Chennai Blitz edge Ahmedabad Defenders in five-set PVL thriller

Chennai Blitz defeated Ahmedabad Defenders 3-2 in a gripping five-set thriller at the PVL 2025 in Hyderabad. Jerome Vinith’s leadership and Azizbek’s blocks were key in the win, which keeps Chennai's playoff hopes alive as they move to sixth place

Hyderabad: Chennai Blitz bounced back to beat Ahmedabad Defenders 15-10, 10-15, 15-11, 12-15, 15-13 in a thrilling five-setter in Season 4 of the Prime Volleyball League (PVL) at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here on Wednesday. Jerome Vinith was named the Player of the Match.

The contest saw momentum shift with almost every point, but Chennai managed to hold on in the decider to script a much-needed win and climb to sixth position with 6 points from 5 games.

---

Chennai started strong, with captain Jerome leading the attack. With a venomous super serve, he tested Ahmedabad’s defence. Muthusamy Appavu targeted Nandhagopal to disrupt the counter-attacks. A misfired shot from Battur Batsuuri handed the Defenders a crucial super point.

Akhin began making his presence felt in defence for Ahmedabad. Batsuuri’s cross-body spikes struck the mark, piling pressure back on Chennai. Angamuthu’s entry shifted momentum in Ahmedabad’s favour.

However, Tarun Gowda’s super serve helped Chennai bounce back. Making his debut, Azizbek Kuchkorov executed some stunning blocks to stop Ahmedabad’s progress. Luiz Felipe Perotto joined the attack, and once again the match tilted in Chennai’s favour.

Service pressure from Nandha troubled the Blitz in the fourth set. His super serve ensured Ahmedabad stayed in the hunt. Despite good passing from setter Sameer and solid defence from Suraj Chaudhary, Ahmedabad pushed the game into a fifth and final set.

In the decider, Azizbek’s excellent blocking helped Chennai resist Ahmedabad’s attackers. Akhin stopped Jerome’s attack at a crucial moment to shift momentum again. However, Perotto and Muthusamy combined to block Perotto and earn a critical super point. But Jerome’s clutch play in the dying moments caught the Defenders off guard, sealing an unforgettable victory for Chennai Blitz.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mumbai Meteors defeated Kochi Blue Spikers in another five-set thriller, winning 15-7, 7-15, 13-15, 15-8, 15-11 at the same venue. Karthik was named Player of the Match.