VNL 2026: Bulgaria closed Pool 6 in style. First weekly win for Brazil and Italy inflicted to hosts Slovenia first home defeat!

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Article wrote by Danilo from Orléans for Volleytimes, please respect his job.

Fifth day, last one, of second week of Volleyball Nations League 2026 has been completed today in three European cities: Gliwice (Poland), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Orléans (France) with last 9 games.

In the opener of last day in Ljubljana, Bulgaria inflicted to Ukraine first defeat of the week, winning the game with the score of 3-1 (25:20, 18:25, 25:23, 25:17).
Aleksandar Nikolov led the charge once again with a match-high 26 points from 22-year-old outside hitter Aleksandar Nikolov, while his counterpart on the other side of the net Dmytro Yanchuk was Ukraine’s most prolific player with 20 points. Bulgaria rose to eighth place on 5-3 and 14, while their rivals occupy fifth place on 5-3 and 16.

📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

After three consecutive defeats in Ljubljana, Brazil finished the second week on a high note, winning at tie break, 3-2 (25:17, 23:25, 28:26, 22:25, 17:15), over Canada, who suffered the fifth tie-breaker lost since the start of the season! They have now collected 8 points, but on a 1-7 win-loss record. Outside hitter Adriano Cavalcante led Brazil with 17 points, while Canadian opposite Sharone Vernon-Evans tallied 19 points.

📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

In the evening, world champions Italy interrupted Slovenia’s victorious march of three back-to-back wins in Ljubljana with a 3-1 (23:25, 25:19, 25:18, 25:20) comeback. Opposite Alessandro Bovolenta produced 21 points including four aces, while Slovenian outside Rok Mozic scored 19 points including three aces and one block for Slovenia.

📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

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🏐| FIVB Volleyball Nations League 2026 | Games of the day

— Sunday | June 28, 2026—

| Pool 5 – Week 2 – Gliwice 🇵🇱
• 13.00 (Local Time) | China – Germany 1-3 (20:25, 20:25, 25:22, 19:25)
• 16.30 (Local Time) | Belgium – Türkiye 0-3 (24:26, 24:26, 17:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Poland – Argentina 3-1 (48:50, 26:24, 25:19, 25:20)

👉🏼 Pool 6 – Week 2 – Ljubljana 🇸🇮
• 13.00 (Local Time) | Bulgaria – Ukraine 3-1 (25:20, 18:25, 25:23, 25:17)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 16.30 (Local Time) | Canada – Brazil 2-3 (17:25, 25:23, 26:28, 25:22, 15:17)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Slovenia – Italy 1-3 (25:23, 19:25, 18:25, 20:25)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

| Pool 4 – Week 2 – Orléans 🇫🇷
• 13.30 (Local Time) | Iran – Cuba 3-1 (25:22, 25:21, 20:25, 30:28)
• 17.00 (Local Time) | France – Japan 2-3 (30:28, 25:19, 17:25, 33:25, 12:15)
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Serbia – USA 1-3 (12:25, 23:25, 26:24, 17:25)

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Japan 20
2. USA 19
3. Poland 17
4. Ukraine 16
5. Italy 16
6. Slovenia 14
7. Türkiye 14
8. Bulgaria 14
9. Brazil 13
10. Germany 12
11. Serbia 12
12. France 10
13. Belgium 9
14. Iran 9
15. Canada 8
16. Argentina 7
17. China 4
18. Cuba 2

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🏐| NEXT GAMES

— Wednesday | July 15, 2026—

| Pool 9 – Week 3 – Osaka 🇯🇵
• 12.00 (Local Time) | Canada – Argentina
• 15.30 (Local Time) | Belgium – Cuba
• 19.20 (Local Time) | Japan – Italy

| Pool 7 – Week 3 – Belgrade 🇷🇸
• 13.00 (Local Time) | Germany – Slovenia
• 16.30 (Local Time) | Ukraine – Iran
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Serbia – Türkiye

| Pool 8 – Week 3 – Chicago 🇺🇸
• 12.00 (Local Time) | Bulgaria – Poland
• 16.00 (Local Time) | France – Brazil
• 20.00 (Local Time) | USA – China

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