The USA took the third FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League title in a row to stay the only winner of the competition since its inception in 2018.
When you lose only one out of 17 matches in total at a single tournament, there is only one logical closure – the title. The U.S. National Team beat Brazil in a replay of the previous VNL final to win the third gold in the competition and remain its exclusive winner: 3-1 (26-28, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21) in 2021 final in Rimini, Italy.
Everything was opened in a duel of the two best teams from the preliminary stage, both coming to the event with the best rosters. The ’Seleção’ (did not earn a single point from the service tonight) missed an opportunity to extend the match to the tie-break as it was 8-4 ahead of the rival but them made too many unforced errors, which the side commanded by Karch Kiraly fully embraced to close the match in four sets.
It seemed that Michelle Bartsch-Hackley saved a lot of attacking energy for the final match as she, unlike earlier appearances in the tournament when she excelled in digs, highlighted the United States in scoring with 22 points. Just like in 2018, she was named MVP. Jordyn Poulter set up 4 blocks. Gabriela Guimarães ’Gabi’ top-scored Brazil with 18 points, while Ana Carolina Silva ’Carol’ was just superb in the block (8). Camila Brait had 84.2 % digs (17/19, 1 error).
2021 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League
Bronze medal match:
Japan – Turkey 0-3 (19-25, 16-25, 17-25)
Final: Brazil – USA 1-3 (28-26, 23-25, 23-25, 21-25)
