Europeans Abroad: Atanasijević and Lazareva in top form 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 players were among the big names of the weekend in China as Serbian opposite Aleksandar Atanasijević and Russian opposite Anna Lazareva had both hugely productive matches in the country’s national league.

The 32-year-old Atanasijević led his team Shanghai Bright to a massive five-set victory over the Tianjin Food Group with an unbelievable 39 points on Sunday. The Serbian star registered 31 kills in 40 attempts (hitting at an incredible 77.5% efficiency rate) and still fired seven aces and got one block. Polish teammate Michal Kubiak produced nine points.

In the women’s league, Lazareva couldn’t take her team Beijing BAIC Motor to win in the first leg of the semifinals against the Shanghai Bright Ubest despite tallying 35 points on Saturday. The 26-year-old Russian delivered 30 kills and five blocks, but saw her team fall in the tie-breaker.

Japan

The Japanese V. League has its first action of 2024 this weekend and Hungarian opposite Krisztián Pádár started the year on fire, registering 67 points across two matches and helping his team Toray Arrows celebrate back-to-back victories against the VC Nagano Tridents.

On Saturday, Pádár left the court with 28 points (21 kills, five blocks, two aces) as his team prevailed in four sets. The next day, the Hungarian star improved his production to amazing 39 points (35 kills, four aces) as the Arrows needed all five sets to take the win.

Polish opposite Bartosz Kurek also had a perfect weekend with his team. Kurek and the Wolfdogs Nagoya topped the Tokyo Great Bears twice, with the Polish superstar registering 33 points (27 kills, five blocks, one ace) in a four-set victory on Saturday and coming back to add another 23 (22 kills, one block) on Sunday, when his team got a sweep.

Brazil 

In Brazil, Serbian outside hitter Aleksandra Uzelac had reasons to celebrate in the first round of the new year as her team Fluminense swept Bluvolei FURB SME at home on Saturday. The 19-year-old Uzelac contributed 13 points (11 kills, one block, one ace) as her team ranks seventh with 16 points (six wins, four losses).

Also on Saturday, Russia Sofya Kuznetsova and Bulgarian Dobriana Rabadzieva played on the road with their team Dentil Praia Clube but couldn’t handle league leaders SESC Flamengo, who prevailed in straight sets – the European outside hitters produced seven points apiece. Praia are third in the Superliga with 20 points (seven wins, two losses).