VNL 2021: All results of May 29

On second day of men FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy, France battled back from a set down twice to defeat Germany at tie break. Partially it was 22:25, 25:22, 22:25, 25:16,17:15). The entry of Brisard, who replaced Toniutti in the 4th set, was the game changer. Trevor Clevenot was the top scorer with 21 points, including 5 aces, while Stephen Boyer added 20. Moritz Reichert was Germany top scorer with 19 points.

Trevor Clevenot (FRA): “It was a really good game for us. Germany are a strong team, so we are just happy that we won. These three aces [in tie break] – I’m just lucky. I tried to do some soft balls and it worked and made a difference. I think we were 3 points behind Germany and after that we levelled up the score. When you win a game you are happy, but we can definitely improve.”

Moritz Reichert (GER): “It was a really close match and both teams were fighting hard. Especially in the fifth set it was so close. A little bit of bad luck for us in the end, and we couldn’t manage to use our advantage. It’s sad that we lost, but we had a really good fight. France are a very good team, so we are always motivated to play well against them. They have very good block-defence and technique, so it’s hard to play them, but it’s always fun to play against this kind of opponent.”

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Two-time competition winners Russia claimed the second victory in as many matches by 3-1 (25:17, 20:25, 25:20, 25:17). Maxim Mikhaylov was the top scorer for the reigning VNL champions with 22 points. Iran has to face the absences of outside hitter Milad Ebadipoor and middle blocker Reza Abedini, but also libero Mohammad Reza Hazratpour and setter Saeed Maroof in the first few days in Rimini.

Igor Kobzar (RUS): “Every win is important. Iran coach Vladimir Alekno knows most of the Russian players and our style of play, but we didn’t try to surprise him with our lineup or with anything else. We just wanted to play our game and show our best. Step by step, we want to improve. It was interesting to see this Iranian starting six, and I think it helped Iran to play without pressure.”

Milad Ebadipour (IRI): “We knew that we had to expect a tough game, because we played against Russia, one of the best teams in the world. They were really good, they were better than us, especially in the physical aspects of the match. I have to praise our young players, because they played really well. They pushed a lot and I think the Russians could feel it. Of course, we could have won this game, but we made some small mistakes during the match.”

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Also Japan are on two victories after their come from behind 3-2 (22:25, 23:25, 25:22, 25:17, 15:8) victory against the Netherlands on Saturday. Ran Takahashi scored 26 points for the winning side.
After winning the first two sets, the Netherlands allowed Japan to reverse the course of the game. 25 points of Nimir Abdel-Aziz were not enough for the Netherlands to do anything more than win two sets in this match.

Thijs Ter Horst (NED): “After the first two sets they started to put more pressure on us, and from our side we started to make some mistakes that were unnecessary. I think we wanted to close the game too quickly, instead of just playing our game. That’s why we made a few too many mistakes. We are here [at the VNL] for the first time. In addition a few guys have never played in the national team before, so it’s an amazing start for their international career. We have to enjoy, learn and keep going.”

Ran Takahashi (JPN): “The first two sets were very difficult for us, also mentally. However, what we did in the next three sets was showing in the game what we have worked on during training, and that was what helped us win this game. Playing a five-setter is a good experience for the future, and tomorrow we will try to play even better.”

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Bulgaria claimed their first victory of the competition after losing to France on Friday. Martin Atanasov was their top scorer as they pushed to a 3-0 (25:21, 25:25, 25:20) victory against Australia.

Martin Atanasov (BUL): “It was a very good performance. Our first at the VNL 2021 after losing a game yesterday. Yesterday we didn’t play so well in the decisive part of the sets and we discussed that today. We have to play better after the 20th point, and I think we did that well against Australia. I hope that tomorrow against Germany we will show our best. I’m trying to get better and better every day mentally and physically and I hope we will continue this way.”

Luke Smith (AUS): “We knew that coming into the VNL competition would be a huge task for us, it’s a big challenge, because we have a completely new style of play. The key to our performances is that we want to be able to rebound as soon as possible and try to develop as soon as possible. It’s a completely new team, so we are just trying to fight for every ball and try our best attitude. I’m not too disappointed with our losses so far as in both matches our team featured new players, with a new coach, with new systems that we’re really trying to get better. We need to trust in a process and continue to make progress in the tournament. There is no better way to develop as a team than to play against the best in the world. We have missed playing consistently at the highest level and it’s really evident when you play the strongest teams. But I believe it’s also what builds character. So for young guys gaining this experience now is so valuable. It’s not always possible or easy with other teams to put young players on, but it’s the situation for Australia right now. We are in a period of growth.”

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Poland overwhelmed Serbia in four sets – not least thanks to an amazing record-breaking serving performance by Wilfrdo Leon, author of 13 aces! It was the first record of the competition and almost doubled the previous best of seven aces in a single match by Japan’s Yuji Nishida against Bulgaria and by Australia’s Samuel Walker against Brazil, in 2019.

Marko Podrascanin (Serbia): “When I look at the result it looks bad for my team, because we are not even getting one point. But I think that we played really good, only difference – in my opinion – was Leon’s service. We know he is the best player in the world – I played with him for two years. Today he made a difference, especially from the service line. Every set we lost the difference in points was the number of his aces. The key to Poland’s win was Leon’s service. Otherwise we played a really good match.”

Kamil Semeniuk (Poland): “That was my first official match game with the National Team. I’m very proud to be here and to be a part of this team. We are really happy because we won this game. Obviously, we can still do some things better, but in the next days we will work to improve it during training sessions. So, we hope to be even better in the next games of the VNL.”

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Slovenia recorded a historic win, their first in the competition which they joined just this year, outplaying hosts Italy in straight sets.

Gianluca Galassi (Italy): “This is our second loss at this tournament, but it’s just the beginning. We will try to play better. I think there is no excuse, because we could say we are young and it’s the first time for many of us, but we all, every single one of us, can play at a high level and we should show other teams and everyone else that we can play at this level.”

Ziga Stern (Slovenia): “I’m very happy that we managed to step up together as a team. I’m also very happy for our historic first win at the VNL for Slovenia. This is a big day, but we will not stop. There are a lot of matches ahead, so we are eager for more wins. I feel amazing with these guys, we are a group of friends on the court and outside the court, so it’s really a great feeling.”

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Canada bounced back from their opening day defeat to USA, destroying Argentina in straight sets for their first win at the competition.

Facundo Conte (Argentina): “We know what we are going through. It’s hard to find the rhythm right now. We have been in training in the last few weeks only and with few players. It’s not an excuse, I know we have to do better. But I believe that after two years we are playing back together again and trying to find the rhythm. It’s still a long way to go, we have 13 more matches to find our game and to be back to be Argentina and we will try to do our best.”

John Gordon Perrin (Canada): “It feels great, especially after last night, when we had a very bad match against the USA and we had a lot of things to work on to come back to practice and get back on it and it’s much better tonight.”

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USA – Brazil 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 19:25)
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FIVB VNL 2021 – Results & Program

May 28, 2021 –
France – Bulgaria 3-0 (27:25, 25:21, 25:23)
Germany – Australia 3-0 (25:19, 25:18, 25:16)
Japan – Iran 3-0 (25:19, 25:22, 26:24)
Serbia – Slovenia 3-1 (22:25, 25:18, 36:34, 25:18)
The Netherlands – Russia 1-3 (19:25, 22:25, 25:18, 20:25)
USA – Canada 3-0 (25:17, 26:24, 25:20)
Poland – Italy 3-0 (25:19, 25:20, 25:18)
Brazil – Argentina 3-0 (31:29, 26:24, 25:16)
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👉🏼 May 29, 2021 –
Germany – France 2-3 (25:22, 22:25, 25:22, 16:25, 15:17
Iran – Russia 1-3 (17:25, 25:20, 20:25, 17:25)
The Netherlands – Japan 2-3 (25:22, 25:23, 22:25, 17:25, 8:15)
Australia – Bulgaria 0:3 (21:25, 20:25, 20:25)
Poland – Serbia 3-1 (26:24, 25:19, 21:25, 25:15)
Italy – Slovenia 0-3 (23:25, 19:25, 15:25)
Argentina – Canada 0-3 (17:25, 21:25, 17:25)
USA – Brazil 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 19:25)

👉🏼 Standings: Russia 6, Poland 6, Brazil 6, Japan 5, France 5, Germany 4, Serbia 3, Slovenia 3, Bulgaria 3, USA 3, Canada 3, The Netherlands 1, Australia 0, Iran 0, Italy 0, Argentina 0.
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May 30, 2021 –
Australia – France 1-3 (26:28, 25:20, 14:25, 23:25)
The Netherlands – Iran 0-3 (18:25 23:25, 28:30)
Germany – Bulgaria 3-2 (19:25, 25:21, 22:25, 30:28, 15:11)
Russia – Japan 2-3 (26:28, 28:26, 25:20, 21:25, 14:16)
USA – Argentina 3-1 (23:25, 25:21, 25:15, 25:19)
Canada – Brazil 1-3 (17:25, 20:25, 25:22, 25:27)
Poland – Slovenia 1-3 (22:25, 25:23, 19:25, 23:25)
Serbia – Italy 3-1 (25:23, 22:25, 25:22, 25:18)
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June 3, 2021 –
Germany – Argentina 2-3 (19:25, 25:23, 25:17, 23:25, 13:15)
Iran – Canada 3-1 (22:25, 25:22, 25:22, 25:22)
Japan – Serbia 1-3 (25:18, 23:25, 22:25, 13:25)
Brazil – France 0-3 (37:39, 18:25, 28:30)
The Netherlands – Slovenia 0-3 (18:25, 15:25, 18:25)
Australia – Poland 0-3 (16:25, 10:25, 12:25)
Italy – Bulgaria 3-2 (25:19, 20:25, 25:13, 23:25, 15:12)
Russia – USA 3-1 (25:22, 25:19, 17:25, 25:19)
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June 4, 2021 –
Argentina – Slovenia 0-3 (19:25, 22:25, 18:25)
The Netherlands – Germany 3-2 (25:18, 23:25, 25:20, 23:25, 15:13)
Brazil – Japan 3-0 (25:20, 25:16, 25:20)
Serbia – France 3-2 (22:25, 24:26, 25:22, 25:23, 15:9)
Iran – Italy 3-1 (26:24, 29:27, 21:25, 25:22)
Poland – USA 3-0 (25:17, 28:26, 25:17)
Russia – Australia 3-0 (25:19, 26:24, 25:21)
Canada – Bulgaria 3-0 (28:26, 25:23, 25:16)
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June 5, 2021 –
The Netherlands – Argentina 0-3 (19:25, 20:25, 23:25)
Slovenia – Germany 1-3 (25:19, 20:25, 21:25, 20:25)
France – Japan 3-2 (21:25, 25:22, 24:26, 25:21, 15:11)
Brazil – Serbia 3-1 (23:25, 25:23, 25:15, 25:22)
Russia – Poland 1-3 (25:21, 19:25, 19:25, 14:25)
USA – Australia 3-0 (25:23, 25:20, 25:17)
Bulgaria – Iran 0-3 (20:25, 31:33, 22:25)
Canada – Italy 2-3 (19:25, 21:25, 25:21, 28:26, 11:15)
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June 9, 2021 –
Serbia – Germany 3-1 (19:25, 25:22, 25:18, 25:15)
Japan – Australia 3-1 (25:18, 21:25, 28:26, 26:24)
France – Russia 3-1 (22:25, 25:18, 30:28, 25:19)
Slovenia – Canada 3-0 (25:22, 25:19, 25:22)
Argentina – Italy 0-3 (28:30, 21:25, 20:25)
Iran – USA 3-0 (25:19, 25-23, 25:23)
Poland – Bulgaria 3-0 (25:19, 25:15, 25:12)
The Netherlands – Brazil 0-3 (19:25, 22:25, 25:27)
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June 10, 2021 –
Serbia – Iran 3-2 (21:25, 25:15, 26:28, 25:22, 15:8)
Russia – Canada 3-1 (25:18, 25:18, 23:25, 25:23)
France – Slovenia 2-3 (25:17, 25:19, 23:25, 19:25, 9:15)
Argentina – Australia 3-0 (25:18, 25:19, 25:20)
Germany – USA 0-3 (12:25, 18:25, 27:29)
Bulgaria – Brazil 0-3 (16:25, 22:25, 12:25)
Japan – Italy 3-2 (21:25, 25:22, 22:25, 25:19, 15:9)
Poland – The Netherlands 3-0 (25:14, 25:17, 25:16)
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June 11, 2021 –
Iran – Germany 2-3 (25:23, 20:25, 19:25, 25:19, 13:15)
Slovenia – Russia 3-2 (19:25, 25:23, 22:25, 25:20, 15:8)
Japan – Argentina 1-3 (32:30, 16:25, 18:25, 21:25)
The Netherlands – Bulgaria 2-3 (18:25, 25:18, 25:17, 22:25, 13:15)
Australia – Italy 0-3 (20:25, 22:25, 14:25)
USA – Serbia 1-3 (23:25, 17:25, 25:19, 25:27)
Canada – France 1-3 (25:20, 21:25, 22:25, 17:25)
Poland – Brazil 0-3 (17:25, 26:28, 19:25)
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June 15, 2021 –
Russia – Serbia 3-1 (25:23, 25:22, 22:25, 25:21)
Iran – Australia 2-3 (23,25, 22:25, 25:23, 25:18, 12:15)
Argentina – Bulgaria 3-1 (25:20, 16:25, 25:18, 25:18)
Japan – Germany 3-0 (25:18, 25:22, 25:20)
Italy – USA 0-3 (15:25, 18:25, 21:25)
Canada – Poland 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 19:25)
Brazil – Slovenia 3-2 (15:25, 25:22, 19:25, 25:13, 15:12)
The Netherlands – France 3-2 (15:25, 22:25, 28:26, 25:23, 19:17)
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June 16, 2021 –
Argentina – Russia 1-3 (19:25, 23:25, 25:21, 19:25)
Serbia – Bulgaria 3-0 (25:20, 25:17, 25:17)
Slovenia – Australia 3-1 (18:25, 25:18, 25:18, 25:17)
Japan – Poland 0-3 (14:25, 18:25, 19:25)
The Netherlands – Italy 1-3 (19:25, 23:25, 25:23, 21:25)
Canada – Germany 3-0 (25:17, 26:24, 25:21)
USA – France 1-3 (23:25, 25:22, 29:31, 22:25)
Iran – Brazil 1-3 (19:25, 25:23, 19:25, 21:25)
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June 17, 2021 –
Argentina – Serbia 3-0 (27:25, 25:20, 26:24)
Bulgaria – Russia 0-3 (17:25, 22:25, 17:25)
Japan – Canada 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 18:25)
Australia – Brazil 0-3 (17:25, 22:25, 12:25)
Iran – Slovenia 1-3 (25:14, 20:25, 19:25, 30:32)
The Netherlands – USA 2-3 (25:21, 17:25, 25:23, 15:25, 13:15)
France – Italy 2-3 (19:25, 25:22, 20:25, 25:21, 12:15)
Germany – Poland 0-3 (22:25, 19:25, 20:25)
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June 21, 2021 –
Australia – Serbia 1-3 (16:25, 13:25, 25:19, 15:25)
Japan – Bulgaria 3-0 (25:23, 25:18, 25:14)
France – Iran 3-0 (25:21, 25:21, 25:19)
Canada – The Netherlands 3-0 (25:16, 25:16, 25:19)
Brazil – Italy 3-1 (25:19, 32:30, 22:25, 25:20)
Slovenia – USA 3-2 (28:30, 25:19, 21:25, 28:26, 15:13)
Poland – Argentina 3-0 (25:21, 25:22, 25:18)
Germany – Russia 1-3 (18:25, 18:25, 25:23, 15:25)
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June 22, 2021 –
Canada – Australia 3-0 (25:17, 25:8, 25:20)
Serbia – The Netherlands 3-2 (25:21, 21:25, 25:18, 21:25, 17:15)
Bulgaria – USA 0-3 (19:25, 24:26, 9:25)
Iran – Poland 0-3 (20:25, 20:25, 16:25)
Japan – Slovenia 0-3 (16:25, 16:25, 26:28)
France – Argentina 3-0 (26:24, 25:21, 25:22)
Brazil – Germany 3-0 (25:21, 25:21, 25:23)
Russia – Italy 3-2 (25:21, 16:25, 25:17, 19:25, 15:12)
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June 23, 2021 –
Australia – The Netherlands 0-3 (23:25, 19:25, 19:25)
Canada – Serbia 3-2 (17:25, 21:25, 25:17, 25:20, 17:15)
USA – Japan 3-0 (25:21, 25:23, 25:20)
France – Poland 3-2 (25:22, 21:25, 22:25, 25:20, 15:11)
Iran – Argentina 1-3 (31:33, 23:25, 32:30, 18:25)
Slovenia – Bulgaria 3-0 (25:23, 25:16, 25:18)
Italy – Germany 3-2 (25:12, 24:26, 25:22, 21:25, 15:13)
Brazil – Russia 0-3 (21:25, 26:28, 20:25)
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June 26, 2021 –
Semifinal 1: Brazil – France
Semifinal 2: Poland – Slovenia
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June 27, 2021 –
Final 3/4
Final 1/2
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Source and Photos: FIVB