Tag: 2025 VNL

May 23, 2025.- Empowered on the court and guided by veteran coach Giovanni Guidetti, Canada target a breakthrough season. Canada’s women’s volleyball team will open their 2025 Volleyball Nations League campaign on home soil in Ottawa, but the journey that brought them here was shaped long before the opening whistle.

After years of building stability and gaining ground internationally, Canada’s women enter VNL 2025 with experienced players, a new head coach, and a sharper sense of what it takes to close the gap on the world’s top teams.

A key driver of Canada’s rise has been sustained support through FIVB Volleyball Empowerment. Since 2020, Canada has received CHF 1.55 million in support for its programmes. That support helped in hiring a top-tier coach, the expansion of performance and medical staff, and the creation of a professional structure to strengthen athlete development and national team operations.

Canada entered the VNL in 2021 and have qualified every year since. In 2023 and 2024, they posted their best results to date, finishing 10th overall and narrowly missing out on the Final Round. Later in 2023, they came close to securing an Olympic berth, finishing third in the qualification tournament in Ningbo – their strongest bid since Atlanta 1996. These performances reflected years of growth that helped establish their rise in women’s volleyball.

The foundation for that run was laid by Shannon Winzer, who coached the team from 2020 through the Olympic qualification cycle. She now serves as Volleyball Canada’s High Performance Director, helping guide the national programme’s long-term development.

Taking her place on the bench is Giovanni Guidetti, one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport, with four Olympic campaigns on his résumé. Appointed in January, the Italian brings a track record of elevating national teams and leading top clubs to international titles. His arrival marks the start of a new mission for Canada – adding a new layer of technical leadership and competitive insight to a team that has grown steadily in recent seasons.

Canada’s core also returns. Kiera Van Ryk leads the offence with power and consistency on the right side. Brie King continues to set the rhythm with confidence and control. Their experience, combined with Guidetti’s leadership, gives Canada a solid base in a season where margins will be tight.

Canada will play their opening four matches in Ottawa from 4 to 8 June, facing Bulgaria, Netherlands, Japan and Serbia. From 18 to 22 June, they move to Istanbul to meet Korea, Türkiye, Brazil and Belgium. The final week of pool play takes place in Arlington, Texas, with matches against Germany, China, United States and Thailand from 9 to 13 July. The Final Round will be in Lodz, Poland, from 23 to 27 July.

The team will also compete at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, set to be held in Thailand later this year.

VNL 2025 comes at a time when Canada’s foundations are in place. Empowerment support has shaped the programme, experience anchors the core, and Guidetti brings a new perspective to the bench. The mission now is to keep moving forward.

May 21, 2025.- With veteran leadership and continued Empowerment support, the Dominican Republic squad aim to turn years of top-level consistency into their first Final Round appearance in the Volleyball Nations League.

Dominican Republic have long been one of the most consistent forces in women’s volleyball, and since the launch of the VNL, they’ve remained a steady presence among the world’s top contenders. In 2025, they return with a veteran lineup, strong leadership and one goal still just out of reach.

The build-up of their high-performance system has been supported by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment programme, with over CHF 940,000 in support since 2021. This has strengthened the foundation of the national team, providing long-term coaching stability, technical development, and the ability to remain internationally competitive across multiple Olympic cycles.

Head coach Marcos Kwiek remains at the helm in 2025, leading a squad that has dominated their continent in recent years. Dominican Republic won the NORCECA Final Six in both 2022 and 2024, claimed gold at the 2023 Pan American Games, and were crowned continental champions again in 2023. These results have underlined their dominance in continental play and reinforced their readiness to compete for bigger feats on the international stage.

Dominican Republic have been part of every VNL edition since the tournament began, but a Final Round appearance has remained out of reach. Their performances have kept them competitive across multiple seasons, yet that next-level finish continues to be the goal.

That pursuit continues in 2025 with a group of established stars still leading the charge. Libero Brenda Castillo, widely regarded as one of the most decorated defensive players in international volleyball, anchors the squad alongside standouts Jineiry and Brayelin Martínez. All three bring extensive VNL and major tournament experience, forming a foundation that has carried the team through multiple cycles.

Dominican Republic will start VNL 2025 Week 1 in Ottawa, facing Serbia, Bulgaria, Netherlands and Japan from 4 to 8 June. In Week 2, they move to Istanbul to meet hosts Türkiye, Belgium, Brazil and Korea and from 18 to 22 June. The Preliminary Round wraps up in Week 3 in Arlington, where they will take on China, United States, Thailand and Germany from 9 to 13 July.

The team will also use the VNL to further integrate younger players emerging from its development system – a long-term priority supported by Empowerment funding. While the veterans remain central to the squad’s identity, the next wave of talent is expected to gain experience during the 2025 season.

May 20, 2025: Volleyball Canada has announced its Senior and Next Gen indoor men’s national teams for the 2025 season.
 
The senior team will compete in Volleyball Nations League kicking off in Quebec City, Quebec – presented by Desjardins – on June 11 and then travel to the United States and Slovenia in hopes of qualifying for the finals, to be held in China. In 2024, the senior men finished ranked sixth after making the VNL Finals and then going on to compete in Paris at the Olympic tournament.
 
After VNL, the team will prepare for the 2025 Men’s World Championship in September, with a Team Canada roster to be announced at a later date.  
 
Leading the senior team will be head coach Dan Lewis in his first season in this position.
 
“With a small group of returning Olympians, this year’s senior team will also showcase athletes who are looking to shine and gain valuable experience on the world stage leading up to LA2028,” said Julien Boucher, Volleyball Canada’s men’s indoor high-performance director. “The Next Gen team lineup shows depth and the hard work that goes into preparing athletes to compete at the highest level.”
 
The Next Gen squad, under the guidance of head coach Dave Preston, features up and coming talent from across the country. This team will be focused on training and competing at the NORCECA Pan Am Cup, August 24 to September 1, in Mexico.
 
Senior Team Athletes
Landon Currie – Libero – Coldstream, BC
Max Elgert – Setter – Edmonton, AB
Jesse Elser – Outside Hitter – Calgary, AB
Daenan Gyimah – Middle Blocker – Scarborough, ON
Luke Herr – Setter – Winnipeg, MB
Isaac Heslinga – Outside Hitter – Orangeville, ON
Nicholas Hoag – Outside Hitter – Gatineau, QC
Brodie Hofer – Outside Hitter – Langley, BC
Xander Ketrzynski – Opposite – Toronto, ON
Justin Lui – Libero – Pickering, ON
Fynn McCarthy – Middle Blocker – Lake Country, BC
Jordan Schnitzer – Middle Blocker – Surrey, BC
Ryan Sclater – Opposite – Port Coquitlam, BC
Skyler Varga – Outside Hitter – Muenster, SK
 
Alternate Athletes
Mason Greves – Setter – Calgary, AB
Jackson Howe – Middle Blocker – Calgary, AB
Matthew Neaves – Opposite – Calgary, AB
Cory Schoenherr – Middle Blocker – Waterloo, ON
Jackson Young – Outside Hitter – Toronto, ON
 
Staff
Dan Lewis – Head Coach
Joao Paulo Bravo – Assistant Coach
Jason Haldane – Assistant Coach
Alberto Varela Frontier – Statistician
Michael Cook – Strength & Conditioning Coach, IST Lead
Schad Richea – Athletic Therapist
Nicholas Poelman – Chiropractor
Melissa Healy – Medical Coordinator
Kyle Paquette – Mental Performance Coach
Donna McDonagh – Mental Health Practitioner
Ashley Armstrong – Sport Dietician
Cassandra Nicol – Team Manager, Coordinator
Julien Boucher – High-Performance Director
 
NextGen Team
Athletes
Jordan Canham – Opposite – Avonmore, ON
Jackson Corneil – Middle Blocker – Surrey, BC
Cole Duncanson – Middle Blocker – St Catharines, ON
Zachary Hollands – Libero – Victoriaville, QC
Liam Kristjanson – Middle Blocker – Oak River, MB
Jeremy Love – Setter – Dauphin, MB
Brendan Mills – Opposite – London, ON
Liam Pauls – Outside Hitter – Balmoral, MB
Darian Picklyk – Libero – Winnipeg, MB
Jacob Sargent – Outside Hitter – Lethbridge, AB
Kaden Schmidt – Outside Hitter – Mississauga, ON
Erik Siksna – Outside Hitter – Markham, ON
Tomas Sorra – Setter – Toronto, ON
Zachary van Geel – Setter – Calgary, AB
Jonas Van Huizen – Outside Hitter – Langley, BC
Matthys Weststrate – Middle Blocker – Kelowna, BC
 
Staff
Dave Preston – Head Coach
Scott Koskie – Assistant Coach
John Barrett – Assistant Coach
Grant Wilson – Assistant Coach
Matthew Harris – Assistant Coach
Raphael Poulin – Strength & Conditioning Coach
Michael Cook – IST Lead
Meredith Waisman – Sport Physiotherapist
Melissa Healy – Medical Coordinator
Brendan Dinsdale – Mental Performance Coach
Donna McDonagh – Mental Health Practitioner
Ashley Armstrong – Sport Dietician
Cassandra Nicol – Team Coordinator
Georges Laplante – Team Manager
Julien Boucher – High-Performance Director

May 8, 2025.- A long line of international stars of the highest caliber headline their national team rosters for the upcoming edition of the women’s Volleyball Nations League 2025.

As the 30-player team lists were finalized and published on the VNL competition website, a number of stellar names attract the fans’ attention in exciting anticipation of the first major event on the 2025 volleyball national team calendar.

VNL 2025: Women’s team rosters (subject to eligibility verification to be conducted by the FIVB)

Defending VNL champions Italy will once again be led by two-time VNL Most Valuable Player Paola Egonu, who was also named MVP of the Paris 2024 Olympic volleyball tournament. In fact, most of the reigning Olympic champions are back on coach Julio Velasco’s squad, including Olympic Dream Teamers Alessia Orro, Anna Danesi, Myriam Sylla and Monica De Gennaro.

In the absence of retired Sarina Koga, VNL 2024 runners-up Japan will be led by new captain Mayu Ishikawa. Rising star Yoshino Sato is also on the team. VNL 2024 Dream Team libero Manami Kojima is among the many other stars in new coach Ferhat Akbas’s selection.

The Best Middle Blocker of last year’s edition, Agnieszka Korneluk, highlights the stellar squad of bronze medalists Poland, along with the likes of fabulous Magdalena Stysiak and rising star Martyna Czyrnianska.

Brazil, who finished fourth in VNL 2024 and took bronze at the Olympics, will feature a long line of outstanding athletes, headlined by their charismatic captain Gabriela Guimaraes, a Paris 2024 Dream Team outside hitter, and featuring quality players like Julia Bergmann, Kisy Nascimento, Rosamaria Montibeller, Macris Carneiro, etc.

Three-time VNL champions and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalists USA are putting forward a very strong line-up as usual, highlighted by Jordyn Poulter, Avery Skinner, Alexandra Frantti and many others.

The reigning crown bearers of the last two editions of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Serbia will be spearheaded by prominent opposite Tijana Boskovic, while her powerful Turkish counterpart Melissa Vargas will lead the reigning European champions and semifinalists at Paris 2024. Among more experienced players like Teodora Pusic, Katarina Lazovic and Maja Aleksic, younger-generation athletes like Hena Kurtagic are expected to shine on Zoran Terzic’s squad, while Daniele Santarelli seems to have kept a core of established Turkish players like Zehra Gunes, Hande Baladin, Ebrar Karakurt, Cansu Ozbay, etc.

Asian champions Thailand, who are getting ready to host the World Championship later this year, are set to offer a solid presence in the VNL with the likes of Chatchu-On Moksri, Pimpichaya Kokram or captain Ajcharaporn Kongyot on the squad. NORCECA champions Dominican Republic will also rely on their top-caliber stars like Brayelin and Jineiry Martinez, Yonkaira Pena or Brenda Castillo.

There will be plenty of world-class talent on the other nine teams as well – Belgium’s Britt Herbots, Bulgaria’s Zhana Todorova, Canada’s Kiera Van Ryk, China’s Gong Xiangyu, Czechia’s Helena Grozer, France’s Helena Cazaute, Germany’s Anna Pogany, Korea’s Kang Sohwi, or Netherlands’ Nika Daalderop, to name a few.

The current lists of 30 players per team are not completely final, as the head coaches can make up to two replacements within the next week. Then, for the participation in each competition week of the VNL, a team line-up of 12-14 players and up to four reserve players is selected among the 30 on the long list.

December 10, 2024.- Mark your calendars! In preparation for the highly anticipated Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025, Volleyball World has announced the host cities, pool matchups, team schedules, and ticketing details for next year’s expanded and refreshed edition of the tournament.

Fans around the globe will have the opportunity to gather in some of the world’s most iconic cities to witness the best teams battle for VNL glory.

Women’s and Men’s Opening Matches

The women’s competition will begin from 4 June to 8 June in Ottawa (Canada), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and Beijing (China). Meanwhile, the men’s tournament starts on 11 June in Quebec City (Canada), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and Xi’an (China), running through to 15 June.

Second Week of Action

From 18 June to 22 June, the women’s tournament will move to Istanbul (Türkiye), Hong Kong (China), and Belgrade (Serbia). The men’s competition will follow from 25 June 25 to 29 June in Burgas (Bulgaria), Chicago (USA), and Belgrade (Serbia).

To enhance player recovery, the 2025 calendar includes a new rest week from 30 June to 6 July following the second week of the men’s competition.

Final Week of Preliminary Rounds

The women’s teams will wrap up the preliminary stage from 9 July to 13 July in Apeldoorn (Netherlands), Arlington (USA), and Kanto (Japan). The men’s teams will compete in their final preliminary matches from 15 July to 20 July in Gdansk (Poland), Ljubljana (Slovenia), and Kanto (Japan).

Host Cities Shine

Volleyball World is proud to collaborate with these outstanding host cities, celebrated for their rich volleyball history and exceptional event-hosting capabilities. With state-of-the-art arenas, vibrant fan bases, and iconic backdrops, these cities are ready to welcome the global volleyball community to witness these thrilling matches.

Get Your Tickets Today!

Tickets for most pools are now available! Secure your seats to experience the excitement of live volleyball as the world’s top teams compete for a spot on the podium. Early bird discounts may be available—stay tuned for details.

Tickets Link

What’s New for VNL 2025?

The 2025 tournament ushers in a new era for international volleyball with major changes to engage more fans worldwide.

• Expansion from 16 to 18 teams per gender.

• New men’s teams: China and Ukraine.
• New women’s teams: Czech Republic and Belgium.

• A revamped preliminary phase with 216 matches played over three weeks.
• Each team will compete in 12 matches with rotating pools across three host cities weekly.

Increased recovery and preparation time for athletes, ensuring high-energy performances.

Finals Host Cities Announcement Coming Soon!

The Finals will take place from 23 July to 27 July for the women’s competition and 30 July to 3 August for the men’s. Stay tuned for the announcement of the host cities!

Watch Live on VBTV

Fans worldwide can catch every thrilling moment on VBTV, Volleyball World’s official streaming platform. Subscribe today and don’t miss a single set, spike, or serve! Subscribe Here

VNL 2025 is set to deliver unforgettable moments as the world’s top volleyball talent comes together for an electrifying competition. Get ready to join the excitement!