VNL 2023: Japan remain perfect! Italy, USA, Poland, Slovenia and Argentina ok
3 min read
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Week 2 of 2023 Volleyball Nations League continued today with other six games, three in each Pool.
The day started with a straight sets win of Italy over Iran. The world champions easily won first two sets, and then struggled in the last one but were able to close the game, partially it was 25:19, 25:16 and 26:24, with 15 points (inclusing one ace and two blocks) from outside hitter Alessandro Michieletto and 14 from opposite Yuri Romanò.
Straight sets win and prediction respected also in the second match of the same Pool, in which USA down China after a hard-fought first set (28:26, 25:22, 25:18), with outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke leading the score with 15 points (12 kills, one ace, two blocks), followed by Torey Defalco and opposite Jake Hanes, who scored 11 points each.
Outside hitter Jingyin Zhang scored 15 points (12 attacks and three aces) for the losing side.
In the evening, Poland defeat Germany with the score of 2-3 (21:25, 25:22, 14:25, 25:17, 10:15). Leon and Kurek were decisive in this result, scoring 37 points in their first match in the competition.
While the Cuban-born outside hitter led all scorers with 19 points including two aces and two blocks, the team captain and opposite was right behind him with 18 (16 attacks and two blocks).
Outside hitter Bartosz Bednorz also had a great performance, leaving the court with 14 points including one ace and three blocks.
Germany had three players in double digits in scoring with opposite Yan Böhme producing 13 points, outside hitter Erik Röhrs adding 11 and opposite Linus Weber ten.
Even if their team was better in kills (59 to 49), blocks (15 to 12) and aces (six to two), their higher number of errors (32 to 24) allowed their rivals to win the game.
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In Pool 4 in Orleans, France, Japan celebrated another victory to stay unbeaten in the competition and to the top of the current standings with a perfect 6-0 win-loss record and 18 points.
Today Ran Takahashi led his team to a very convincing 3-0 (25:21, 25:16, 25:21) victory over Cuba.
With a 68% success rate in attack, the 21-year-old outside hitter ended the game as top scorer with 14 points to his name including an ace. Cuba tried to stop Japan, but committed far too many unforced errors during the match: 30 against 17, and outside hitters Miguel Lopez and Marlon Yant ended the game with 10 points each.
In the same Pool, Slovenia down Canada 3-0 (25:23, 25:22, 25:14), outplaying the rivals in all elements and with Rok Mozic leading the scorers again with 19 points, including two aces and a block.
The Europeans now stand third in the standings with a 5-1 win-loss record and 15 points, below second-placed United States on set ratio.
In the evening, Olympic bronze medallists Argentina also claimed three points after beating hosts France with the score of 3-1 (22:25, 26:24, 25:21, 25:20).
So yes, reigning Olympic champions and defending Volleyball Nations League champions France started their home tournament in Orleans with a defeat.
The South Americans improved to a 4-2 win-loss record, standing fifth in the current charts with 12 points, while France are down to 13th on 1-4 and three.
Argentina’s outside hitter Luciano Palonsky, champions of France with Tours, and middle blocker Agustin Loser (5 winning blocks and 73% success rate in attack) were the top scorers of the match with 16 points each.
France’s top scorers were opposite Stephen Boyer and outside Kevin Tillie with 14 and 13 points, respectively, all in attack.
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🏐| 2023 VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE
— June 21, 2023 —
Pool 3 – Week 2 – Rotterdam 🇳🇱
• 13:00 (Local Time) | Iran – Italy 0-3 (19:25, 16:25, 24:26)
• 16:30 (Local Time) | USA – China 3-0 (28:26, 25:22, 25:18)
• 20:00 (Local Time) | Germany – Poland 2-3 (21:25, 25:22, 14:25, 25:17, 10:15)
Pool 4 – Week 2 – Orléans 🇫🇷
• 13:00 (Local Time) | Japan – Cuba 3-0 (25:21, 25:16, 25:21)
• 16:30 (Local Time) | Slovenia – Canada 3-0 (25:23, 25:22, 25:14)
• 21:00 (Local Time) | Argentina – France 3-1 (22:25, 26:24, 25:21, 25:20)
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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Japan 18
2. USA 15
4. Slovenia 15
3. Brazil 12
5. Argentina 12
6. The Netherlands 10
7. Poland 9
8. Italy 9
9. Iran 7
10. Serbia 6
11. Bulgaria 5
12. Germany 4
13. France 3
14. Cuba 3
15. Canada 2
16. China 2
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…NEXT MATCHES:
— June 22, 2023 —
Pool 3 – Week 2 – Rotterdam 🇳🇱
• 13:00 (Local Time) | China – Italy
• 16:30 (Local Time) | Serbia – Germany
• 20:00 (Local Time) | The Netherlands – Poland
Pool 4 – Week 2 – Orléans 🇫🇷
• 13:00 (Local Time) | Japan – Brazil
• 16:30 (Local Time) | Canada – Bulgaria
• 20:30 (Local Time) | Slovenia – Cuba
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• VNL 2023: CALENDAR
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