In the 2022 edition of the Prime Volleyball League, Hyderabad Black Hawks made it to the play-offs by finishing fourth with seven points.
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Defending champions Kolkata Thunderbolts take on Hyderabad Black Hawks in their second match of RuPay Prime Volleyball League second season on Wednesday. Both sides are entering this contest on the back of registering victories in their openers. Thunderbolts got the better of the Bengaluru Torpedoes and Black Hawks overcame last year’s runners-up Ahmedabad Defenders. In season one, Kolkata Thunderbolts won the title after overcoming Ahmedabad Defenders 15-13, 15-10, 15-12 in the final.
In the 2022 edition of the Prime Volleyball League, Hyderabad Black Hawks made it to the play-offs by finishing fourth with seven points. However, they were not able to go deep in the tournament, something they would hope to rectify this time around. Trent O’Dea, who plays as a blocker for the Black Hawks, spoke about the importance of getting the first game out of the way in the tournament.
“It’s good to get your first game out of the way. It gets rid of any nerves or jitters you have before the tournament begins and now players have an idea of what to expect,” Trent O’Dea was quoted as saying by a release. Speaking about their defence, he added, “Our defence was right and that made a massive difference. Everyone in this league has a good attack, so defence is key for teams to succeed. Against Ahmedabad, we blocked and dug balls a little better than the opposition this allowed us to keep more balls alive and score crucial points. Especially, in a shortened format of 15 points, this can really have an impact.”
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Trent O’Dea was also full of praise for their young captain SV Guru. “He’s been doing really well, he consistently shows the traits of a good leader, he contributes to strategy and takes it seriously. He is also checking in with his teammates to make sure they are in a good frame of mind and have everything they need. This creates a positive atmosphere,” O’Dea added.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Thunderbolts’ captain Ashwal Rai spoke about how they focus about themselves rather than about the opponents, which is the key for them. “We do not worry too much about what is happening with other teams. We focus on ourselves. We have fourteen of the best players from all over India and some international experience, so we have everything we need to excel,” he explained. He added, “We have been training hard for over a month, and our preparation showed in our encounter against the Torpedoes. I am sure the match against the Black Hawks will be a hard-fought one, and we are looking forward to it.”
| Kolkata Thunderbolts | Ahmedabad Defenders |
| Calicut Heroes | Kochi Blue Spikers |
| Hyderabad Black Hawks | Chennai Blitz |
| Bengaluru Torpedoes | Mumbai Meteors |
| Date | Match | Time (IST) |
| 8 February | Kolkata Thunderbolts vs Hyderabad Black Hawks | 7 pm |
The Prime Volleyball League 2023, which is held from February 4 to March 5, will consist of 31 matches. The games commence at 7pm. On the double header days, the second match begins at 9:30pm. The Season 2 will be broadcast exclusively by Sony Sports Network across Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3 and Sony Sports Ten 4. It can also be livestreamed on SonyLIV. Besides, the 2nd edition of the PVL will be streamed globally on Volleyball World across all countries (except the Indian Subcontinent).
