VNL 2023: USA reject the comeback of France to become first semifinalist!

2 min read

The exciting Quarterfinal series of 2023 Volleyball Nations League started today at Ergo Arena in Gdańsk, Poland, with the game between leaders USA and No.8 France, last team qualified to the hottest stage of the competition thanks to the victory against Germany, claimed on the last day of the Pool Stage!

Today the rematch of last year’s gold medal match was a battle: the United States, who entered the court as favorite, won the first two sets without major problem, but then suffered the rivals’ comeback, who were able to tie the score after an exciting final of fourth set, ended overtime. However, the players around head coach John Sperow played a great decisive fifth set to take the first ticket for Semifinals, scheduled on Saturday.
The match ended after a dramatic 3-2 (25:21, 25:18 17:25, 24:26, 15:9) victory over the defending champions that sent them to the VNL semifinals for the fourth time in five editions.
Today’s winners took silver in 2019 and 2022 and bronze in 2018.
Star opposite Matt Anderson led all scorers today leaving the court with 22 points including two aces, while Thomas Jaeschke also contributed with 16 points and two blocks too.

📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

France had four players in double digits: Olympic champion opposite Jean Patry, who came off the bench to lead his team with 17 points including two blocks and two aces, while middle blockers Bartélémy Chinenyeze, with 16 points (ten kills, five blocks, one ace), and Nicolas Le Goff, with 14 (11 kills, two blocks, one ace), also had solid performances.
The hard-fought match is reflected also on the stats, with USA leading in attack (61 to 58) and the rivals doing better in blocks (11 to eight) and aces (six to five).
At the end, however, the 12-point difference in opponent errors (32 to 20) were decisive for the winners.

In the evening, Italy destroyed an unrecognizable Argentina and became the opponents of USA in semifinal, while the other two quarterfinals are scheduled tomorrow.

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🏐| 2023 VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE

— July 19, 2023 @ Gdansk 🇵🇱 —

👉🏼 QUARTERFINAL 1 | 17:00 (Local Time) | USA (1) – France (8) 3-2 (25:21, 25:18, 17:25, 24:26, 15:9)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH