Europeans Abroad: Muserskiy trumps Kurek in exciting duel in Japan
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.
Japan
European stars Dmitriy Muserskiy and Bartosz Kurek were the stars of the most exciting duel in the Japanese Men’s V. League this weekend, with each of them scoring over 30 points when their teams Suntory Sunbirds and Wolfdogs Nagoya clashed on Saturday.
The Russian Olympic champion led his team, the Asian champions Sunbirds, to a 3-1 victory over the defending Japanese champions Wolfdogs with 33 points, all in kills. Polish national team captain Kurek responded with 34 points of his own (31 kills, two aces, one block), but his efforts weren’t enough. The two teams met again on Sunday, with the European stars being rested, and the Wolfdogs won 3-1.
Slovenian national team captain Tine Urnaut also had a productive week in the Japanese League, leading his team JTEKT Stings to a pair of three-set victories over the VC Nagano Tridents, scoring 19 points on Saturday and six on Sunday.
Hungarian opposite Krisztián Pádár had mixed results with the Toray Arrows against the Tokyo Great Bears, getting a 3-1 win on Saturday and losing in five sets on Sunday. Pádár, who’s the league’s top scorer with 812 points, registered 34 points in each match.
Two more matches will be played before the conclusion of the regular season in Japan and while the Sunbirds and the Wolfdogs are already qualified for the playoffs, the Arrows are still looking for a spot in the postseason – the Stings are already out of contention.
Korea
Serbian opposite Vanja Bukilić had a big week in the Korean Women’s V-League, helping her team Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass secure a pair of wins with highly productive performances.
On Wednesday, the 23-year-old Serbian and her team needed five sets to take down league leaders Suwon Hyundai E&C Hillstate in front of their home fans – Bukilić was outstanding with 30 points (29 kills, one block).
On Sunday, Gimcheon went on the road against GS Caltex in Seoul and took home all three points, getting a 3-0 win. Bukilić was once again the team’s leading scorer with 15 points (11 kills, two blocks, two aces).
The victories were much-needed for the defending champions Gimcheon, who rank sixth in the seven-team league with 12 wins.
Brazil
Serbian rising star Aleksandra Uzelac shone the brightest in the duel between European players in the Brazilian Women’s Superliga, leading her team Fluminense to victory against defending champions Dentil Praia Clube of Russian outside hitter Sofya Kuznetsova on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro.
The 19-year-old, who’s currently the Superliga’s leading scorer with 385 points, had a very complete performance, leaving the court with a match-high 29 points, having tallied 23 kills, three blocks and three aces in her team’s five-set victory. Kuznetsova was Praia’s main offensive player, registering 19 points (15 kills, three aces, one block).
Praia are in third place in the Superliga standings with 15 wins, while Fluminense rank sixth with ten. Three more matches will be played before the end of the regular season.