2024 VNL May 29: Zhu, Egonu Return, Bulgaria First Win

On the second day of Week 2 in the 2024 Volleyball Nations League, the excitement was palpable as fans witnessed the return of prominent volleyball stars and watched intense matches unfold.

The competition kicked off with Italy’s commanding win over France in straight sets (25-15, 25-14, 25-14). Italian volleyball star Paola Egonu made a notable return to the national team after missing last year’s FIVB Olympic Qualification Tournament. Leading the scoreboard with 13 points, Egonu played a crucial role in Italy’s decisive victory.

In another match, China secured a 3-1 victory over the Netherlands (21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21). The game was particularly special for Chinese fans as Zhu Ting, the MVP of Rio 2016, made her first appearance for the national team since Tokyo 2020. Zhu briefly entered the game to serve at the first set point for team China in the fourth set and was substituted out after just one point, yet her presence alone excited the fans in Macao who celebrated her long-awaited return.

Over in Arlington, Texas, Bulgaria claimed their first win of the tournament in a thrilling five-set battle against South Korea (25-23, 20-25, 24-26, 25-21, 15-13). Bulgarian opposite Nikolova was the standout performer, tallying an impressive 30 points and playing a pivotal role in securing the victory for her team.

The day concluded with Türkiye defeating Germany 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-9, 26-24). This victory improved Türkiye’s record to 3-2, while Germany now holds a 1-4 win-loss record after five matches.

(Featured image source: Volleyball World)

(Written by Boris CHUNG Bok Man)