VolleyBar119# : Thursday October 29, 2026

On this day…
Amarcord and a big volleyball birthday, #𝑵𝒐𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒃𝒔𝑵𝒐𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚, Earvin and Eric Ngapeth, 132km/h, Congo and Kazakhstan

Welcome to the 119th Episode of VolleyBar!
On 29 October 2016, in Oceania’s men’s World Championship qualification, New Zealand defeated Fiji 3–1 (26:24, 23:25, 25:14, 25:20) in the Oceania qualifying tournament for the 2018 FIVB Men’s World Championship. New Zealand finished top of the three-team group, ahead of Fiji and Tonga.

On this day in 2019, Benfica make a strong start in the men’s Champions League qualifying rounds: Sport Lisboa e Benfica defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina’s OK Mladost Brčko 3–0 (25:18, 32:30, 25:18) in the first round of the 2019–20 CEV Champions League qualification phase. The second set was particularly tight, with Benfica needing extra points to move two sets ahead. 
Also on October 29, 2019, in a dramatic women’s Champions League qualification tie, Ukraine’s Khimik Yuzhny and Czech side VK UP Olomouc played a five-set return match in the women’s Champions League third qualifying round. Olomouc won the match 3–2 (22:25, 25:23, 25:19, 26:24, 15:13)—but Khimik took the golden set 15–13, securing qualification. It was a reminder that in the old two-leg format, winning the match did not necessarily mean winning the tie. 

Dmitriy Muserskiy was born on 29 October 1988.
The standout name of the day, he turns 38 and remains best remembered for his extraordinary performance in the men’s Olympic final at London 2012. Russia came back from two sets down to beat Brazil 3–2, with Muserskiy moved from middle blocker to opposite and becoming the decisive attacking force. His honours also include the 2011 World Cup, the 2013 European Championship and the 2014 CEV Champions League with Belogorie Belgorod. 

Back to the present, in a highly anticipated “Zenit Derby” at the KSK Arena, host Zenit St. Petersburg outlasted Zenit-Kazan in a gripping five-set battle to hand the visitors their first loss of the season: 25:22, 23:25, 19:25, 25:19, 15:11.
After dropping the second and third sets, Vladimir Alekno’s squad showed incredible resilience to force a tiebreak. Despite a massive 27-point, 7-ace performance from Kazan’s Vladislav Davyskiba, St. Petersburg capitalized on opponent errors to regain control. Roman Pakshin with 15 points and Marlon Yant with 14 points led a balanced attack, with Egor Sidenko providing a crucial spark off the bench in the deciding frame to clinch the 15-11 victory.

In Italy, Sir Safety Perugia is taking a stand against the calendar reform proposed by the FIVB for the 2028–2032 Olympic cycle, which would see domestic club championships suspended in November, December and January to make room for FIVB national team competitions.
At a press conference attended by club president Gino Sirci, head coach Angelo Lorenzetti, captain Simone Giannelli, vice-captain Oleh Plotnytskyi and outside hitter Kamil Semeniuk, the club launched the hashtag #𝑵𝒐𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒃𝒔𝑵𝒐𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚.
Perugia is inviting all clubs and stakeholders in the volleyball world who share its position to use the hashtag #𝑵𝒐𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒃𝒔𝑵𝒐𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 on their social media profiles to show their support and strengthen a shared voice.

Appearing on Canal+’s En Aparté, two-time Olympic champion Earvin Ngapeth spoke about the decisive role played by his father, Eric Ngapeth, another prominent figure in French volleyball.
The two-time Olympic champion explained that his father never directly told him that he would make him successful.
The turning point came later, when Earvin was 17 and signed with Tours. “At some point, he thought: ‘My son is going to make it. Now I know. I’m going to make him succeed,’” Earvin recalled.
It was a silent pact that changed everything. From then on, his father demanded an extraordinary level of work from him. “I suffered. We would arrive an hour early and finish an hour later.”
Today, Earvin understands that level of discipline better when he reflects on his father’s difficult career as a player. “It was a different era. I think it was much harder for him than it was for me.”
On the court, there was no “Dad” or “Coach” — just “Ripo”. A unique relationship between two generations helped shape one of the greatest players in the history of French volleyball.

In Poland, the Cuban-Polish opposite Wilfredo Leon recorded the fastest serve of the 2026 Polish Super Cup final, reaching 132 km/h — a speed unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.
He won the Red Bull Super Ace award for the fastest serve of the match.

In Africa, the 26th edition of the Congo Volleyball Cup (20+2) concluded last weekend in Kinshasa.
Beyond the titles won by VC La Loi in the women’s competition and the Republican Guard in the men’s competition, this edition made a lasting impression through its commitment to Pink October, raising awareness of breast cancer.
Christian Matata, president of the Congolese Volleyball Federation (FEVOCO), praised the event’s success and issued a strong call to action for the sport:
“We love volleyball. Let us take it to the top and make it a sport of choice for future generations,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

In Kazakhstan, on October 26, 2026, during a private-club volleyball championship in Pavlodar, for girls born in 2009 and later, coach Hamit Myrzabekov from a Shymkent academy/club was filmed calling his team’s libero to the sideline and striking her on the head.
The video quickly circulated on social media and drew widespread condemnation. The Kazakhstan National Volleyball Federation’s disciplinary committee issued a two-year disqualification. During that period Myrzabekov is barred from coaching, teaching, or any involvement in competitions under the federation. Tournament organizers received a reprimand and fine for inadequate oversight, and the Shymkent volleyball academy also received a reprimand. The federation stated that any violence in sport is unacceptable, especially toward children, and said it is supporting the player and her family while planning ethics seminars for coaches.
Local sports officials noted that Myrzabekov had worked at the private club for roughly six to seven months and was no longer employed after the incident.
The episode has highlighted ongoing concerns about coach conduct and child protection in youth sports in Kazakhstan.

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