USA make yet another step towards VNL Finals

Eighth-placed USA moved closer to securing a spot at the women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals in Lodz with a four-set victory over Dominican Republic in Thursday’s closing match at home in Arlington. The Americans improved to a 6-4 win-loss record and 17 points and are running just above the cut-off for the quarterfinals in the current VNL standings. Dominican Republic, on the other hand, dropped to 4-6 and 10. They are in 11^th place and still in mathematical contention, but only with a distant shot at the Finals.

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Dominican Republic took the very competitive first set, but then USA came back and stayed in control for the most part of the next three to celebrate a 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-20) victory, shaped up by outside hitter Logan Eggleston with a block-out shot for the match winner.

Eggleston rounded off her game tally to 10 points, all in swings, while her cross-court teammate Avery Skinner once again led the American team in scoring, with 18 points, including two aces and a kill block. Middle blocker Tia Jimerson spiked at a 60% success rate, put up four kill blocks and fired an ace to finish with 14 points.

“We’ve been working really hard in the gym and today we just wanted to show out chemistry and hard work, and I think we did that,” Jimerson, who is playing in her first VNL, told VBTV. “It’s amazing! I’m just so grateful for the opportunity just to be out here to compete with these girls.”

Dominican Republic’s opposite Gaila Gonzalez produced a match-high 19 points, including four blocks and two aces. Outside and captain Brayelin Martinez added another 15 for the Caribbean Queens, while middle Jineiry Martinez finished with 10 points.

VNL action continues with Friday’s opening match in Chiba, Japan, serving off at 15:30 local time (06:30 UTC), with Bulgaria taking on France.

Volleyball Nations League 2025: full schedule and results

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