Hyderabad, October 16: Keeping their Prime Volleyball League 2025 campaign alive, Chennai Blitz squeezed past Ahmedabad Defenders in a gripping five-set thriller — 15-10, 10-15, 15-11, 12-15, 15-13 — at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on Wednesday. Jerome Vinith, showing exceptional versatility, earned the Player of the Match honors, guiding Chennai to sixth place with six points over five encounters. Jerome’s precise serves and formidable spikes disoriented the Ahmedabad defence, while setter Muthusamy Appavu cleverly exploited gaps by focusing on Nandhagopal, disrupting the Defenders' counterattacks. In response, Battur Batsuuri’s smart placement secured a vital super point for Ahmedabad.
Akhin was crucial for Ahmedabad with his defensive prowess, and Batsuuri's accurate cross-court smashes turned the tide in their favour. The Defenders gained momentum when Angamuthu, with his swift and precise attacking, stepped up. Chennai countered through Tarun Gowda’s explosive super serve, reinvigorating the team. Debutant Azizbek Kuchkorov impressed with pivotal blocks that thwarted Ahmedabad’s momentum. Brazilian attacker Luiz Felipe Perotto also asserted his influence at the net, maintaining the intensity on both sides.
Nandha kept Ahmedabad in contention with his potent serving and reliable scoring, while Suraj Chaudhary’s solid defence and Sameer’s astute sets facilitated Chennai’s push into a thrilling fifth set. The final set was a nail-biter, with Azizbek's formidable blocks halting Ahmedabad's key hitters. Akhin’s crucial block on Jerome provided the Defenders a lifeline with a super point.
Yet, Jerome remained composed, delivering critical spikes and serves to secure the victory for Chennai Blitz, prolonging their league journey and highlighting their tenacity in one of the season’s most electrifying matches.
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