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).
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