VNL 2022: winning debut for Canada and hosts Bulgaria in Pool 4 in Sofia
3 min read
2022 Volleyball Nations League Pool 4 in Sofia, Bulgaria, started today with two matches.
In the opener, Canada left Australia winless in the competition with a four-set victory (25:18, 26:28, 19:25, 22:25), celebrating their second success.
Stephen Maar was the most prolific player with 23 points.
Led by a great 18-year-old outside-hitter Aleksandar Nikolov, top scorer with 20 points and an excellent efficiency rate of 51.61%, Svetoslav Gotsev, 6 winning blocks, including two decisive in third set, and Martin Atanasov, author of 4 aces, hosts Bulgaria took their first victory in the competition. The team coached by Nikolay Jeliazkov beat Iran in straight sets (19:25, 23:25, 24:26) making the home crowd in country’s capital joyful. On the other side of the net, opposite Amin Esmaeilnezhad and outside hitter Morteza Sharifi led the way with 17 and 14 points, respectively.
“It feels awesome, I’m super happy,” said Nikolov about the victory in front of his team’s fans. “The home crowd was absolutely amazing and I hope to see them again over the week. We’re working to take this team to the level where it can win Olympic medals and everything else, and I am sure we will. Just give us some time.”
Hosts Bulgaria will be off for the next two days before returning to the field on Friday, when they will face Australia.
🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
Japan 13
USA 11
France 9
Poland 9
Italy 9
The Netherlands 9
Germany 7
Serbia 6
Slovenia 6
Brazil 6
Iran 6
Canada 5
Bulgaria 5
Argentina 4
China 3
Australia 0
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— June 21, 2022 —
Pool 3 – Week 2 – Quezon City 🇵🇭
• 15:00 (Local Time) Slovenia – The Netherlands 0-3 (17:25, 21:25, 24:26)
• 19:00 (Local Time) Argentina – Japan 1-3 (25:27, 18:25, 25:17, 16:25)
👉🏼 Pool 4 – Week 2 – Sofia 🇧🇬
• 17:00 (Local Time) Australia – Canada 1-3 (25:18, 26:28, 19:25, 22:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 20:00 (Local Time) Iran – Bulgaria 0-3 (19:25, 23:25, 24:26)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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— June 22, 2022 —
Pool 3 – Week 2 – Quezon City 🇵🇭
• 15:00 (Local Time) China – France 0-3 (0:25, 0:25, 0:25)
• 19:00 (Local Time) Germany – Italy 0-3 (16:25, 21:25, 22:25)
Pool 4 – Week 2 – Sofia 🇧🇬
• 17:00 (Local Time) Brazil – Poland 1-3 (16:25, 25:22, 16:25, 22:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 20:00 (Local Time) Serbia – USA 1-3 (24:26, 25:23, 23:25, 20:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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— June 23, 2022 —
Pool 3 – Week 2 – Quezon City 🇵🇭
• 11:00 (Local Time) France – The Netherlands 3-0 (25:14, 25:23, 25:13)
• 15:00 (Local Time) China – Germany 3-0 (25:0, 25:0, 25:0)
• 19:00 (Local Time) Argentina – Slovenia 1-3 (20:25, 29:27, 18:25, 19:25)
Pool 4 – Week 2 – Sofia 🇧🇬
• 13:30 (Local Time) Poland – Canada 3-0 (25:16, 25:18, 25:16)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 16:30 (Local Time) Serbia – Brazil 0-3 (18:25, 24:26, 17:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 20:00 (Local Time) USA – Iran 0-3 (18:25, 27:29, 25:27)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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— June 24, 2022 —
Pool 3 – Week 2 – Quezon City 🇵🇭
• 11:00 (Local Time) Germany – The Netherlands 1-3 (25:22, 29:31, 23:25, 16:25)
• 15:00 (Local Time) Argentina – China 3-1 (25:22, 22:25, 25:22, 25:22)
• 19:00 (Local Time) Japan – Italy 3-2 (25:20, 21:25, 24:26, 25:19, 15:13)
Pool 4 – Week 2 – Sofia 🇧🇬
• 13:30 (Local Time) Serbia – Canada 3-2 (20:25, 19:25, 25:20, 26:24, 15:11)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 16:30 (Local Time) Iran – Brazil 0-3 (28:20, 23:25, 19:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 20:00 (Local Time) Australia – Bulgaria 3-2 (21:25, 25:13, 25:22, 20:25, 17:15)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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— June 25, 2022 —
Pool 3 – Week 2 – Quezon City 🇵🇭
• 11:00 (Local Time) Argentina – The Netherlands 2-3 (25:22, 23:25, 25:20, 19:25, 13:15)
• 15:00 (Local Time) Japan – France 0-3 (22:25, 25:27, 16:25)
• 19:00 (Local Time) Italy – Slovenia 3-0 (25:19, 25:16, 25:21)
Pool 4 – Week 2 – Sofia 🇧🇬
• 13:30 (Local Time) Canada – Iran 0-3 (21:25, 25:27, 18:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 16:30 (Local Time) Poland – Australia 3-0 (25:17, 25:19, 25:14)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 20:00 (Local Time) USA – Bulgaria 3-1 (25:12, 20:25, 26:24, 25:23)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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— June 26, 2022 —
Pool 3 – Week 2 – Quezon City 🇵🇭
• 11:00 (Local Time) Germany – France 1-3 (16:25, 19:25, 25:19, 21:25)
• 15:00 (Local Time) Japan – Slovenia 3-1 (25:21, 22:25, 25:18, 25:19)
• 19:00 (Local Time) Italy – China 3-0 (25:21, 25:18, 25:19)
Pool 4 – Week 2 – Sofia 🇧🇬
13:30 (Local Time) Serbia – Australia
16:30 (Local Time) USA – Poland
20:00 (Local Time) Bulgaria – Brazil
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