2024 VNL May 16: Canada Narrows Gap, China Shocks USA

The third day of the 2024 Volleyball Nations League saw six matches unfold across two pools in Türkiye and Brazil. The action began with Italy squaring off against Germany in Antalya, where Italy secured a four-set victory (25-16, 25-16, 21-25, 25-22). Italian opposite Antropova led her team with a match-high 24 points, clinching their first win of the tournament.

In the second match of the day, Japan decisively beat Bulgaria in straight sets (25-13, 25-15, 25-15), showcasing their dominance and technical prowess.

The final match in Antalya featured reigning VNL champions Türkiye overcoming the Netherlands in a four-set match (25-14, 23-25, 25-23, 25-18). The MVP of the 2023 VNL, Vargas, contributed an impressive 27 points, securing Türkiye’s first victory of the tournament.

Meanwhile, in Brasilia, Brazil faced South Korea, winning convincingly in front of a home crowd (25-15, 25-19, 25-17). Ana Cristina stood out, scoring 18 points in just three sets, demonstrating Brazil’s strong form.

The day’s second match in Pool 2 featured a significant upset with China defeating the USA in four sets (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19). This victory added 9.13 points to China’s tally in the FIVB World Rankings, inching them closer to an Olympic qualification. After the match, Chinese captain Yuan Xin Yue commented on their performance, highlighting the team’s unity and enjoyment on the court. She emphasized the importance of each point and their determination to give their best in every match.

Closing the day, Canada achieved a crucial 3-0 victory over the Dominican Republic (25-20, 25-21, 25-22). This win awarded Canada an essential 13.1 WR points. With the Netherlands losing to Türkiye earlier, Canada significantly closed the gap, now trailing by less than 14 points for the final qualifying spot for Paris 2024 through the world ranking pathway. This sets the stage for a tense competition as teams vie for Olympic qualification.

(Featured image source: Volleyball World)

(Written by Boris CHUNG Bok Man)