Lausanne, Switzerland, June 4, 2018 - It was a weekend full of astounding upsets, epic comebacks and simply just some incredible results across the 2018 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League that has no team undefeated after two weeks of pool play.
As Week 2 came to a close on Sunday, reigning world champions Poland, who up to that point were the only team on full points, were defeated by Germany at home in Lodz. And USA, who after Poland's defeat were the only team left undefeated, blew a two-set lead to reigning Olympic champions Brazil before a record 12,000-strong crowd in Goiania.
All that still leaves Poland leading the standings, but they're now joined by Brazil at 5-1 and 15 points each, with only a narrow set ratio separating the two. They are joined at 5-1 (but on fewer points) by USA, after Italy suffered two defeats this weekend to Canada and Argentina.
Serbia's Aleksandar Okolic stuffs Australia's Max Staples for one of his tournament-high six blocks.
Here's the highlights of Week 2:
• Germany's shock win over reigning world champions Poland, who up until then were the only team on full points.
• Brazil's phenomenal comeback to hand USA their first defeat of the season.
• France's two defeats, to Poland and China, after entering the weekend on full points.
• Korea's first two sets of the season in an epic Asian derby where Japan made a famous comeback to win in five.
• Serbia's three wins (the hard way), all in five monumental sets against Bulgaria, Russia and Australia.
• USA's comeback win over Japan from two sets down, for the second time in this VNL after doing the same to Argentina on the opening day.
• Australia's astonishing first win of the season over Bulgaria in Sofia.
• Argentina's first win of the season at home in San Juan, which denied Italy the chance to go 5-1 and be with the leaders.
• Jiang Chuan's 30 points for China in their heroic win over France, with which he becomes the second player after Italy's Ivan Zaytsev in the 'Over 30s' club.
• Jeff Jendryk's tournament-high blocking performance of six stuffs in a single match for USA in their 3-2 comeback win over Japan and Aleksandar Okolic's similar feat for Serbia in the Balkan side's 3-2 win over Australia.
• Lincoln Wiliams' tournament-high serving performance of five aces in a single match for Australia in their defeat to Russia and a similar performance by Japan's Haku Ri 'Lee' against Korea.
Haku Ri 'Lee' served a tournament-high five aces for Japan in their epic win over Korea.
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