Europeans Abroad: Smarzek shines in Osasco’s big week in Brazil

European volleyball players are spread all over the world during the 2022-2023 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

Polish star Malwina Smarzek led her team Osasco São Cristovão Saúde in a big week for them in Brazil as the traditional club posted two big wins within four days and is now ranked second in the country’s Superliga.

The 26-year-old opposite was her team’s top scorer in a Tuesday 3-0 win over Brasília Vôlei with 14 points and played an even larger role on Friday, when Osasco prevailed in the country’s most traditional derby, against SESC Flamengo. Smarzek tallied 18 points and led her side to a 3-1 victory.

Dutch national team captain Anne Buijs had a discrete appearance as her team Dentil Praia Clube topped Brasília 3-1 on Friday, coming off the bench to score one point.

Japan

Russian Olympic champion Dmitriy Muserskiy was the main name of the Japanese V. League this weekend as the 34-year-old opposite scored more than 30 points for his team Suntory Sunbirds in back-to-back nights, leading them to consecutive victories against the Panasonic Panthers.

On Saturday, the Russian star tallied 31 points (30 kills, one ace) as the Sunbirds won 3-2. On Sunday, in another five-setter, Muserskiy left the court with 34 points (32 kills, two blocks). Also involved in both matches, former Polish national team outside hitter Michal Kubiak produced 16 and 15 points, respectively.

Slovenian national team captain Tine Urnaut also had a good weekend in Japan. After missing the last two matches of the JTEKT Stings, the outside hitter returned with a pair of wins over the JT Thunders Hiroshima. Urnaut registered 20 points (18 kills, two blocks) on Saturday’s 3-1 triumph and added another nine (seven kills, one block, one ace) on Sunday, when the Stings swept their opponents.

On the women’s V. League, Serbian national team outside hitter Sara Lozo had great success as her team Saitama Ageo Medics defeated the Toyota Auto Body Queenseis twice – 3-2 on Saturday and 3-0 on Sunday. A 2022 world champion, Lozo scored 15 points (14 kills, one block) in the first encounter and 14 (11 kills, two blocks, one ace) in the second.

Azeri opposite Jana Kulan also had a successful weekend, scoring 21 points in each of the two wins her team Toray Arrows secured against Okayama Seagulls. The 1.98m-tall Kulan had 17 kills and four blocks in Saturday’s sweep and 19 kills, one block and one ace in Sunday’s 3-1 victory.

Belgian opposite Lise van Hecke also had a strong week in Japan even if her team Hisamitsu Springs split wins with Hitachi Astemo Rivale. Van Hecke scored 16 (12 kills, four blocks) in Saturday’s 3-2 loss and came back stronger the next day, generating 28 points (24 kills, four blocks) and helping her team prevail 3-1.

Korea

After dropping a tough five-setter to the Samsung Bluefangs, the Suwon KEPCO Vixtorm rebounded this week in the Korean V-League and had Dutch outside hitter Thijs Ter Horst as a key player in their success.

The 31-year-old outside hitter tallied 25 points (24 kills, one block) as his team topped Seoul Woori Card Won in five sets Tuesday and had another 27 (22 kills, three blocks, two aces) on Sunday, when KEPCO defeated Ansan OK Financial Group.

In the women’s league, the Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders of Bosnian opposite Jelena Mladenovic had a week of ups and downs, getting a win and a loss.

Despite 34 points (31 kills, two aces, one block) from Mladenovic, the Pinks Spiders fell to the Suwon Hyundai E&C Hillstate on five sets Wednesday. The team returned to the court on Sunday and bounced back with a four-set triumph over the Gwangju Pepper Savings Bank – Mladenovic contributed with 29 points (28 kills, one block).