The third day of the third week of the 2022 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League preliminary stage brought in the names of the three participants of the Final 8 in addition to the hosts Italy.
After the hosts Italy (automatic berth), the United States and France became the second and third teams to get tickets to the Volleyball Nations League 2022 Finals. In their encounter against France in Pool 5 in Osaka, Japan, the Americans rallied twice from a set down to win 3-2 (15-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-14, 15-8). It was their eighth triumph in 10 games since the competition began. With 22 points, at that moment, the USA was in first place in the standings but was surpassed to third following the remainder of today’s schedule. With a 7-2 win-loss record and 22 points overall, the point gained had put the Olympic winners France (as many as 40 errors vs 28 of the USA!) at a total of 22 points and fourth position, giving them enough time to begin preparing for their journey to Bologna for the Finals. Aaron Russell top-scored the USA with 18 points.
Poland’s win against China sealed the spot in the final tournament of Nikola Grbić’s protégés. Brazil (3-0 vs Canada today), Japan, the Netherlands (both didn’t play today), Slovenia (3-1 vs Bulgaria), Iran (1-3 vs Italy), and Serbia (day off) will vie for the remaining four vacant berths for the Finals in the next two or even three matches (for some of them).
2022 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League – preliminary stage, Week 3, today’s matches:
