VNL 2021: all results of June 22

In first irrelevant match of Day 15 of 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy, Canada destroys last-placed Australia in straight sets. Partially it was 25:17, 25:8, 25:20.

The European champions of Serbia recorded their 10th victory in the VNL 2021, as it defeated The Netherlands in an exhausting tie-breaker in which it converted only the third match ball in the fifth set: 25:21, 21:25, 25:18, 21:25, 17:15. Even though they dropped one point, the team commanded by Slobodan Kovač remained in contention for the semifinals (they are currently fourth in the charts), but France and Russia have yet to play their matches. Serbia’s opposite Dražen Luburić joined the prestigious 30+ club in the men’s VNL by putting down 33 points including 8 aces.

USA rebounded from the previous night’s defeat to Slovenia, by beating Bulgaria in three sets (19:25, 24:26, 9:25) improving their record to 7-7.

Georgi Petrov (Bulgaria): “In games like this one you can see that our opponents have better quality of volleyball than us. If we have a good day in attacking and serving we try to put a maximum. Today we didn’t manage to close the second set in our favour, and in the third set we didn’t show a good style of volleyball, we had only 9 points, which is not good, but sometimes it happens. But we will try to win the next game.”

Jeffrey Jendryk (USA): “I think that for this victory we just got today we really wanted to take it off from our side, serve aggressively and just hope to get them out of the system and we were able to do that. We had some really good blocks. Yesterday’s game was a tough one, so a lot of the guys were tired, so the guys who didn’t play yesterday wanted to come in today and wanted to show the hard work they put in so it’s really cool.”

After Brazil, the name of one more national team that secured a place in the Final Four of the 2021 VNL is known: it is the world champion Poland.
The team commanded by Belgian expert Vital Heynen successfully completed the task in the competition for the fifth time in a row as they downed one of its biggest rivals in the international scene, Iran, with a clear 3-0, partially 25:20, 25:20, and 25:16. Jakub Kochanowski was the top scorer of the match, who is at 12-2, with 12 points.

Saeid Marouf (Iran): “It’s difficult for us now, as we know that we will not stay at the tournament. Five losses in a row, so it’s hard to stay fully focused and motivated. It was not our day today, but we will do our best to play our volleyball again and to finish this tournament well with a victory tomorrow.”

Aleksander Sliwka (Poland): “The most important thing is that we clinched the Final Four, so we are happy, because it was our goal to play for a medal, to be in the top of the tournament. Today again our opponents switched their line-up, but we also do the same, so it was hard to predict who is playing on the other side. But the goal didn’t change. We wanted to win and we did it perfectly.”

Slovenia swept Japan on the penultimate day of pool play at the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League to come within one victory of claiming a berth in the Final Four of the competition.
With 14 points each by Tonček Štern and Tine Urnaut, Slovenia defeated the rivals in three sets (fourth win in a row) and thus retained third place in the standings with an 11-3 record. Before the last round, in which they will face Bulgaria, only mere theory separates EuroVolley vice-champion from reaching the goal of qualifying for the semifinals.

Kunihiro Shimizu (Japan): “Slovenia have a really strong serve – also we are aware that our reception was not good, so we struggled with high balls and we were not able to score. We also had some problems after being blocked as our defence didn’t work well. We have to analyse this match and improve our game ahead of tomorrow’s match.”

Tine Urnaut (Slovenia): “I’m very happy about this victory, because Japan are always a tough opponent and it was visible in the third set. I’m happy that we came back even if we were maybe three or four times behind by 3 points, but the most important was that we stayed focused and we won. We are hoping that we can do our best tomorrow, winning the match and qualifying to the Final Four. The most important was mentality – not technical elements – our determination, motivation with which we played every point were the most important in this match.”

France destroy Argentina and continue to lead those teams at 10-4 that continue to chase a spot in the semifinals.
Today France earned itself a second consecutive straight-set win in the competition after Iran. France will play for the qualification for the Final Four against Poland, who already booked a place in the semis, in the last round. Jean Patry was France’s top scorer today with 14 points, while Jénia Grebennikov made 71.4% digs (12/14).

Nicolas Mendez (Argentina): “We missed a bit of luck – the first set was really close, then in the third we were two points ahead, but we missed it. Maybe if we would have won this set, we could turn around the score. In addition, France served very well the entire match and we had difficult moments in reception, so France were better and won. Iran is a really good team, so we expect a big fight tomorrow. They have a really good setter. We will recover well tonight and we will come back tomorrow to show our best.”

Trevor Clevenot (France): “It’s an extremely important victory on our way to the Final Four as we are on the right track. We are very happy that we won this game and tomorrow we will play the last match of the round robin against Poland. We knew that Argentina defend a lot and therefore we were patient on the court.”

Brazil extended their winning streak to ten matches and improved overall to 13-1 as they beat Germany in straight sets to remain top of the standings. Partially it was 25:21, 25:21 and 25:23.

Julian Zenger (Germany): “I think that every set we started okay, besides the first one, but also then we fought back and we had a chance and at the end it was only small details. We missed some big opportunities when we could create a gap between us, but we never took these chances. I think we played a good block-defence, but then in the transition we missed constantly.”

Lucas Saatkamp (Brazil): “It was the first game when we have played being already qualified for the semifinals. We played a bit more relaxed with bigger confidence during this match. We have many good players and this gives us an opportunity to rotate the lineup and despite the changes in squad the level of our game is still high and this is the strength of our team.”

Italy made Russia’s chances of progressing to the Final Four smaller by forcing it to play five sets (25:21, 16:25, 25:17, 19:25, 15:12). Dmitriy Volkov stood out in Russia with 16 points.

Ahead of the last round, four teams are in contention for the remained two slots in the semifinals. Slovenia is in the best position, having 11 wins and 3 defeats, while France, Russia, and Serbia are at 10-4 each.

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)
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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)

👉🏼 Standings: Brazil 38, Poland 36, France 32, Slovenia 31, Russia 31, Serbia 27, USA 21, Japan 19, Canada 19, Iran 18, Italy 17, Argentina 17, Germany 13, The Netherlands 8, Bulgaria 7, Australia 2.
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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 3-0 (25:20, 25:18, 25:19)
Semifinal 2: Poland – Slovenia 3-0 (25:22, 25:21, 25:23)
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June 27, 2021 –
Final 3/4: France – Slovenia 3-0 (25:20, 25:18, 25:19)
Final 1/2: Brazil – Poland 3-1 (22:25, 25:23, 25:16, 25:14)
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