July 12, 2025. – USA booked the last available ticket to the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals in Łódź. In Friday’s closing VNL match in Arlington, they outlasted Canada in a dramatic five-set battle and secured their place among the last eight in the competition. The two sets won were sufficient for Canada to secure their survival in the VNL for next season.
That wasn’t the case for Korea, who lost Sunday’s opening match in Chiba in straight sets to France, keeping the relegation battle open until the Thailand vs. Canada game later that same day.
In a rollercoaster of emotions, the U.S. claimed a narrow 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 19-17) victory in extra points of the tiebreak against Canada. Each set was a mini rollercoaster with constant lead changes, but the fifth set was especially dramatic: Canada came back from a four-point deficit to reach double match point at 14-12. The Americans denied them, leveled the score, and fended off three more match points before sealing the win with three straight points, igniting a celebration from the home crowd in Arlington.
The winners were led by outside hitter Avery Skinner with 21 points, including one block. Opposite Madisen Skinner (two aces, one block) and outside hitter Logan Eggleston (two blocks) each contributed 19 points, while middle blockers Tia Jimerson (six blocks) and Dana Rettke (three blocks) added 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Despite Canada’s tremendous blocking effort, 24 stuff blocks in total, it wasn’t enough to claim victory in this North American classic. Twenty-one-year-old opposite Anna Smrek had six blocks and two aces for a 13-point total, while middle blocker Emily Maglio tallied five blocks and one ace to reach 12 points. Outside hitter Hilary Howe Johnson led all scorers with 29 points, including four blocks. Team captain and middle blocker Jazmine Ruth White added 10 points with four blocks, and fellow outside hitter Andrea Mitrovic also reached double figures with 11 points.
With a 2-9 win-loss record, 8 points, and a 16-31 set ratio, Canada sits in 16th place in the current VNL standings and can no longer be overtaken by Thailand, who are last with a 1-10 record, 5 points, and a 9-31 set ratio, even with a straight-sets win. However, Thailand can still surpass Korea, who have finished their campaign at 1-11 with 5 points, and would only need to win two sets against Canada to do so.
Match Schedule Sunday July 13
All matches local time Arlington. Dominican Republic vs Germany at 11:30, Thailand vs Canada at 15:00. USA against China at 19:00.
English 
Spanish