Slovenia Knocks Out Olympic Champs France in VNL 2025 Quarterfinal Stunner
In a dramatic twist at the Volleyball Nations League 2025 finals in Ningbo, China, Slovenia stunned Olympic gold medalists France with a commanding 3–1 (25:22, 15:25, 25:19, 25:18) victory. Despite entering the tournament as one of the last qualifiers, the Slovenians showed composure and skill, sending the heavily favored French squad home early.
The first set saw both teams neck and neck until a strong serve run by Ziga Stern gave Slovenia the edge. Consistent receptions and smart offense led to a 25–22 set win, capped by a powerful attack from Saso Stalekar.
France regrouped quickly, dominating the second set. Antoine Brizard, Trevor Clevenot, and Mathis Henno served up a storm, creating chaos in the Slovenian defense. A 10-point lead and a thunderous block from Yacine Louati closed out the set 25–15 in France’s favor.
However, Slovenia didn’t flinch. In the third set, they retook control with relentless pressure and clinical execution. After pulling away from a 9–9 tie, they built a decisive lead. Jan Kozamernik’s aggressive play at the net helped seal the set 25–19.
The fourth and final set mirrored the earlier rhythm—France fought hard early but couldn’t sustain momentum. Slovenian patience and fewer mistakes paved the way to a 25–18 finish as France’s final serve flew out, sparking wild celebrations from the underdogs.
Some Numbers:
- France: Theo Faure led with 19 points, followed by Yacine Louati (15) and Trevor Clevenot (13).
- Slovenia: Toncek Stern delivered 16 points, while Rok Mozic and Ziga Stern added 8 and 7 respectively.
While France led in serve aces (7–2), they struggled with consistency, committing 40 unforced errors—more than double Slovenia’s 17. The Slovenians also dominated at the net with better block control.
Now, Slovenia advances to the semifinals to face Italy, who earlier overcame Cuba. The VNL 2025 is heating up, and Slovenia’s fairytale run is far from over.
VNL 2025 Semifinal Matchups:
- Slovenia vs Italy
- Brazil vs winner of Japan vs Poland
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