2023 VNL May 30 Summary: Italy and Poland Comeback, Koslowski Lost First Match In Charge

The Volleyball Nations League 2023 started on May 30 with an exciting lineup of matches across two pools. In Pool 2, Germany faced the Netherlands in the tournament’s opening match. It was the debut match for Felix Koslowski, the Netherlands’ new coach. However, Germany secured a 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22) victory over the Netherlands. The German opposite, Hanna Orthmann, produced a match-high score of 24 points.

In the second match of Pool 2, Japan took on the Dominican Republic. Japan secured a 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15) victory over the Dominican Republic. Japanese outside hitter Koga delivered the match-high score of 24 points. According to Volleyball World, in a post-match interview, Koga expressed her delight at playing in front of Japanese fans again and highlighted the team’s fast combination plays.

(Photo source: Volleyball World)

In Pool 1, the defending champions Italy faced off Thailand. The match was a tough battle, with Italy eventually clinching a 3-2 (24-26, 25-17, 27-29, 30-28, 15-11) victory over Thailand. According to Volleyball World, in a post-match interview, Italian player Omoruyi emphasized the importance of remaining confident and patient throughout the match, as Thailand’s defense was a force to be reckoned with.

The final match of the day in Pool 1 saw another tough battle where Poland took on Canada after a five-set thriller. Despite Canadian outside hitter Gray delivering a match-high 37 points, Poland won the match 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 15-13) over Canada after being 1-2 behind in sets.

The Volleyball Nations League 2023 has started on a high note, with intense and thrilling matches showcasing the skills of some of the world’s best volleyball players. Fans can expect more exciting matches in the coming days as the tournament progresses.

(Featured image source: Volleyball World)

(Written by Boris CHUNG Bok Man)