Europeans Abroad: Van Hecke and Lozo battle for bronze in Japan

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

One European player will take her team to the podium at the Japanese Women's V. League as Belgian opposite Lise Van Hecke and the Toyota Auto Body Queenseis and Serbian outside hitter Sara Lozo and her Saitama Ageo Medics will battle in the tournament’s third-place match next Saturday, in Takasaki.

The Queenseis got a win and a loss in the first weekend of the V. League Finals, beating the Hisamitsu Springs in five sets in the quarterfinals, on Saturday, with 36 points (35 kills, one block) from Van Hecke, and falling in straight sets to defending champions NEC Red Rockets in the semifinals – the Belgian star contributed 13 points (12 kills, one block) in the encounter. If they finish third, Van Hecke and her teammates will match the Queenseis’ best-ever finish in the V. League, obtained in the 2017-2018 season.

Lozo and her team had the same level of success this past weekend, as they overcame the quarterfinal round with a 3-1 win over the Denso Airybees but couldn’t handle the JT Marvelous, the only undefeated team in the country, losing 3-1 in the semifinals – the Serbian produced 23 points (18 kills, four blocks, one ace) in the first encounter and 20 (18 kills, two blocks) in the second. The Ageo Medics also have bronze as their best finish in the V. League, having stepped on the podium in 2014-2015 and 2019-2020.

China

Teams with European players in their squads occupied the first two spots in the standings at the conclusion of the second round of the Chinese Men’s League, advancing to the knockout round of the tournament.

Ranked first with 18 points (six wins, two losses), the Shanghai Bright of Serbian star Aleksandar Atanasijević and former Polish national team captain Michał Kubiak played twice this week, getting a win and a loss. The team swept Hebei on Thursday and fell to Beijing BAIC Motor 3-1 on Sunday. With the team already qualified entering the week, the European stars were rested on both encounters.

Beijing, who advanced in second place with 16 points (six wins, two losses), triumphed in both matches of the week, downing Zhejiang in the tie-breaker on Thursday before Sunday’s victory over Shangai. Ukrainian setter Yurii Synytsia came off the bench in the first match while Belarusian middle blocker Maksim Shkredau played all four sets on Sunday, producing four points.

Korea

Signed to replace Slovenian outside hitter Matej Kök, who went down with an injury last week, Russian opposite Artem Sushko had a promising debut with his new team Seoul Woori Card in the Korean V-League.

The 30-year-old European, who was with Qatar’s Police Union earlier in the season, registered 17 points (13 kills, two blocks, two aces) in his debut with Seoul, leading the team to a 3-0 win over the Uijeongbu KB Insurance Stars on Thursday.

Dutch outside hitter Thijs Ter Horst also celebrated a victory in the Korean League this week as his team Suwon KEPCO Vixtorm topped the Ansan OK Financial Group in three sets on Wednesday. The European player produced 17 points, with 14 kills, two blocks and one ace.