blocks, one ace).

Lozo was able to raise her game even higher on Sunday, when the Ageo Medics topped Hitachi Astemo Rivale 3-1 and she left the court with 27 points (24 kills, three blocks).

Italian opposite Sylvia Nwakalor also had a strong weekend in the V. League, scoring more than 20 points in the two matches she played with her team Toray Arrows. She had mixed results, however, getting 23 points (21 kills, two blocks) in a Saturday 3-1 victory over the Kurobe AquaFairies and another 23 (22 kills, one block) on Sunday, when her team fell to the JT Marvelous also in four sets.

Korea

In Korea, the country’s men’s V-League had a pair of duels involving European players. On Thursday, Dutch outside hitter Thijs Ter Horst and his team Suwon KEPCO Vixtorm secured a 3-1 victory over the Uijeongbu KB Insurance Stars of Spanish opposite Andrés Villena. The two Europeans were the top scorers of the encounter, with Villena tallying 30 points and Ter Horst adding another 22.

On Sunday, the Dutch and his team were on the court again to face Slovenian outside hitter Matej Kök and the Seoul Woori Card. The team from the Korean capital was on the winning side of the match, winning the match in four sets – the two Europeans shared the top of the scoring charts with 26 points apiece.