Europeans Abroad: Kuznetsova carries Praia to historic Brazilian Cup title
News
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.
Brazil
With Russian Sofya Kuznetsova as a key piece, Dentil Praia Clube won the Women’s Brazilian Cup for the first time on Sunday. The Uberlândia-based club had made it to the final six times since 2016, but was yet to lift the trophy.
Playing in São José, Praia triumphed in a dramatic gold medal match against in-state rivals Gerdau Minas, prevailing 16-14 in the tie-breaker after building a two-set lead and seeing their opponents come back to force a fifth set.
In her first season with Praia, Kuznetsova celebrated her second title with the team and she played a big part in it, scoring 26 points in the final and being selected as the match’s MVP. Bulgarian outside hitter Dobriana Rabadzhieva is also a part of Praia’s roster, but wasn’t available for selection in the last match of the tournament.
Libya
Belarusian outside hitter Andrey Radziuk led his team Swehly Misrata to a historic victory as the Libyan side triumphed in the Arab Club Championship for the first time ever on Wednesday.
Swehly defeated Qatar SC 3-1 in the final to finish first in the 42nd edition of the tournament that reunited 12 clubs from Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman and Qatar.
The 33-year-old Radziuk was recognized as the tournament’s MVP. Another European player, Russian outside hitter Denis Kochnev of Qatar SC, was selected for the event’s Dream Team.
Six other European players made it to the podium in the event held in Jordan, with Montenegro’s Marko Joksimovic and Andrija Joksimović and Russia’s Evgeniy Tyurin featuring for Qatar S.C. and Bulgaria’s Borislav Georgiev, Russia’s Maxim Zhigalov and Montenegro’s Marko Vukašinović appearing for third-place Police Doha of Qatar.
Japan
Sara Lozo led her team Saitama Ageo Medics to a third-place finish in the Japanese V. League, as the tournament came to an end this weekend. It was the third time the team stepped on the podium in the league, repeating their achievement of 2014-2015 and 2019-2020.
The 26-year-old Serbian outside hitter was the top scorer of the bronze medal match, held on Saturday, registering 15 points (all in kills) in a 3-0 victory over the Toyota Auto Body Queenseis of Belgian opposite Lise Van Hecke, who produced 12 points (all in kills) in the encounter.
The NEC Red Rockets defeated the JT Marvelous in the V. League final and successfully defended the title they had won in 2022-2023, claiming the Japanese title for the ninth time.
Italian opposite Sylvia Nwakalor, who played in the league for the first time, representing the Toray Arrows, was the season’s top scorer, with 538 points.