Haryana Hurricanes launched their Volleyball Champions League (VCL) Super 6 campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Punjab AeroStrikers, while Ayodhya Garjan delivered a dramatic straight-sets comeback to down Tamil Titans 3-0 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Friday, 17 October. Both results set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested Super 6 round.

Haryana Hurricanes Edge Past Punjab AeroStrikers

Haryana came out firing, taking the opening set 21-17. Punjab, however, refused to fold — they matched the Hurricanes point for point in the second set, levelling the contest with an identical 21-17 scoreline to force a decider. The third set proved one-sided as Haryana stepped up their intensity and overpowered the AeroStrikers 21-10, sealing a commanding finish to a tightly contested match.

Chirag Yadav was named Player of the Match for Haryana, receiving his award from Smt. Manju Sharma, Member of Parliament from Jaipur, Rajasthan. Teammate TR Kiranraj earned the Impact Player honour, felicitated by Ramanand Chaudhary, former General Secretary of the Volleyball Federation of India.

Reflecting on the win, Chirag said, “It feels great to start the Super 6 stage with a win. Punjab AeroStrikers are a strong side, and they made a good comeback in the second set, but we stayed positive and focused on our game. We knew the third set was crucial, so we worked together, maintained our intensity and executed our plans well. This victory will give us confidence, and we will look to carry the momentum into our upcoming matches.”

Ayodhya Garjan Survive Tamil Titans’ Fightback

Ayodhya Garjan registered a straight-set victory over Tamil Titans, winning 21-14, 21-20, 21-19 in a contest that featured a dramatic turnaround in the final set. Having comfortably claimed the first two sets, Garjan found themselves in trouble when Tamil Titans surged to an 18-12 lead in the third, threatening to extend the match.

Garjan mounted a spirited recovery, drawing level at 18-18 before edging ahead. Tamil Titans fought back to restore parity at 19-19, but Ayodhya claimed the next two consecutive points to complete the sweep. The third-set comeback underlined the team’s mental resilience in high-pressure moments.

Pranav Kapil Dev was named Player of the Match for Ayodhya Garjan, while KM Fasil took the Impact Player award. Pranav said after the match, “It feels great to begin our Super 6 campaign with a win. Tamil Titans put us under pressure, especially in the third set, when they had a six-point lead. But we believed in ourselves and stayed focused on our game. The team showed great fighting spirit and supported each other throughout the match. We knew we had to take our chances when they came, and I am happy that we managed to make a strong comeback and finish the match in straight sets.”

Context and Competition Stakes

The VCL Super 6 stage concentrates the league’s top franchises in a round-robin format, where early wins carry outsized psychological value. Friday’s results leave both Haryana Hurricanes and Ayodhya Garjan in strong positions entering the remaining fixtures. Notably, both winning teams required third-set resilience — a reminder that the Super 6 rarely offers straightforward victories.

What to Watch Next

With Punjab AeroStrikers and Tamil Titans both absorbing opening-round losses, the pressure will mount on them to respond in their next fixtures. Meanwhile, Haryana and Ayodhya will aim to consolidate their early momentum as the Super 6 progresses at the Noida Indoor Stadium.