Europeans Abroad: Muserskiy leads Sunbirds to historic bronze at Club Worlds

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.

Japan

Russian Olympic champion opposite Dmitriy Muserskiy had a big week with his Japanese team Suntory Sunbirds, helping them take bronze at the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship in the first appearance of a side from the country in the event.

A London 2012 Olympic champion, the 35-year-old Muserskiy was the tournament’s top scorer with 94 points (87 kills, seven blocks), an impressive 27 more than the second-placed player, and also made it to the event’s Dream Team as the best opposite.

Muserskiy, who averaged almost 25 points per match during the tournament, exploded to deliver 30 (29 kills, one block), in the bronze medal match, where his team came back from a two-set deficit to overcome Türkiye’s Halkbank Spor Kulübü in the tie-breaker.

Brazil

The week in the Brazilian Superliga was very different for Russia’s Sofya Kuznetsova, who helped her team Dentil Praia Clube triumph, and Serbia’s Aleksandra Uzelac, who had a solid game, but saw Fluminense fall.

Kuznetsova and her Praia teammates went on the court on Thursday, when they got a 3-1 home win over Esporte Clube Pinheiros. The Russian outside hitter contributed 14 points, with nine kills, three blocks and two aces.

Uzelac, who’s the Superliga’s top scorer with 171 points, delivered another 18 on Friday, against Osasco São Cristovão Saúde, but saw Fluminense lose the road match in four sets.

Korea

European players had a perfect week in the Korean V-League, helping their teams win their matches held this week in the country. Among them was Spanish opposite Andrés Villena, who propelled his team Uijeongbu KB Insurance Stars to victory in a pair of matches.

On Wednesday, Villena tallied 28 points (all in kills) as his team topped Ansan OK Financial Group 3-0. Four days later, the Insurance Stars went on the road and defeated the Incheon Korean Air Jumbos in four sets thanks to the impressive 43 points produced by the European player.

Slovenian outside hitter Matej Kök also had reason to celebrate as his team Seoul Woori Card triumphed in their only match of the week, getting a 3-1 victory over the Korean Air Jumbos on Thursday while he registered 25 points.

On Friday, Dutch outside hitter Thijs Ter Horst stood out as his team Suwon KEPCO Vixtorm secured a 3-1 road win over the Daejeon Samsung Bluefangs. Ter Horst produced 13 points in the match.