The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2023 Finals roster is finally complete following a thrilling day of competition in Bangkok, Thailand. Italy and Japan emerged victorious, securing the remaining two spots. They will be advancing to the highly anticipated Finals set to take place in Arlington, USA, from July 12-16. These nations join the already qualified teams – USA, Germany, China, Turkey, Brazil, and Poland.
Italy triumphed over Croatia in the day’s first match, bagging an impressive 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-17) victory. This success assured them a position among the elite eight teams progressing from the Preliminary Phase. Sylva Nwakalor was a key player in Italy’s victory, contributing a commendable 20 points to the team’s total. Despite Samanta Fabris’s efforts, who scored 9 points, the Croatian team couldn’t withstand the Italian onslaught.
In the second match, Canada and the Netherlands engaged in a fierce five-set battle. The North Americans ultimately emerged victorious with a score of 3-2 (25-27, 25-16, 18-25, 25-23, 15-9). Alexa Gray significantly influenced the game’s outcome, scoring a whopping 25 points for Canada. On the Dutch side, Indy Baijens put up a spirited fight, notching up 19 points.
The last match of the day witnessed Japan securing the final ticket to the Finals, overpowering the host nation, Thailand. Japan claimed a straightforward 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-20) victory. Sarina Nishida (Koga) spearheaded the Japanese attack with 19 points. Chatchu-On Moksri emerged as the top scorer for Thailand with eight points, but her efforts were not enough to stave off the Japanese team.
The thrilling conclusion to the Preliminary Phase sets the stage for an exciting Sunday as the quarterfinal matchups for the VNL 2023 Finals will be determined.
