When the Goa Guardians threw their hat into the ring for the 2025 RR Kabel Prime Volleyball League powered by Scapia, nobody quite knew what to expect. A fresh franchise in a league overflowing with international muscle and domestic pedigree, Goa entered the season wearing the underdog tag like a shrug. But across four weeks of nerve-fraying contests, they stitched together a campaign that was equal parts grit, flair and sheer bloody-mindedness — and came within touching distance of a dream final.
Captain Chirag Yadav and head coach TC Jothish spent the pre-season building a squad that looked balanced on paper and quietly ambitious in spirit. The foreign firepower arrived in the form of the seasoned Jeffrey Menzel and the dynamic Nathaniel Dickinson. Around them, the Indian unit — Aravindhan, Prince, Rohit Yadav, Dushyant Singh — brought the grit, the graft and the hunger to stand up to the league’s big boys. The message from Day One was unmistakable: Goa would play bold, serve hard, block harder, and live or die by aggressive volleyball.
Their baptism came on October 3, against Bengaluru Torpedoes. Goa punched above their weight early, with Chirag’s fire and Menzel’s thump giving them a mid-match edge. But experience prevailed as Bengaluru clawed back for a 3–2 win. The scoreline stung, but the Guardians had announced themselves, far from timid, certainly not outsiders.
Another five-setter followed against Kochi Blue Spikers. Hemanth and Erin tilted the balance Kochi’s way, but Goa had shown enough fight to make observers sit up. Two matches, two heartbreaks, but no signs of a rookie meltdown.
The breakthrough arrived on October 7. Up against defending champions Ahmedabad Defenders, the Guardians produced a stirring 3–2 comeback. Rohit’s calm, clever setting and Menzel’s no-nonsense finishing powered Goa to their maiden PVL victory, a night that felt like a turning point, a confirmation that this side could upset scripts and topple reputations.
What followed was typical of a team still discovering itself. Chennai Blitz edged them in — yes — another five-set cliffhanger. Menzel and Dickinson dazzled, Prince patrolled the middle like a sentinel, but tiny lapses proved costly. Yet, if the defeats bothered Goa, they didn’t show it.
Then came the performance that lit up October. On the 14th, Goa smashed Kolkata Thunderbolts 3–0 in a statement of authority. Everything clicked — Prince towering in the middle, Rohit ripping serves, Dickinson finding angles at will. Suddenly, the Guardians were fourth in the table and playing like a team that belonged among the elite.
A 3–1 misstep against Hyderabad Black Hawks halted their charge briefly, but it only set up one of the season’s most unforgettable turnarounds. On October 19, down two sets to Delhi Toofans, Goa refused to blink. Prince ruled the nets, Menzel went nuclear, and Chirag’s leadership stitched it all together as the Guardians carved out a sensational 3–2 win. Their semifinal hopes were alive — and soon enough, mathematically sealed when Delhi beat Kolkata on October 22.
The fairytale, though, hit its limit in the semifinals. Up against Mumbai Meteors on October 24, Goa found themselves squeezed by sharp defence and relentless service pressure. Despite Dickinson’s bursts and Prince’s tireless work in the middle, Mumbai proved too composed, sealing a 3–0 result and putting an end to Goa’s dream run.
But if the scoreline hurt, the journey healed. In their very first season, the Guardians not only reached the final four but also showed a league-wide appetite for the fight — playing five five-setters in eight matches and never once looking out of depth.
As the players waved to their supporters at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, there was no sense of an ending, only a beginning. A young team, a fearless philosophy, and a debut season that sparked belief.
© 2025