VNL 2025

Unbeaten Japan and Italy come together in Hong Kong pool

China, Bulgaria, Czechia and Thailand also join them for women’s VNL competition week two

Published 12:40, 17 Jun 2025

Serbia (SRB) vs. Japan (JPN) women - Pool 1 - Preliminary Phase #46526921

Japanese setter Nanami Seki in action

Two of the three teams yet to be defeated after the first competition week in the women’s Volleyball Nations League – Japan and Italy – will come together in the same pool in Hong Kong for the second week, starting on Wednesday, June 18, and offering 12 exciting matches through Sunday, June 22, with another four of the world’s best 18 teams joining in - China, Bulgaria, Czechia and Thailand, in the order of their positions in the current VNL standings.

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Each of these six teams will play four matches in Hong Kong this week. The daily programs for Wednesday and Sunday feature three games each, while Thursday, Friday and Saturday will offer two matches a day.

The most anticipated duel of the pool, between Japan and Italy, is set to take place on Friday at 20:30 local time (12:30 UTC).

Reigning Olympic champions, two-time VNL winners and defending crown-holders Italy went through the first competition week in Rio de Janeiro with solid straight-set wins over USA, Korea and Brazil and dropping only two sets in a tough encounter with Germany. The overall result was a 4-0 win-loss record and 11 points, placing the team in second position.

“We are currently playing great. We are really happy about how the first week went. It’s not easy, because when everybody else plays against us, they want to give their best. So for us, it’s even more important to push in every single match and to be ready. Playing here in Hong Kong is always special. Chinese fans are amazing and it will be fun to play in a full arena.” Sarah Fahr, middle blocker of Italy

Italy will open the pool for business on Wednesday at 13:30 (05:30) in a southern European clash with Bulgaria. With some of Bulgaria’s stars returning to the national team guided by new coach Antonina Zetova this season, the squad showed a new and improved face, and managed to get two wins in week one – a four-set victory over the Dominican Republic and a five-set upset of reigning world champions Serbia. They lost their opening match in Ottawa against hosts Canada in the tie-breaker and finished the week off with a straight-set defeat at the hands of the Netherlands. The Lionesses are now right above the middle line in the table, in ninth place on 2-2 and 6.

Thailand and Japan will present themselves to the Hong Kong fans next, in an all-Asian duel, serving off at 17:00 (09:00) on Wednesday. Last year’s silver medalists Japan are on top of the current standings after the first week, on 4-0 and 12, after cruising through the pool in Ottawa with straight-set victories over the Netherlands, Serbia, Canada and the Dominican Republic.

“The first week was a pretty great week for us, but we are also a new team and we didn’t expect this. However, it is a long season and we need to focus on the next day. Thinking about the past situations, we need to think about how to improve in future situations.” Nanami Seki, setter of Japan

Thailand did not have their dream start to the VNL two weeks ago in Beijing, losing their first three matches to Poland, Belgium and Turkiye, but they finished the week on a high note, with a four-set win over France, and lined up in 15th place on 1-3 and 3.

The first competition day in Hong Kong will close with a game between hosts China and VNL rookies Czechia at 20:30 (12:30).

Three-time VNL medalists China skipped the podium last year. They entered the new season at home in Beijing with a shutout of Belgium, but then lost to Poland in four sets. Another straight-set win, over France, was followed by a tight five-set loss to Turkiye. So, on 2-2 and 7, China stand seventh in the current table.

On 2-2 and 4, Czechia occupy 10th place. The VNL newcomers had a tough start against mighty Brazil in Rio de Janeiro two weeks ago, but then came back to celebrate two five-set victories over USA and Korea. At the end of week one, they took a set from Germany, but lost in four.

The VNL Preliminary Phase features three competition weeks, with each of the 18 teams playing a total of 12 matches. The eight best-ranked national teams in the Preliminary Phase will qualify for the Finals, which will be held in Lodz, Poland from July 23 to 27, with the host country already with a guaranteed spot.

Volleyball Nations League 2025: full schedule and results

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