VNL 2022: China downs Brazil! Poland beats France to claim historical No.1 in world rankings and the others that closed week 1

What a day for international volleyball!
On the evening of June 12, two national teams, China and Poland, achieved historical achievements with their respective wins at the closing of Week 1 in the 2022 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League.

In the last game of Pool 1 at home in Brasília, Brazil failed to impose their play and suffered a bitter defeat from China (!!!), the second in the competition. Again in a crowded arena, with about 10,000 spectators, the defending champions got swept by the Asian side, which came to the tournament instead of a disqualified Russia.
Yes, that’s true!
China achieved a surprising and unprecedented result, and it was their first-ever win over Brazil in an official FIVB competitions! And the match ended in straight sets (23:25, 29:31, 23:25).
Moreover, it was China’s first win in this year’s edition of VNL, following 3 defeats. Zhang Jingyin was the most prolific player for the winners with 25 points.
As a result, Brazil lost its rule over the FIVB World Ranking!

Also Poland made a historic achievement, as they are now at the top of the World Rankings!
After the victory over the Olympic champions France 1-3 (25:21, 22:25, 21:25, 22:25), they are world’s No.1 for the first time in history, taking advantage of Brazil’s shocking defeat to China. Given the fact they went to the first week of the VNL in Ottawa – Pool 2 – with a backup roster, the win against France in a big match was an amazing result for the reigning world champions, and so is the record of 3-1. France is also at 3-1 as this was their first defeat in the tournament. Karol Butryn was the most prolific player among the winners with 21 points.

Either way, Week 1 of the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Nations League is over and we had the first Covid-19 case among the participants!
On the same Pool, Pool 2, Italy closed with a nice tally of 3 wins out of 4 matches. After proving better than the hosts Canada with a convincing 3-0 last night, less than 24 hours after that, they beat also Argentina, in a match ended in four sets (20:25, 21:25, 25:16, 28:30). Italy faced Tokyo Olympics bronze medalists without the head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi (positive to Covid 19) on the bench, who was replaced by his deputy Massimo Caponeri. For two sets, the European champions were masters of the field, then they lost the third set. Argentina was so close to forcing the tie-break but failed to convert +5 in the fourth set and tie sets. Mattia Bottolo was absolutely the best among the winners with 19 points including 4 aces.

About the hosts Canada, they finished with a 3-2 victory over Bulgaria, partially 25:18, 25:18, 24:26, 21:25, and 15:11. Canada’s first win of the week came after losses to Germany, France, and Italy earlier in the week. They ended the first week of the competition with a 1-3 record, while Bulgaria closed the week with a winless 0-4 record. Stephen Maar led Canada in points for the third time this week, with 25, while Ryan Sclater served 4 aces, while Jackson Howe also contributed with 5 winning blocks.

Back to Pool 1 in Brasilia, Japan and The Netherlands celebrates straight sets wins against Iran (20:25, 14:25, 19:25) and Australia (25:20, 25:15, 25:23), respectively.

🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
USA 11
Japan 10
France 9
Poland 9
Italy 9
Germany 7
The Netherlands 6
Serbia 6
Slovenia 6
Brazil 6
Iran 6
Argentina 4
China 3
Canada 2
Bulgaria 2
Australia 0

FULL PROGRAM

__________________

— 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)
__________________

— 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)

__________________

— 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)

__________________

— 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)

__________________

— 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)

__________________

— 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)