Volleyball-Suntory and Marvelous give Osaka both titles in inaugural SV.League
TOKYO (Reuters) - Former Olympic champion Dmitriy Muserskiy hit the winning points as Suntory Sunbirds Osaka took out the inaugural men's title in the first season of Japan's ambitious SV.League on Monday.
The tall Russian made a string of blocks and spikes as the Sunbirds downed Jtekt Stings Aichi 29-27 25-16 25-22 to clinch the best-of-three game final series 2-0 in front of almost 10,000 fans in Funabashi.
A Muserskiy service ace put the Sunbirds two points from the title and the 2012 Olympic champion sealed the deal with a crunching finish.
"I feel amazing. We won the championship. That was our goal before the season," said his Polish team mate Aleksander Sliwka, a silver medallist at the Paris Olympics.
"There were a lot of tough moments during the season, but we stayed together and believed in ourselves. So, we are really happy that we accomplished our goal."
The SV.League was launched last year with the aim of becoming the world's most popular volleyball league by 2030 on the back of the recruitment of big-name players from around the globe."I've heard that Suntory drew over 100,000 spectators this season," said Suntory's Japanese outside hitter Ran Takahashi, who was named tournament MVP.
"That kind of energy is a great sign for both volleyball and the SV.League."
Osaka Marvelous overcame NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki 25-22 25-21 25-16 on Saturday to wrap up the women's final series after game two at Tokyo's Ariake Arena.
"I think it's always an amazing feeling when you win a title and to be the first in history, it makes it only more beautiful," said Belgian opposite spiker Lise Van Hecke.
"We're very happy, I'm very proud. It's been a long season, but to finish it like this, it's the best way and I think we showed everyone we deserve to be the champion."
(Writing by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Michael Perry)
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