VNL 2022: another win for Japan, USA, France and Brazil. First success for Argentina and Italy

Day 2 of the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Nations League’s Week 1 began with wins of Japan and Argentina.

The two biggest East Asian volleyball teams faced off in Brasília, Brazil in Pool 1. Even though it dominated in blocking (10-4), China underperformed from the service line, failing to make a single ace and suffering 8 from Japan. The winners turned around a one-set deficit into a 3-point victory, their second in as many games in the competition. Just like in the opener, Yuji Nishida was the man of the match above all in attack, putting down 26 points.

“At the beginning of the match, we did not manage to serve so well, but when we started to get our serving right and reduced our mistakes in passing that helped us win,” Japan captain Yuki Ishikawa said. “China and we are two of the good teams in Asia, so a win against them is always very important for us.”

In its second appearance for Pool 2 that’s played in Ottawa, Canada, the Argentina National Team defeated Germany 3-1, partially 18:25, 25:22, 25:17, and 25:20. Unlike the defeat to Poland in the contest’s debut, the head coach Marcelo Méndez reshuffled his lineup a bit, however, it didn’t give immediate results as Germany entered the match much stronger. Michał Winiarski’s side controlled the first set but were downed after it. Tokyo Olympics bronze medalists Bruno Lima and Ezequiel Palacios were Argentina’s top scorers with 16 points each.

But we’ve witnessed some great clashes in the competition over the past 24 hours.
Let’s start with France – Serbia duel, in which the Olympic Champions managed to prevail in the game in four sets even though Kolakovic’s side had a lead after the first set, 3-1 (21:25, 25:22, 25:23, 25:23).
Stephen Boyer led the winners with 22 points, while Earvin Ngapeth also contributed with 15. On the other side, Pavle Peric scored 22 points, and Nikola Meljanac 20.

“We did a great job in coming back after we lost the first set,” Boyer said after the match. “It’s the start of a new cycle for our team and it’s great to be on the court with the guys and winning our first two matches makes it even better.”

The U.S. national team didn’t have any difficulties in the game against the Netherlands, as they trampled over the rivals in straight sets 3-0 (25:12, 25:18, 25:16). Aaron Russell and Kyle Ensing led the winners again with 14 points each.

Italy and Poland, on the other hand, had an interesting clash. Poland took the lead in sets but couldn’t do anything to stop the rivals in the next 3 sets 3-1 (21:25, 25:23, 25:20, 25:20).
The top scorer of the game was Karol Butryn in Poland’s Jersey with 17 points while, on the winning side, Yuri Romano and Mattia Bottolo had 16 points each.

Back to Pool 1, hosts Brazil have scored the second victory in as many games in the competition, beating Slovenia in four sets 3-1 (25:21, 21:25, 25:20, 25:16). Alan Souza ended the game as top scorer in the winning side with 18 points, while Rodrigo Leao also contributed with 15. In Slovenia, Rok Mozic was the top scorer of the match with 22.

🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
USA 6
France 6
Brazil 6
Japan 6
Iran 3
Germany 3
Poland 3
Serbia 3
Italy 3
Argentina 3
Bulgaria 0
Australia 0
Canada 0
China 0
The Netherlands 0
Slovenia 0

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— June 07, 2022 —

| Pool 1 – Week 1 – Brasilia 🇧🇷
• 18:00 (Local Time) China – Iran 1-3 (15:25, 25:19, 22:25, 15:25)

| Pool 2 – Week 1 – Ottawa 🇨🇦
• 16:30 (Local Time) Bulgaria – Serbia 1-3 (25:19, 19:25, 22:25, 25:20)
• 19:30 (Local Time) Canada – Germany 0-3 (19:25, 20:25, 28:30)
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— June 08, 2022 —

Pool 1 – Week 1 – Brasilia 🇧🇷
• 21:00 (Local Time) Slovenia – USA 0-3 (19:25, 19:25, 14:25)
• 18:00 (Local Time) Japan – The Netherlands 3-1 (22:25, 24:26, 25:22, 25:17)

Pool 2 – Week 1 – Ottawa 🇨🇦
• 16:30 (Local Time) Poland – Argentina 3-0 (25:21, 25:22, 25:23)
• 19:30 (Local Time) France – Italy 3-0 (25:22, 26:24, 25:19)

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— June 09, 2022 —

Pool 1 – Week 1 – Brasilia 🇧🇷
• 21:00 (Local Time) Brazil – Australia 3-0 (25:14, 25:18, 25:21)

👉🏼 15:00 (Local Time) Japan – China 3-1 (21:25, 25:19, 25:19, 25:18)

👉🏼 18:00 (Local Time) The Netherlands – USA 0-3 (12:25, 18:25, 16:25)

Pool 2 – Week 1 – Ottawa 🇨🇦
👉🏼 11:00 (Local Time) Germany – Argentina 1-3 (25:18, 22:25, 17:25, 20:25)

👉🏼 16:30 (Local Time) Serbia – France 1-3 (25:21, 22:25, 23:25, 23:25)

👉🏼 19:30 (Local Time) Poland – Italy 1-3 (25:21, 23:25, 20:25, 20:25)

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— June 10, 2022 —

Pool 1 – Week 1 – Brasilia 🇧🇷
👉🏼 21:00 (Local Time) Brazil – Slovenia 3-1 (25:21, 21:25, 25:20, 25:16)

• 15:00 (Local Time) The Netherlands – Iran 3-0 (26:24, 25:21, 25:21)
• 18:00 (Local Time) Japan – USA 2-3 (25:17, 15:25, 21:25, 28:26, 9:15)

Pool 2 – Week 1 – Ottawa 🇨🇦
• 11:00 (Local Time) Serbia – Argentina 3-2 (25:16, 25:18, 18:25, 12:25, 15:6)
• 16:30 (Local Time) Bulgaria – Germany 2-3 (20:25, 25:22, 16:25, 25:20, 10:15)
• 19:30 (Local Time) France – Canada 3-0 (25:16, 25:23, 25:21)

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— June 11, 2022 —

Pool 1 – Week 1 – Brasilia 🇧🇷
• 21:00 (Local Time) Australia – Slovenia 0-3 (22:25, 20:25, 21:25)
• 15:00 (Local Time) USA – Brazil 3-1 (21:25, 27:25, 25:20, 25:20)
• 18:00 (Local Time) Slovenia – China 3-1 (25:18, 25:20, 18:25, 27:25)

Pool 2 – Week 1 – Ottawa 🇨🇦
• 13:00 (Local Time) Germany – Serbia 3-2 (27:25, 25:27, 18:25, 28:26, 18:16)
• 16:00 (Local Time) Bulgaria – Poland 0-3 (19:25, 19:25, 23:25)
• 19:00 (Local Time) Canada – Italy 0-3 (21:25, 18:25, 19:25)

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— June 12, 2022 —

Pool 1 – Week 1 – Brasilia 🇧🇷
• 21:00 (Local Time) Iran – Australia 3-1 (25:14, 25:22, 18:25, 25:15)
• 10:00 (Local Time) Brazil – China 0-3 (23:25, 29:31, 23:25)
• 13:00 (Local Time) Iran – Japan 0-3 (20:25, 14:25, 19:25)
• 16:00 (Local Time) The Netherlands – Australia 3-0 (25:20, 25:15, 25:23)

Pool 2 – Week 1 – Ottawa 🇨🇦
• 11:00 (Local Time) France – Poland 1-3 (25:21, 22:25, 21:25, 22:25)
• 14:00 (Local Time) Argentina – Italy 1-3 (20:25, 21:25, 25:16, 28:30)
• 17:00 (Local Time) Bulgaria – Canada 2-3 (18:25, 18:25, 26:24, 25:21, 11:15)

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