VNL 2023: USA and Slovenia remain perfect and join Japan to the top! Canada and Iran ko

The United States will play the final day of the opening week of the Volleyball Nations League 2023 as one of just three undefeated teams after defeating NORCECA rivals and hosts Canada in Ottawa.

In a packed TD Place, they played a very strong performance with almost every fan supporting the Canadians, and secured their third 3-0 (25:22, 25:20, 25:20) in the competition to remain perfect in Pool 1.
Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, 36-year-old opposite Matt Anderson was decisive in this result with 18 points including one ace and three blocks, while Fellow Olympic medallist Aaron Russell also also contributing with 17.
Among the hosts, opposite Arthur Szwarc was the top scorer with 13 points including one block, one more than outside hitter Stephen Maar, who registered eight point in attack, one ace and three blocks.
The Americans also took advantage from their offensive efficiency (46 kills to Canada’s 36), while Canada got one more point from opponent errors (19 to 18) and each side registered six blocks.

“Anytime we get to play against Canada, and especially in front of their home crowd, it’s a good experience for us to take moving forward,” said Anderson at the end of the match.
“We’re for sure going to meet them again in other tournaments this season. I’m coming from a pretty bad ankle sprain last week, so it’s been a little hard to get back and get my rhythm going, but it’s just a matter of time before we’re all clicking again. We have a very experienced roster, so it’s just about working hard.”

But there is another team who remain perfect after three games: Slovenia who, in Pool 2 in Nagoya, Japan, join the hosts to the top together with USA after beating Iran in straight sets (25:19, 25:23, 25:23), with another great performance of Rok Možič, absolute top scorer of the match with 25 points including 1 block and 4 aces.

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🏐| 2023 VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE

— June 11, 2023 —

Pool 1 – Week 1 – Ottawa 🇨🇦

👉🏼 20:00 (Local Time) | Canada – USA 0-3 (22:25, 20:25, 20:25)

• 11:00 (Local Time) | Argentina – The Netherlands 3-2 (34:36, 25:20, 25:17, 20:25, 15:10)
• 14:30 (Local Time) | USA – Brazil 1-3 (19:25, 25:21, 15:25, 21:25)

Pool 2 – Week 1 – Nagoya 🇯🇵

👉🏼 12:40 (Local Time) | Slovenia – Iran 3-0 (25:19, 25:23, 25:23)

• 15:40 (Local Time) | Serbia – Poland 3-0 (25:21, 25:19, 25:14)
• 19:10 (Local Time) |Japan – France 3-1 (25:27, 25:22, 25:21, 25:20)
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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. USA 9
2. Japan 9
3. Slovenia 9
4. Poland 7
5. Argentina 7
6. The Netherlands 6
7. Brazil 6
8. Italy 6
9. Bulgaria 5
10. Iran 4
11. Serbia 3
12. France 3
13. Cuba 3
14. Canada 2
15. China 2
16. Germany 0
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