Hyderabad
Hyderabad Black Hawks outfoxed defending champion Calicut Heroes 3-0 (15-12, 18-16, 18-16) in the opening contest of the 2025 Prime Volley League here at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.
There was little to separate the teams in the opening two sets. Buoyed by the fast-paced drum beats from the semi-packed stands and the choicest of Tollywood hits blazing on the speakers, as well as the brief appearance of Black Hawks’ co-owner Vijay Deverakonda, the home side remained within touching distance of the Heroes.
It eventually took the lead and consolidated it, with Sahil Kumar’s efforts in the first set and T.S. Shibin’s vital block in the second being the highlights.
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While the Heroes began to mount a comeback and found their rhythm, skipper Paulo Lamounier’s discipline kept the home side steady. Ashok Bishnoi’s aggressive approach saw him pick up consecutive super serves to give the visitor hope of taking the contest into a fourth set.
However, the duo of Niyas Abdul Salam and 2023 season MVP Guru Prasanth denied them. The former, with a well-timed super serve, made the most of Calicut’s defensive troubles for the final time on the night to seal the win.
Published on Oct 02, 2025