Tag: Volleyball

June 22, 2025. – On the final day of Week 2 in the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL), the United States celebrated a thrilling five-set victory over France in Belgrade, a win that lifted the Americans above the Finals qualification cut.

Earlier in Istanbul, the Dominican Republic also claimed a dramatic five-set win against Korea. In another Istanbul nail-biter, Belgium emerged victorious in five sets over Canada.

USA Defeats France in Epic Battle

USA earned a hard-fought victory over France in Belgrade, allowing them to climb past the Europeans in the VNL standings and move above the qualification line for the Finals. The Americans now sit in 8th place with a 4-4 record and 11 points. France, meanwhile, holds 11th place with a 3-5 record and 10 points.

In their match, France controlled much of the first two sets, but the Americans managed to rally in both to take a 2-0 lead. France responded with an 8-0 run in the third set to ignite their comeback and repeated the feat with another 8-0 run in the fourth set to force a decider.

At 13-13 in a tightly contested fifth set, Sarah Franklin sealed the win for the U.S. with back-to-back kills, securing a 3-2 victory (25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 21-25, 15-13).

Franklin led with 18 points, all on kills, while Logan Eggleston added 17 points on 61% efficiency. Middle blocker Dana Rettke contributed 10 points, including three blocks and an ace, and opposite Madisen Skinner was the team’s top scorer with 21 points, including one ace and one block.

Dominican Republic Edges Korea in Five-Set Thriller

Playing in Istanbul, the Dominican Republic and South Korea battled to a tie-break, where Las Reinas del Caribe came out on top with a 3-2 (19-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 16-14) win.

The Dominicans twice came from behind in sets to push the match to a decisive fifth set. In the thrilling tie-break, Korea saved three straight match points (14-11) to level at 14-14. However, middle blocker Geraldine González earned another match point, and a Korean attack error handed the Caribbean team the win.

Blocking was key for the Dominicans, who doubled Korea’s output at the net (16 blocks to 8). González had a standout performance with seven blocks and 12 total points.

Brayelin Martínez was the match’s top scorer with 24 points, including four blocks. Opposite Gaila González also starred with 22 points and four blocks, while outside hitter Yonkaira Peña added 17 points, all from attacks.

The result places the Dominican Republic in 10th place with 9 points, holding a 4-4 record.

Canada Falls Just Short in Five-Set Battle Against Belgium

Canada played one of the week’s most exciting matches but narrowly missed out on a win, falling to Belgium 2-3 (25-22, 13-25, 25-21, 22-25, 16-18) in a roller coaster match.

Canada came close to clinching the win, especially in the fifth set where they led 13-9. But Belgium stormed back with a five-point run. Despite having two match points, Canada couldn’t finish the set.

Head coach Giovanni Guidetti’s team put together a strong collective performance, particularly in blocking, where they outscored Belgium 17-10.

Outside hitter Hilary Howe Johnson led with 21 points, including five blocks. Young opposite Anna Smrek, 21, added 19 points with four blocks and two aces. Andrea Mitrovic contributed 14 points, and middle blocker Emily Maglio added 10.

“Despite the result, this was one of our most complete matches of the tournament. The team showed character, intensity, and the ability to compete to the final point,” said Canada’s coaching staff after the match.

With the loss, Canada remains in 15th place with a 2-6 record and 6 points. However, their level of play offers positive signs for the remaining matches, where they’ll look to finish strong and climb the standings.

Men’s VNL Week 2 Begins Wednesday, June 25

The second week of the Men’s Volleyball Nations League starts Wednesday, June 25, with NORCECA teams playing in Serbia (Cuba) and Chicago (USA and Canada).

Cuba faces Germany at 13:00 (local time Serbia), while Canada plays Brazil at 16:00 (and the United States  hosts China at 19:30 (both local time in Chicago).

June 21, 2025.- Playing in Belgrade, the United States swept the Netherlands, while in Istanbul, the Dominican Republic couldn’t overcome Brazil and fell in straight sets at the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

USA Sweeps Netherlands for Third Win in VNL 2025

The United States earned its third win of the tournament by defeating the Netherlands 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-19) on Saturday in Belgrade.

With this result, the Americans move up to ninth place in the overall standings, just below the cut for the VNL Finals, holding a 3-4 record and 9 points.

Team USA dominated the match in all areas of the game, particularly in attack (49-39), blocks (6-4), and service aces (4-2).

Outside hitter Logan Eggleston led all scorers with 14 points. Opposite Madisen Skinner contributed 13 points, including two blocks, an ace, and the match-winning point. Middle blocker Dana Rettke also stood out with 12 points.

“It’s been great! This group has amazing energy and is always willing to adapt, adjust, and improve,” said veteran Dana Rettke.

“I’m very proud of how they’ve responded to this challenge. I know for many it’s their first VNL, so it’s been a lot of fun playing with them and sharing this experience. Overall, I’m proud of how this group keeps improving every day, whether it’s during matches or training. We’re having a lot of fun!”.

Dominican Republic Falls to Brazil

The Dominican Republic faced one of the world’s volleyball powerhouses on Saturday, falling to Brazil 0-3 (23-25, 18-25, 20-25).

Coached by Marcos Kwiek, the Caribbean team now sits in 10th place in the standings with 3 wins, 4 losses, and 10 points, just outside the current cutoff for Finals qualification. Despite the result, the team showed cohesion, determination, and competitive spirit against a Brazilian squad that now boasts six wins and only one loss, with star player Gabriela “Gabi” Guimarães back in the lineup.

Yonkaira Peña led the Dominican offense with 13 points, including two aces and a block. Brayelin Martínez added 12 points, while opposite Gaila González chipped in with 10. The trio kept the Dominican Republic in contention throughout the match, especially in a tightly contested third set.

“I’m proud because I’m doing a good job, and my team is helping me a lot,” said Brayelin Martínez, who has surpassed the 100-point mark in this year’s VNL.

“I’ll keep working hard to improve and help my team win more matches. No matter what happens, we always stay united and support each other, that’s something I’m really proud of.”

Final Day of Week Two

Sunday, June 22 marks the final day of Women’s VNL Week 2, with the following matches scheduled: In Istanbul, Türkiye, Canada vs. Belgium at 12:30 PM (local time) and the Dominican Republic vs. Korea at 4:00 PM (local time). In Belgrade, Serbia, USA vs. France at 7:30 PM (local time).

June 20, 2025. – Canada delivered one of its strongest performances so far in the 2025 Women’s VNL, but couldn’t overcome Brazil’s powerful blocking game, falling 0-3 (20-25, 23-25, 23-25) in a tightly contested match at Istanbul’s Sinan Erdem Dome, with over 2,000 spectators in attendance.

Despite the straight-set loss, Giovanni Guidetti’s squad showed character, tactical discipline, and organized defense, staying close throughout the match, particularly in the second and third sets, where they came close to leveling.

The standout for Canada was 19-year-old Abagayle Guezen, who came off the bench in the first set and led the offense with 13 points, all from kills. Middle blocker Nyadholi Thokbuom also impressed with a 75% attack efficiency, scoring 12 points that included two blocks and an ace.

“I’m very happy to see the team improving every day,” said head coach Giovanni Guidetti.

“Today we had a real chance to win two sets against Brazil. That shows we’re competing at their level, which is a very positive sign. We need to finish sets better, but the progress is clear and that keeps us motivated,” he added.

Despite Canada’s strong showing, Brazil’s blocking superiority made the difference. Julia Kudiess led the way with 8 blocks and totaled 16 points. In contrast, the Canadian side managed only 4 blocks throughout the match, a gap that proved crucial in key moments.

With this loss, Canada drops to 15th in the standings with a 2-5 record (5 points), but the performance proved they can compete head-to-head with the world’s top teams. The team now looks to build on this momentum in the upcoming VNL matches.

June 19, 2025. – An intense day of action unfolded Thursday during Week 2 of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL). The Dominican Republic earned a commanding win over Belgium, the United States started strong against Poland but couldn’t hold on, and Canada fell in straight sets to a dominant Türkiye.

Dominican Republic overpowers Belgium for solid victory

The Dominican Republic showcased its offensive firepower and control, sweeping Belgium 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 27-25) at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul before 2,146 fans.

Under the guidance of coach Marcos Kwiek, the Caribbean Queens delivered a consistent performance, taking full advantage of their opportunities against a Belgian side that only threatened in the third set.

Brayelin Martínez led the way with 18 points (15 attacks, 3 aces) and came up big in the final moments of the match.

Gaila González added 17 points, helping form a well-balanced offense that overwhelmed the Belgians. Yonkaira Peña and Ariadne Rodríguez contributed solidly on defense and reception, allowing for effective offensive distribution.

With this win, the Dominican Republic now holds a 3-3 record and sits 8th in the standings with 7 points.

USA loses momentum, falls to Poland in four sets

The United States couldn’t sustain its strong start and fell to Poland 1-3 (25-20, 20-25, 17-25, 18-25) in Belgrade.

Logan Eggleston led Team USA with 24 points, showing power in attack and serving. Middle blocker Brionne Butler also impressed with 13 points, including 6 blocks and 2 aces, though it wasn’t enough to stop Poland’s comeback.

After a solid first set, Erik Sullivan’s squad lost consistency, especially in the fourth set, where they failed to hold a four-point lead. Reception and serve control were weak points, as Martyna Lukasik fired 6 aces for Poland.

“We need to be more consistent. We didn’t compete at the level we expect from ourselves. We’ll regroup and prepare better for the next match,” said coach Erik Sullivan.
Team USA now stands at 2 wins and 4 losses, with 6 points and sits 11th in the standings.

Canada fights hard but falls to Türkiye in straight sets

Canada battled with determination against undefeated Türkiye in front of nearly 15,000 local fans but ultimately lost 0-3 (16-25, 18-25, 24-26) at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul.

Opposite Anna Smrek led Canada’s offense with 13 points (11 kills, 2 blocks), while outside hitter Kyla Johnson added 8 points and contributed effectively in defense and from the service line. Alexa Mitrovic also chipped in with 5 points.

Canada showed tactical discipline and solid defense but struggled to contain Türkiye’s offensive strength. Türkiye led in attacks (39-33), blocks (8-5), and aces (9-0). Both teams committed 20 unforced errors.

With the loss, Canada drops to 2 wins and 4 losses, sitting in 12th place with 5 points.

Friday, June 20 Schedule

In Istanbul, Canada will face Brazil at 7:30 p.m. local time. The United States and the Dominican Republic have a rest day.

June 18, 2025.– The United States kicked off the second week of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) with a valuable victory over host Serbia in Belgrade. Meanwhile, in Istanbul, the Dominican Republic put up a strong fight but fell in straight sets to Türkiye, while Canada played a thrilling match that ended in a five-set loss to Korea.

USA Defeats Serbia in Belgrade

The United States spoiled Serbia’s opening match in front of 5,800 fans, mostly cheering for the home team, with a 3-2 win (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 15-11) at Belgrade Arena.

It was a standout night for Madisen Skinner, who led USA’s offense with a dominant 32-point performance (30 attacks and 2 blocks). Sarah Franklin contributed 20 points (18 attacks and 2 blocks).

The Americans led in attacks (65-61) and blocks (10-9). Both teams recorded 5 service aces.

Canada Nearly Pulls Off Dramatic Comeback

Canada played a thrilling match against Korea to kick off their second week of Women’s VNL action, narrowly losing in five sets, 2-3 (25-27, 18-25, 25-15, 25-20, 13-15), in Istanbul.

After dropping the first two sets, the Canadians showed strength and determination, rallying to tie the match at 2-2 and force a tiebreak. However, despite a strong collective effort, Korea edged out Canada in the final moments of the deciding set.

Canada stood out with an excellent performance at the net, tallying 13 direct blocks, nine of them shared between key players Emily Maglio (5 blocks, 13 total points) and Anna Smrek (16 points including 4 blocks). The team also outserved Korea, 6-4.

The offense was led by 19-year-old Abagayle Guezen, who scored 17 points, all from attacks. The Canadian squad showed strong competitive spirit and signs of tactical improvement in both defense and blocking.

Despite the loss, Canada’s performance leaves a positive impression and reflects their ongoing development as a team. They will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches in the regular phase of the VNL.

Dominican Republic Nearly Spoils Türkiye’s Home Debut

In front of over 14,000 spectators at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, the Dominican Republic came close to spoiling Türkiye’s home opener. Although the final score was a 0-3 loss, the Caribbean team fought valiantly, particularly in the first and third sets, which they nearly claimed. Set scores were 25-27, 19-25, and 26-28 in favor of the hosts.

Türkiye held slight advantages in attacks (44-39), blocks (7-6), and service aces (6-2), but the world No. 3 team had to battle for every point to secure the win.

The Dominican offense was powered by key hitters, with Gaila González scoring 19 points and Brayelin Martínez adding 11.

Thursday, June 19 Schedule

In Istanbul, the Dominican Republic will face Belgium at 4:00 p.m. local time, while Canada takes on hosts Türkiye at 7:30 p.m. (both local time.  In Serbia, the United States will meet Poland at 4:30 p.m. local time.

June 8, 2025 .- The first week of the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) came to a close this Sunday. The United States claimed their first victory in Group 2, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Meanwhile, in Group 1, played at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario, the host team ended the week with a spectacular comeback against Serbia to win 3-2. The Dominican Republic closed their participation with a loss against undefeated Japan.

USA Gets on the Board with Win Over Korea

The United States finally broke through and ended their first week with a 3-0 victory (25-13, 28-26, 25-17) over Korea. With this win, the U.S. team finished with one win and three losses, placing 13th overall with 4 points.

The Americans outperformed Korea in attacks (43-31) and blocks (14-3). Service aces were close, with Korea edging out the U.S. 5-4. Both teams committed 17 unforced errors.

Four U.S. players scored in double digits, with middle blocker Amber Igiede leading all scorers with 16 points (7 attacks, 8 blocks, 1 ace). Opposite Madisen Skinner tallied 15 points (13 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace), Sarah Franklin added 14, and Logan Lednicky finished with 10.

Canada Rallies to Defeat Serbia 3-2

Canada pulled off a stunning reverse sweep in front of their home crowd, defeating reigning world champions Serbia 3-2 (20-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-12). After dropping the first two sets, the Canadians turned the table and came from behind in the fifth set to seal the win.

Opposite and team captain Kiera Van Ryk delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 34 points, 24 from attacks, 1 block, and 9 service aces.

Despite Serbia leading in attacks (62-53) and blocks (18-5), Canada capitalized on the Europeans’ 34 unforced errors and Van Ryk’s phenomenal serving (Canada led 11-4 in aces). Van Ryk ended the week as the tournament’s second-highest scorer with 89 points and led all players in service aces with 15.

With this result, Canada finished 11th overall with 2 wins and 2 losses.

Dominican Republic Falls to Powerhouse Japan

The Dominican Republic wrapped up their week in Ottawa with a 0-3 loss (19-25, 21-25, 9-25) against a dominant Japan squad, who topped the standings with a perfect 4-0 record, all wins coming in straight sets. The Dominicans finished with 2 wins and 2 losses, placing 12th overall.

Japan outperformed the Caribbean team in attacks (51-26) and service aces (10-1), while the “Queens of the Caribbean” led in blocks (8-3). Japan committed 14 unforced errors to the Dominican Republic’s 11.

Gaila González led the Dominican scoring with 14 points (11 attacks, 2 blocks, 1 ace). Star player Brayelin Martínez, who didn’t shine as brightly in this match as in the previous three, still finished the week as the fourth top scorer of the tournament with 79 points (65 attacks, 12 blocks, 2 aces).

Men’s VNL Begins Tuesday, June 10

The Men’s Volleyball Nations League kicks off on Tuesday, June 10 in Xi’an, China, with a single match between Poland and the Netherlands. NORCECA will be represented by Canada, who will play in Quebec in Group 1, and by the United States and Cuba, who will compete in Group 2 in Rio de Janeiro.

On Wednesday, June 11, the United States faces Ukraine (11:00 a.m. local time), Canada takes on Germany (6:00 p.m. local time), and Cuba closes the day against Slovenia (6:00 p.m. local time).

June 7, 2025.– Canada suffered a tough defeat in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Pool 1, at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario. The Canadian team, playing at home, lost 0-3 (24-26, 20-25, 19-25) to Japan.

Their opposite and team captain, Kiera Van Ryk, was Canada’s top scorer with 11 points, one block, one ace, and the rest from attacks. Hilary Howe contributed 9 points (7 from attacks and 2 blocks).

Canada’s blocking was dominant, with an 8-0 advantage over Japan, but the Japanese team led in attacks (39-33) and service aces (7-3). The Asians also capitalized on 30 points from unforced Canadian errors.

With this loss, Canada now holds two defeats and just one win. Japan remains undefeated with three straight-set victories.

The final day of the first week of the women’s VNL will be played this Sunday, June 8. In Pool 1 action in Ottawa, the Dominican Republic faces Japan at 11:00 a.m. local time, while Canada hosts Serbia at 6:00 p.m. local time. In Pool 2, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the United States will face Korea at 4:00 p.m. local time.

June 6, 2025.- The first week of the Volleyball Nations League 2025 has been intense, but also successful for the Dominican Republic, which secured on Friday their second victory in three matches in the tournament, while the U.S. fell in dramatic five sets to Czechia in their third loss.

Dominican Republic returns to winning ways

One of the six teams competing in Pool 1, in Ottawa, Canada, the Queens of the Caribbean won their second five-setter in three days at The Arena at TD Place, taking the Netherlands down to keep their record positive.

If their opening-match five-set victory over Serbia on Wednesday featured a massive comeback for the Dominicans, their triumph over the Dutch had a different script, with ups and downs from both sides and tremendous back-and-forth before the Caribbeans prevailed 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 28-26, 22-25, 15-13).

With two of their first three matches in Ottawa going to five sets, the Dominicans have played as many as 14 sets so far – before beating Serbia, they lost 3-1 to Bulgaria on Thursday.

Against the Dutch, the Caribbean could rely on their two main scorers as Brayelin Martínez and Gaila González combined for an impressive 51 points – the outside hitter registered 26, with 23 kills, two blocks and one ace, while the opposite produced 25, with 19 kills, three blocks and three aces.

The Dominican team outperformed the Netherlands 10-7 in blocks, and their serve was dominant, delivering 7 aces to the Netherlands’ 3.

With this victory, the Dominican Republic climbed to sixth place in the overall standings among the 18 teams competing in the 2025 VNL, with 2 wins and 1 loss for a total of 4 points.

USA Can’t Hold the Lead, Suffers Third Consecutive Loss

The United States was unable to maintain their initial 2-0 set lead and ended up losing in five sets (25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 20-25, 25-27) to the Czechia. The final set was full of emotions—Team USA had a 10-7 lead but ultimately lost 25-27 in a set that was supposed to go to 15 points.

Despite the Czechs committing 31 unforced errors, they were superior at the net (82-66 in attacks) and in service aces (7-2). The USA led in blocks, 13-6.

Sarah Franklin was the top scorer for the U.S. with 20 points (19 attacks, 1 block), Amber Igiede added 18 points (13 attacks, 4 blocks, 1 ace), while Molly McCage and Logan Eggleston also scored in double digits with 11 points each, and Logan Lednicky added 10 points.

This marked the third loss for the United States.

On Saturday, June 7, in Ottawa, only one match will be played: Canada will face Japan at 4:00 PM local time. The Dominican Republic and the United States will have the day off.

June 6, 2025.- Expecting her first baby, the Dominican captain will be with her team for as long as she can during the tournament.

The Dominican Republic will count on an extra body on the court for at least their first matches in the Volleyball Nations League 2025 as team captain and veteran setter Niverka Marte is playing the tournament while expecting her first baby.

The 34-year-old playmaker doesn’t know for how long she’ll be able to keep playing, but she definitely wants to enjoy the moments of joy she is experiencing this first week, as the Queens of the Caribbean have faced Serbia and Bulgaria, and will play the Netherlands and Japan in Ottawa, Canada.

Even though many players who want to start a family plan to do it in the post-Olympic year, that wasn’t exactly the case with Marte. Having a baby had long been a dream of her, but the Dominican captain was struck with both surprise and intense happiness when she found out she was pregnant.

“My husband and I have been thinking about having a baby for a long time, but we always kept focused on what our priorities were at the moment and the upcoming tournaments,” she told Volleyball World in an exclusive interview. “We didn’t plan for it to happen now, but when we realized it was happening, it was a moment of incredible happiness for us. Our wonderful baby came by the grace of God and He couldn’t have picked a better time to give us this gift.”

Feeling as energized as ever and having many examples of players who continued to compete through pregnancy, including her longtime national team friends Bethania De La Cruz and Brenda Castillo, Marte had no doubts that she wanted to continue to represent her country in the VNL for as long as she could.

“I never felt better before,” she said. “I’ve been so, so happy that I’m in an unexplainable mood all the time. And I feel stronger and with a constant desire to train my body, too. I think that many people portray pregnancy as a disease and make it look like you can’t do anything. I always saw it from an entirely different perspective, and now that I’m experiencing it, I feel it in an even stronger way. Of course, my body is changing, and I need to take care of my needs and my baby’s needs, but why should I stop my entire life? I’ll adapt to it as it goes and will keep listening to my body. I feel great and would love to be with my team on the VNL. The only recommendation my doctor made was that I enjoy this moment, and that’s what I’ll do.”

One thing that makes Marte’s experience of playing through pregnancy even more special is the fact that her husband, Omar Martinez, is the physical trainer of the Dominican national team. That means the two can experience every step of her pregnancy together, supporting each other along the way.

“I’ve met him a couple of years before he joined the national team, and I’ve become better in every area of my life after that,” the setter, a three-time Olympian, added. “Having him full-time by my side is the best thing that could have happened, and it’s not a coincidence that I’ve been playing every set of every tournament for many years now. He takes care of me in every area of my life, not just sports, and that means a lot. I’m so blessed to have him by my side.”

While Marte still can’t determine for how long she’ll be able to help her teammates on the court in the VNL, the setter can already confirm she will need to sit out of the upcoming FIVB Volleyball World Championship, set to take place from August 22-September 7, in Thailand, as her pregnancy will approach its final stage.

Part of the Dominican national team since 2008 and a starter and captain for over a decade, Marte’s absence will create a void in the team both technically and from a leadership standpoint. While she’s out, Ariana Rodríguez, Yokaty Pérez, Aylin Liberato and Camila De La Rosa are the candidates to step into the starting lineup at the setter spot.

“We have over 20 players training with the Dominican national team, and we’re all different, but everyone has something to bring to the table,” Marte reflected. “So, I don’t think anyone replaces someone on the team. The opportunities have always been there and will continue to be there.”

June 5, 2025.– All three NORCECA teams competing in the 2025 Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) had a tough second day. In Pool 1, host nation Canada fell 1-3 to the Netherlands, while the Dominican Republic lost 1-3 to Bulgaria. Meanwhile, in Pool 2, USA suffered their second consecutive defeat, this time a 0-3 loss to Brazil.

Canada drops first match in Pool 1

Canada suffered their first loss of the 2025 VNL season, falling 1-3 (18-25, 25-22, 15-25, 23-25) to the Netherlands. In a match with few unforced errors, Canada committed 20, while the Netherlands had 24.

Canadian opposite and team captain Kiera Van Ryk once again led the scoring with 17 points (15 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace). The Dutch outperformed Canada in every skill, 55-48 in attacks, 13-3 in blocks, and 9-6 in aces.

With this result, Canada now holds a 1-1 record and 2 points, thanks to their win over Bulgaria the day before.

Dominican Republic falls in four sets to Bulgaria

Despite a standout performance from Brayelin Martínez, who scored 30 points (27 attacks, 3 blocks), and a strong effort in the second and fourth sets, the Dominican Republic was outlasted by Bulgaria 1-3 (21-25, 32-30, 19-25, 29-31).

Blocking was once again the Dominican team’s strongest weapon, dominating that category 16-11, but Bulgaria narrowly won in attacks 65-64 and led in service points 7-4.

The Dominican Republic now holds a 1-1 record with 2 points, following their victory over Serbia.

USA suffers second straight loss

Brazil, the world’s second-ranked team, defeated USA, ranked third, in straight sets 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19) in Rio de Janeiro.

The young American squad was unable to match Brazil’s power and experience and were outplayed across 38-35 in attacks, 12-4 in blocks, and both teams with 4 aces.

Logan Eggleston was the top scorer for the USA and the only player in double digits, with 13 points, including 1 block and 12 attacks from the net.

On Friday, June 6, in Ottawa, the Dominican Republic will face the Netherlands at 2:00 p.m. local time, while Canada will have a rest day. In Rio de Janeiro, the United States will take on Czechia at 6:00 p.m. local time.

June 4, 2025.- The Dominican Republic opened their 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) campaign with an exciting five-set comeback victory over reigning world champions Serbia in Pool 1, at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario. Host Canada also secured a five-set win over Bulgaria to start strong at home. Meanwhile, in Pool 2, the United States fell in their debut against Olympic champions Italy in Rio de Janeiro.

Dominicans complete reverse sweep against Serbia

The second match of the day in Ottawa delivered high drama as the Dominican Republic clawed back from a two-set deficit to defeat Serbia. The “Queens of the Caribbean” didn’t give up after dropping the first two sets, ultimately triumphing 3-2 (26-28, 19-25, 25-15, 25-20, 18-16), marking the first tiebreak victory of the VNL’s seventh edition.

Outside hitter Brayelin Martínez led the offense with 17 points (11 kills, five blocks, one ace), joined by her sister, middle blocker Jineiry Martínez, who added 16 (14 kills, two blocks). Opposite Gaila González also contributed 16 points (11 kills, four blocks, one ace) in the epic comeback.

Blocking proved to be the Dominicans’ strongest skill, outperforming Serbia 16-11. They also capitalized on Serbian errors, with a 34-22 advantage in opponent unforced mistakes. However, Serbia led in kills (61-58) and aces (10-5).

Canada needs five sets to beat Bulgaria

The final match of opening day action also went to five sets, with host Canada outlasting Bulgaria 3-2 (25-18, 25-12, 23-25, 19-25, 15-4) in front of their home fans. It was Canada’s first win under new head coach Giovanni Guidetti.

The Canadians were dominant in attacks (67-49) and serves (9-4), while Bulgaria held a slight edge in blocking (10-9).

Star opposite Kiera Van Ryk led all scorers with 25 points (19 kills, four aces, two blocks). Outside hitter Hilary Johnson followed with 18 (16 kills, two aces), and middle blocker Emily Maglio chipped in 14 points (eight kills, five blocks, one ace).

USA fall to Italy in opener

Reigning VNL champions Italy imposed their strength early, winning the first two sets comfortably. The third set saw the USA take a commanding 21-14 lead, but Italy mounted a comeback to win the set 30-28 and seal a 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28) victory in Pool 2, played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

New American head coach Erik Sullivan fielded a very young squad, with ten players making their VNL debut against the Olympic champions. Sarah Franklin and Logan Lednicky led the USA in scoring with nine points each.

On Thursday June 5, in Ottawa, Dominican Republic faces Bulgaria at  4:00 PM local time, and Canada goes against the Netherlands at 7:30 PM local time. In Rio de Janeiro, the U.S. will meet with host Brazil at 9:00 PM local time.