VNL 2024: France and Slovenia join Poland and Japan to semifinals! Italy and Argentina eliminated at tie break

France and Slovenia clinched the final two spots in the Volleyball Nations League 2024 semifinals, set to face Poland and Japan, respectively.

In thrilling quarterfinals clash, both teams emerged victorious in five-set matches!
France defeated Italy 3-2 (19:25, 25:20, 22:25, 25:22, 15:11) with standout performances from Jean Patry, top scorer of the game with 28 points, and Trevor Clevenot.
Mattina Bottolo was Italy’s most prolific player with 18 points, followed by Leandro Mosca with 15.

Slovenia overcame Argentina 3-2 (19:25, 25:17, 17:25, 29:27, 15:7), led by Tonček Štern’s 30 points.
And what a comeback! After two sets won without major problems, 19-25 and 17-25, Argentina managed to perform an amazing comeback from 21-24, but a resilient Slovenia doesn’t give up and, afrer a hard-fought set final, managed to send the game at tie break, 29-27!
Decisive fifth set starts with a 5-1 led of Slovenia and, despite the rivals managed to try a desperate comeback until 7-4, Klemen Cebulj closed set and game 15-7.
Tonček Stern, was unstoppable, with his 30 points, but double digit also for Klemen Cebulj (15), Tine Urnaut (12) and Alen Pajenk (10).
On the other side of the net, Bruno Lima’s 26 points and Luciano Palonsky’s 18 were not enough, although they won the contest in blocking with 13 points from this element compared to Slovenia’s 8, and also from the service line with 6 aces to 4.

Semifinals will be held also at Atlas Arena in Łódź, Poland, with France facing Poland starting from 5pm local time, and Slovenia will face Japan at 8pm on Saturday.

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🏐| FIVB VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE 2024 |Quarterfinals @ Łódź 🇵🇱

Thursday | June 27, 2024 —

• QUARTERFINAL 1 | 17:00 (Local Time) | Japan (4) – Canada (5) 3-0 (26:24, 25:18, 26:24)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

• QUARTERFINAL 2 | 20:00 (Local Time) | Poland (2) – Brazil (7) 3-1 (18:25, 25:23, 25:22, 25:16)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

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👉🏼Friday | June 28, 2024 —

• QUARTERFINAL 1 | 17:00 (Local Time) | Italy (3) – France (6) 2-3 (25:19, 20:25, 25:22, 22:25, 11:15)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
Italy : Sbertoli 1, Sanguinetti 9, Bottolo 18, Bovolenta 14, Mosca 15, Porro L. 16, Laurenzano (L), Porro P. 0, Recine 2, Gironi 3, Rinaldi 0, Gardini, Gaggini (L), Caneschi, Coach. De Giorgi.
France: Patry 28, Toniutti 0, Le Goff 8, Clevenot 20, Louati 1, Seddik 3, Grebennikov 0, Tillie 15, Ngapeth 0, Brizard 3, Jouffroy 3, Diez (L), Faure, Carle, Coach. Giani.

• QUARTERFINAL 2 | 20:00 (Local Time) | Slovenia (1) – Argentina (8) 3-2 (19:25, 25:17, 17:25, 29:27, 15:7)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
Slovenia: T. Stern 30, Pajenk 10, Planinsic, Kozamernik 6, Toman, Bracko, Stalekar 2, Kovacic, Z. Stern, Ropret 1, Urnaut 12, Cebulj 15, Mozic, Mujanovic. Coach: Cretu
Argentina: Lima B. 26, Conte 11, De Cecco 2, Zerba 9, Sanchez Pages, Martinez Franchi, Gallego, Loser B. 9, Danani, Palacios, Kukartsev 1, Vicentin 1, Ramos, Palonsky 18. Coach: Mendez

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Semifinals

— Saturday | June 29, 2024 —