2023 VNL Quarterfinals Preview: Top 8 Teams Battle for Supremacy

After three weeks of intense competition in the 2023 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) preliminary round across six pools, the stage is set for the final showdown in Arlington, Texas, USA. Eight teams have qualified for the finals, and in this article, we preview the highly-anticipated quarterfinal matches on July 12 and 13.

Poland (1) vs Germany (8)

Poland showcased an outstanding performance during the VNL 2023 preliminary round, winning 10 out of 12 matches and finishing at the top of the table. Polish opposite Magdalena Stysiak was the top scorer in the preliminary round, amassing an impressive 242 points, while team captain Agnieszka Korneluk led the charge as the best blocker with 43 blocks.

Germany, on the other hand, secured 7 wins in 12 matches and qualified for the VNL final round for the first time in the team’s history. As reported by Polish media WP, Germany’s head coach Vital Heyne said that reaching the finals is already a significant achievement and that the team is not aiming to win the tournament. He acknowledged that the quarterfinal against Poland would be challenging and expressed hopes for a good game.

Poland and Germany previously faced each other in week 3 of the tournament, with the Polish team emerging victorious with a 3-2 win.

This match is scheduled for July 12 at 16:00 (Local time, UTC -05:00).

USA (2) vs Japan (7)

As the host nation, the USA finished second in the preliminary round, securing 10 wins out of 12 matches and trailing Poland by just one point. It’s worth noting that one of their two losses was against their quarterfinal opponent, Japan, in a thrilling 3-2 defeat.

Japan concluded the preliminary round in seventh place, also achieving 7 wins in 12 matches.

This match will take place on July 12 at 19:30 (Local time, UTC -05:00).

Brazil (4) vs China (5)

Both Brazil and China ended the preliminary round with 8 wins and 24 points each. Brazil placed higher due to a superior set ratio. In their first VNL 2023 match, China faced Brazil and clinched victory after a hard-fought five-set game.

Chinese outside hitter Li Ying-ying was the best attacker in the preliminary round, boasting 214 successful spikes and a success rate of 50.83%.

This match is set for July 13 at 10:30 (Local time, UTC -05:00).

Türkiye (3) vs Italy (6)

The final quarterfinal match features a clash between two European powerhouses, Türkiye and Italy. With the addition of Melissa Vargas, who joined Team Türkiye for the first time in VNL 2023 after being naturalized, Türkiye finished third in the preliminary round with 9 wins and 29 points – one win behind leader Poland and tying for the highest points earned.

Despite the absence of star player Egonu and a slow start in week 1 with only 1 win in 4 matches, Italy rebounded by winning 7 of their last 8 games in week 2 and 3, securing a spot in the final round.

This match will commence on July 13 at 14:00 (Local time, UTC -05:00).

(Written by Boris CHUNG Bok Man)