The United States opened their 2026 Volleyball Nations League campaign with a straight-sets victory over Ukraine, winning 25-16, 25-17, 25-23 in Quebec City.
Ukraine, making their VNL debut, kept pace with the Americans in attack, finishing with a 42-39 advantage in kills. However, the U.S. proved decisive from the serve line and at the net, recording nine aces and nine blocks while limiting errors to just nine, half of Ukraine’s total.
Avery Skinner led the United States with 12 points, tallying eight kills, three aces and a block. Middle blocker Asjia O’Neal added 10 points, including a match-high five blocks, while Jordan Thompson contributed eight kills in her return to international competition. For Ukraine, Oleksandra Milenko and Viktoriia Danchak were the team’s top scorers with 11 points each.
The Americans controlled the opening two sets before facing resistance in the third, where Ukraine built an early five-point lead. The U.S. rallied behind Skinner and O’Neal to regain control and eventually closed out the match on O’Neal’s fifth block.
Result
Volleyball Nations League 2026 – Week 1
United States defeated Ukraine 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-23)
Top U.S. Scorers
- Avery Skinner: 12 points
- Asjia O’Neal: 10 points
- Jordan Thompson: 8 points
- Logan Eggleston: 8 points
Team Stats
- Kills: Ukraine 42, United States 39
- Blocks: United States 9, Ukraine 2
- Aces: United States 9, Ukraine 3
- Errors: United States 9, Ukraine 18