VNL 2023 about to get underway in Nagoya

A big clash between European neighbours Germany and the Netherlands on Tuesday will set off the fifth edition of the Volleyball Nations League. The Japanese city of Nagoya will welcome VNL 2023’s first whistle on May 30 at 16:10 local time (07:10 UTC), as well as all 16 matches of Pool 2 through Sunday, June 4, in competition week one of the women’s tournament.

Volleyball Nations League 2023: full schedule and results

Germany and the Netherlands also finished neighbours (10^th and 11^th, respectively) in last year’s final standings and will certainly be looking to improve their results this year. The match will be German coach Felix Koslowski’s official debut at the helm of the Netherlands, while his compatriots will try to spoil it under the command of their Belgian mentor Vital Heynen. Led by well-seasoned playmakers Pia Kastner and Laura Dijkema, both sides will feature mixtures of experience and youth in their squads for Nagoya.

“The most important thing is that we develop from game to game, find ourselves as a team, have fun and play for each other - that's when we're strongest,” said Germany’s libero and captain Anna Pogany. “The VNL has the best teams in the world. The first week will be crucial, because there are opponents we can beat. I hope everyone keeps having fun and willing to develop as a team.”

The mercury will certainly rise at the competition hall in Nagoya for the second match on Tuesday, when hosts Japan make their first official 2023 appearance in duel against the Dominican Republic. Led by their captain Sarina Koga and inspired by the fantastic home fans on the stands, Japan will look to take advantage of the home factor hoping to eventually reach the Finals and not only improve on the seventh place finish last year, but also on the fourth place in 2021 in search of their first VNL medal. It will be their first appearance at home in front of the Japanese fans since the 2019 FIVB Volleyball World Cup.

Their first opponents from the Caribbean, however, can be a dangerous rival, especially with the likes of Brenda Castillo, Brayelin Martinez or Yonkaira Pena among the 14 for Nagoya. The Dominicans are one of the challenger teams, so in addition to aiming high in the final standings, they will also be playing under pressure from the risk of relegation. The game will start at 19:40 local time (10:40 UTC).

The other four teams travelling to Nagoya for the first competition week will open their campaigns on Wednesday. With a rejuvenated team, VNL rookies Croatia, captained by Martina Samadan, will challenge the rejuvenated team of Bulgaria, spearheaded by new captain Miroslava Paskova, at 15:00 local time (06:00 UTC). As both are challenger teams, it will be a very important match for both sides in view of the race to avoid relegation.

“We are ready to go to Japan for the first VNL tournament. In the team we have young girls, who are eager to work and play. We hope that we will show our best game and survive in the VNL,” said Croatian middle blocker Samadan.

“I hope we not only survive, but achieve something more,” said Bulgarian outside hitter Paskova. “Let’s surprise people and ourselves with good results.”

Mighty Brazil and China are, of course, the big names at the tournament in Nagoya and they will go head to head in their opening VNL game on Wednesday, at 18:00 local time (09:00 UTC). The South Americans reached the final at each of the three most recent editions, while the Asians, with two bronze medals, are also among the most decorated nations in the history of the competition.

One can expect a power clash between the two teams’ standout middles, Ana Carolina Da Silva (Carol) on the Brazilian squad and Chinese captain Yuan Xinyue. While some Brazil’s top-calibre players will take some rest during the first competition week, there will be plenty of other stars shining during that battle on the court in Nagoya, like setter Macris Carneiro, opposite Kisy Nascimento or outsides Tainara Santos and Julia Begmann on the Brazilian squad, or scoring machines Li Yingying and Gong Xiangyu on the Chinese side.

“In the first stage, we will have a young group, most of whom need experience and evaluation. We will play against strong teams like China, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic and Croatia and we expect good performances,” said Brazil’s coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes.

“After last year's training, our team's cooperation and cohesion are stronger this year. Everyone has a new goal, hoping to show the results of the training,” commented China’s captain Yuan Xinyue.

There will be plenty of exciting action throughout the remainder of the week, but one can certainly look forward to Sunday’s big all-Asian battle between Japan and China, which will close the tournament with a bang.

Meanwhile in Antalya, Turkey, the other eight VNL 2023 participants – Canada, Italy, Korea, Poland, Serbia, Thailand, Türkiye and the United States – will engage in the Pool 1 battles.

The VNL Preliminary Phase will feature three competition weeks per gender, with each of the 16 teams playing 12 matches. The eight best-ranked national teams in the Preliminary Phase will qualify for the Finals, which will be held in Arlington, USA from July 12 through 16, with the host country already with a guaranteed spot.

• Watch Volleyball Nations League 2023 on VBTV

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