PVL 2025 Season 4 (Match 28): Hyderabad Black Hawks End Bengaluru Torpedoes’ Unbeaten Run in Epic Five-Set Battle

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 23: The Hyderabad Black Hawks brought Bengaluru Torpedoes’ unbeaten run to an end in the RR Kabel Prime Volleyball League powered by Scapia, clinching a thrilling 3–2 win at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad, on Saturday. In a nail-biting encounter that went down to the wire, the Hawks edged past the Torpedoes 13–15, 15–10, 18–16, 14–16, 15–11. Libero Deepu Venugopal was adjudged the Player of the Match. With this victory, Hyderabad climbed to fifth place in the points table, securing 9 points from six matches.

Bengaluru skipper Matthew West started strong, channelling play through Jalen Penrose, who consistently tested the Hyderabad defence. Jishnu and Mujeeb countered with key blocks, while Sahil’s explosive super spike earned the Hawks a crucial super point to close the gap. However, a service miss from Athul handed Bengaluru the first set advantage.

Joel Benjamin soon found his attacking rhythm as Hyderabad regrouped. Sahil’s all-around brilliance kept the Hawks in contention, and Shikhar Singh’s disciplined defending strengthened the back line. A bold super serve from Hyderabad proved decisive when Niyas successfully blocked Penrose, sending the packed home crowd into raptures.

Preet Karan’s precise distribution ensured Hyderabad maintained momentum in the following set. Though Sahil’s wayward shot gave Bengaluru a super point, Deepu’s exceptional reflexes and defensive anticipation blunted Penrose’s attacks, helping the Hawks surge ahead.

Vitor Yudi Yamamoto’s powerful cross-court spikes added to the Hawks’ tally, though West’s clever serving earned the Torpedoes a crucial super point. Jishnu’s timely super block against Sahil pushed the clash into a decisive fifth set.

Yudi’s mix of power and artistry kept Hyderabad ahead in the final stretch. Shikhar marshalled a rock-solid two-man block that repeatedly denied Bengaluru breakthroughs. A costly service error from Sethu handed Hyderabad a key super point, sealing a memorable 3–2 victory for the hosts.

After the match, Abhishek Reddy Kankanala, Principal Owner of the Hyderabad Black Hawks, said, “Bengaluru were the table-toppers, and we knew this was going to be a test of character. The boys played fearless volleyball and proved that when it counts, Hyderabad always rises. I couldn’t be prouder of how they handled the pressure.”