VNL 2023: another win for Japan! USA, The Netherlands, China, Brazil and France ok

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Second week of 2023 Volleyball Nations League continued on Saturday with 6 games, 3 in each Pool.

In Pool 3 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Poland suffered a heavy defeat against USA, 0-3 (22:25, 18:25, 19:25), with a great performance of Torey Defalco on the winning side, with 17 points including two aces and one block, well supported by felow outside hitter Aaron Russell, who also reached double digits with 11 points (eight attacks, one ace and two blocks).
Poland, who had in opposite and team captain Bartosz Kurek their most prolific player with 11 points (ten kills and one block), suffered the bad performance of Wilfredo Leon, replaced after first two sets in which he scored only 3 points! Nikola Grbic’s side, already qualified for the Finals in Gdansk, in Pool 3 won two games at tie break against Germany and The Netherlands.
The pool hosts The Netherlands needed five sets to down Iran 3-2 (16:25, 25:16, 21:25, 25:17, 15:10), while China inflicted another heavy defeat to Germany, 3-1 (23:25, 25:18, 25:19, 25:21).

In Pool 4 in Orleans, France, Japan continued their impressive winning streak, and celebrated a tie break win against Argentina (25:18, 25:22, 31:33, 22:25, 15:12).
Ran Takahashi and Kento Miyaura were the protagonists of the match against a very combative rival who complete a comeback from 2-0 to 2-2 before surrendering after five sets.
Ran, former outside hitter of Pallavolo Padova, Italy, who next season will wore the jersey of Vero Volley Monza, closed the game with 32 points and 29/40 in attack, while oppposite also contributed with a 27/39 in attack.
Luciano Palonsky, champions of the France with Tours, was the most prolific player for Argentina with 22 points.

The Pool continued with Brazil who put an end to Slovenia’s five-match winning streak, following a 3-1 (23:25, 25:21, 26:24, 25:21) victory to rise to fourth place in the current standings on a 5-2 win-loss record and 16 points, just below third-placed Slovenia on 6-2 and 18.
Brazil’s outside hitter Ricardo Lucarelli and opposite Alan Souza shared the top scorer title with 19 points each including an ace, while on the losing side opposite Klemen Cebulj led the score with 18 points, all in attack, followed by outside and captain Tine Urnaut with 17, including a block and an ace.
Close the picture a straight sets win of Pool hosts france over Canada – 0-3 (17:25, 21:25, 21:25).

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🏐| 2023 VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE

— June 24, 2023 —

Pool 3 – Week 2 – Rotterdam 🇳🇱

• 13:00 (Local Time) | Poland – USA 0-3 (22:25, 18:25, 19:25)

• 17:00 (Local Time) | The Netherlands – Iran 3-2 (16:25, 25:16, 21:25, 25:17, 15:10)

• 20:30 (Local Time) | China – Germany 3-1 (23:25, 25:18, 25:19, 25:21)

Pool 4 – Week 2 – Orléans 🇫🇷

• 13:00 (Local Time) | Japan – Argentina 3-2 (25:18, 25:22, 31:33, 22:25, 15:12)

• 16:30 (Local Time) | Brazil – Slovenia 3-1 (23:25, 25:21, 26:24, 25:21)

• 21:00 (Local Time) | Canada – France 0-3 (17:25, 21:25, 21:25)

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Japan 22
2. USA 21
4. Slovenia 18
3. Brazil 16
5. Argentina 16
6. Italy 15
7. The Netherlands 13
8. Poland 11
9. France 9
10. Serbia 9
11. Iran 8
12. Canada 5
13. China 5
14. Bulgaria 5
15. Germany 4
16. Cuba 3