Three electric matchups from across the globe lit up the Volleyball Nations League 2025, with Ukraine continuing its dream debut, Bulgaria bouncing back to claim its first win, and Slovenia emerging victorious in a tight thriller against Iran.
Ukraine Digs Deep, Takes Down Cuba in Five Sets
At the Maracanãzinho in Rio de Janeiro, Ukraine once again stunned fans by toppling Cuba in a back-and-forth five-set duel. The 3-2 win (25-22, 20-25, 25-20, 17-25, 15-12) marked the VNL rookies’ second consecutive victory — keeping them undefeated in the tournament.
Vasyl Tupchii powered the attack with 18 points, while Dmytro Yanchuk and Illia Kovalov each added 17. After trading set wins, Ukraine held strong in the tie-break, fending off a Cuban comeback fueled by Marlon Yant, who tallied 23 points.
“This is an unbelievable start for us,” said Ukraine’s Yevhenii Kisiliuk. “We gave it all in the tie-break — our dream is alive, and we’re showing we belong here.”
Bulgaria Sweeps Argentina for First Win
Over in Quebec, Canada, Bulgaria rebounded from a tough opening loss with a commanding 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-20, 28-26) over Argentina.
The match showcased the rise of the Nikolov brothers — Aleksandar led with 14 points (13 kills, one ace), and Simeon added six points, including two crucial aces that sealed the win. Opposite Venislav Antov also contributed 14 points, helping the team overpower a strong Argentine squad.
“We didn’t come here to win sets, we’re here to win matches,” said 18-year-old Simeon. “This was a total team effort and a statement that we’re not backing down.”
Slovenia Outlasts Iran in a Five-Set Thriller
In another edge-of-your-seat contest, Slovenia narrowly defeated Iran 3-2 (-17, 23, 18, -18, 12), pulling off their second victory in Rio despite lineup changes.
With key starters resting, the spotlight fell on Nik Mujanović — and he delivered big. The young opposite racked up 30 points, including 23 kills, four blocks, and three aces. In the fifth set, he, along with Žiga Štern, helped tip the scale in Slovenia’s favor.
Despite losing the first set, Slovenia rebounded quickly and never lost composure, securing the tie-break 15-12 and maintaining their unbeaten streak.
- BRA W: Ana Cristina Suffers Knee Injury, Out of VNL Japan Stage
- VNL W: Italy Sweep Serbia, Stay Unbeaten in VNL – Dutch Beat Belgium to Keep Finals Hope Alive
- ITA M: Bulgarian Talent Zhasmin Velichkov Joins MINT Vero Volley Monza
- VNL W: Japan Sweeps Korea, Brazil Outlasts France
- VNL W: Türkiye Books 2025 VNL Finals Spot with Dominant Win Over Netherlands
