Italy start on the right foot and sweep Serbia in Ljubljana

Reigning world champions Italy had a promising start in the third and last week of the Volleyball Nations League 2025 Preliminary Phase on Wednesday, securing their seventh victory in the tournament.

Playing 18^th-placed Serbia at the Arena Stožice, in Ljubljana, the Italians had no trouble walking away with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-16) victory that got them very close to qualifying for the VNL Finals, which are going to be held in Ningbo, China, from July 30 – August 3.

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With seven victories and 20 points earned, the second-placed Italians continue to chase VNL leaders Brazil, who have eight wins and 23 points after they topped Argentina earlier on Wednesday. Serbia, on the other hand, wasted their first opportunity to get wins and points this week and continue in 18^th place, inside the relegation zone, with one victory and three points.

Star outside hitter Aleassandro Michieletto was the match’s top scorer with 16 points registered – he got 12 kills, two blocks and two aces. Middle blocker Giovanni Gargiulo added 13 (seven kills, four blocks, two aces) and opposite Kamil Rychlicki contributed 11, with nine kills and two aces.

“It was a really fun night for us here in Ljubljana with an amazing stadium and a great crowd,” team captain and setter Simone Giannelli said. “We enjoyed it a lot, but now we need to focus on our next matches. We play tomorrow, and we have to be present and focused on what we have to do.”

Captain and outside hitter Marko Ivović was Serbia’s most productive player with eight points scored (seven kills, one block).

Ukraine beat the Netherlands in five

The first match of the day in Ljubljana also reunited a team trying to qualify for the Finals and one fighting to avoid relegation, and had Ukraine taking the Netherlands down 3-2 (25-21, 20-25, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13) after five intense sets.

By taking two points with the victory, VNL rookies Ukraine solidified their spot inside the qualification zone, ranking sixth in the standings, with six victories and 17 points. The defeat wasn’t ideal for the Dutch, who continue in 17^th place, but the point earned helped them increase their separation to Serbia, as they now have one win and five points.

Opposite Vasyl Tupchii led the Ukrainian victory with a team-high 21 points (20 kills, one block). Outside hitter Dmytro Yanchuk, who scored 17 (15 kills, two aces), and team captain and middle blocker Yurii Semeniuk, who added 16 (13 kills, three blocks), also played key roles in their successful performance.

“It wasn’t the way we wanted, but it’s a win and we’ll take it,” Semeniuk commented. “I thought the Netherlands played well and we didn’t play at our best, but we did a good job in the difficult moments. So, happy for the win, but we hope we can do better on the next one.”

The Netherlands had the match’s top scorer in outside hitter Tom Koops, who left the court with an impressive 28 points (25 kills, three aces). Opposite Michiel Ahyi also appeared well with 21 points, all obtained in kills.

Hosts Slovenia will face Canada in the third and last match of the day, which is scheduled to start at 20:30 local time (18:30 GMT).

Volleyball Nations League 2025: full schedule and results

On Thursday, Ukraine will face Italy in the first match of the day, at 16:30 local time (14:30 GMT), while the Netherlands and Slovenia meet later, at 20:30 (18:30 GMT).

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