VolleyBar126# : Monday November 9, 2026

On this day…
Amarcord and volleyball birthdays, Cyprus, women’s in Ukraine, Vietnam, Korea and Japan, and beach volley

Welcome to the 126th Episode of VolleyBar, the first one after a well-deserved weekend break!
November 9 is particularly interesting in the archives of women’s international volleyball. It features dramatic matches at the 2006 World Championship in Japan and the 2011 Women’s World Cup, including Brazil’s comeback against Serbia and Germany’s narrow victory over the United States. The birthday archive also includes several major names from the Olympic and international game.

On this day in 2006, Brazil defeat China in a five-set Women’s World Championship thriller 3–2 in one of the day’s most dramatic matches: 24:26, 20:25, 25:21, 25:16 and 19:17.
Brazil came back from two sets down, eventually winning an exceptionally tight tie-break. The result was part of the second-round Pool E programme.

On the same day, Azerbaijan edge the United States in another five-set battle
Azerbaijan defeated the United States 3–2: 25:19, 16:25, 25:22, 25:27 and 15:13.
The fourth set went to 27–25 for the Americans, but Azerbaijan recovered in the tie-break. The match was particularly notable for its close total points: both teams finished with 106 points!

Other results from the same World Championship day:
Russia – Netherlands 3–0 (25:17, 25:18, 25:16)
Germany – Puerto Rico 3–0 (25:23, 25:22, 25:22)

Germany’s victory was closer than the straight-set score suggests, with Puerto Rico keeping all three sets competitive.
Serbia and Montenegro beat Poland 3–0 on November 9 in the second-round stage of the Women’s World Championship. The win was part of a strong tournament campaign: the team ultimately reached the semifinals and secured the bronze medal, defeating Italy in the third-place match.

On November 9 2011, at the 2011 Women’s World Cup, Brazil defeated Serbia 3–2: 21:25, 21:25, 25:18, 25:19 and 15:12.
Serbia took the first two sets, but Brazil completely changed the momentum, dominating the third and fourth before winning the tie-break. 
Meanwhile, Germany defeat the United States in a spectacular three-set match
Germany beat the United States 3–0, but the scoreline hides the intensity of the encounter: 32:30, 25:19 and 26:24.
The opening set was especially dramatic, with Germany finally prevailing 32–30. The third set also went beyond the usual 25-point threshold.

The other results from November 9 at the Women’s World Cup were:
• China – Argentina 3–0 (25:10, 25:18, 25:23)
• Italy – Algeria 3–0 (25:14, 25:14, 25:15)
• Japan – Dominican Republic 3–0 (25:20, 25:19, 25:16)
• South Korea – Kenya 3–0 (25:21, 25:15, 25:14)

Guido Görtzen was born on November 9, 1970 and turns 56 today. Dutch outside hitter and one of the most important figures in the Netherlands’ golden generation, he was part of the team that won Olympic gold at Atlanta 1996 and competed at the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games. 

Brazilian setter, a key name in Brazil’s elite generation around the 2000s, Marcelinho was born on this day in 1974 and turns 52 today. He represented Brazil at the 2000 and 2008 Olympic Games, including the silver-medal campaign in Beijing. 

Chinese opposite hitter, Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004 and one of the prominent attacking figures of China’s national team during that era, Zhang Yuehong turns 51 today and was born on November 9, 1975.

Cuban outside hitter, part of Cuba’s national-team generation in the 2000s Yaima Ortiz was born on this day in 1981. Her international career included Olympic participation in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

Serbian libero and national-team player, known for her defensive work and reception Suzana Ćebić, was born in 1984. She competed at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games and was part of Serbia’s international medal-winning generation. 

Marcin Wika turns 43 today and was born on November 9, 1983. A Polish outside hitter, he played for several clubs in the Polish top division and was included in national-team records. 

Darryl Friesen was born on this day in 1967. The Canadian beach volleyball player competed on the international circuit and appeared in Olympic beach volleyball records across the 2000–2012 period.

Back to the present (some news for our italian friends at “Mondo Volley” and their other fake versions of our VolleyBar), Kuutio Homes Pafiakos Paphos became the first winner of the Cyprus League Cup, a newly introduced national competition in men’s volleyball. They claim the historic trophy after a hard-fought 3-1 (26:24, 23:25, 28:26, 25:15) away victory in final at Anagennisis Deryneia.

The women’s Ukraine Super Cup showdown was held in Horodok on Saturday and offered a five-set battle. Bukovynka Chernivtsi achieved their third consecutive triumph in the competition after a hard-fought 3-2 (30:28, 22:25, 19:25, 26:24, 15:8) victory over Balta to claim the trophy.

In Vietnam, Biên Phòng MB has officially secured their third consecutive championship title after outlasting Công An TP.HCM in an absolute five-set classic to close out the Vietnam National Volleyball Championship: 25–22, 20–25, 21–25, 25–22, 16–14.
In a fitting end to the tournament, the two heavyweights went the absolute distance. After dropping the second and third sets to fall behind 2-1, Biên Phòng MB showcased true championship pedigree. They dug deep to force a decider and executed flawlessly under pressure to clutch out a razor-thin 15-13 victory in the fifth set.
Meanwhile, Thể Công Tân Cảng claimed the bronze medal after completing a thrilling reverse sweep against LP Bank Ninh Bình in a five-set battle: 19:25, 23:25, 25:20, 25:23, 15:13!
After falling two sets behind, Thể Công Tân Cảng mounted a remarkable comeback to secure third place.

In Korea, Hyundai Capital Skywalkers continued their winning momentum, defeating KB Stars to claim their second consecutive victory in the 2026–27 V-League season. Cuba’s Leo Leyva Martínez, led the charge with 24 points, while Heo Subong contributed 22 points to power the Skywalkers to victory.
Meanwhile, KB Insurance suffered its third consecutive defeat after winning its season opener, continuing its difficult start to the campaign.

In Japan, Wolfdogs Nagoya secured their second consecutive victory over JTEKT Stings Aichi, surviving a hard-fought four-set battle: 26:24, 22:25, 26:24, 27:25.
Nagoya managed to withstand an impressive 30-point performance from French Stephen Boyer, while Tunisia’s Aymen Bouguerra led Wolfdogs with 22 points to power the team to victory.
Wolfdogs Nagoya improves to an impressive 5–1 record, while JTEKT Stings Aichi drops to 4–2.
Hiroshima Thunders secured their second consecutive victory over Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers, winning in four sets: 25:22, 28:26, 19:25, 25:23.
Iranian attackers Amin Esmaeilnezhad led Hiroshima with 22 points, while Mobin Nasri added 19 points.
For Sakai, Chizoba Neves Atu top-scored with 27 points, followed by Tommaso Rinaldi with 20 points.
Both teams now share identical 3–3 records.
Defending champions Osaka Bluteon secured another victory over Toray Arrows Shizuoka, taking the second match of their back-to-back encounters in four sets: 25:22, 25:16, 23:25, 25:21.
Miguel López led all scorers with a match-high 21 points, while Yuji Nishida added 19 points and Shoma Tomita contributed 17 points to the winning effort.
Osaka Bluteon improves to 5–1, while Toray Arrows Shizuoka drops to 2–4 in the 2026–27 SV.League season.

And now, to close our Monday episode, a little bit of beach volleyball.
Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger have secured the United States’ second men’s beach volleyball quota for the LA 2028 Olympic Games, joining the host nation berth, after capturing the title at the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualifier!
The American duo defeated Mexico’s Carlos Andrés and Vargas Lares in the final to clinch the Olympic qualification.
Congratulations, Team USA!
Meanwhile, Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson have booked Canada’s place at the LA 2028 Olympic Games after capturing the title at the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualifier too.
The Canadian duo defeated USA’s Megan Kraft and Kelly Cheng in the final to secure the Olympic qualification.

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