There’s more volleyball action here in the Volleyball Nations League, even after the women’s competition is already done and dusted, as we’re into the quarter-finals for the men’s tournament.
The eight teams left are Japan, Canada, Poland, Brazil, Italy, France, Slovenia, and Argentina. The Japan-Canada and Poland-Brazil games are scheduled to take place tomorrow, while the Italy-France and Slovenia-Argentina matches are going to be held on Friday.
There’s not much time to rest, as the semi-finals and finals are on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, where we will eventually crown the champions in Łódź, Poland.
Before the games begin, check out the top storylines ahead of the quarter-finals, courtesy of SBOTOP.
Poland in for a tough test against Brazil
The Volleyball Nations League 2024 odds have Poland as one of the favourites to win it all (again) since they are in great form. With 10 wins and only two losses, they are only behind first-seeded Slovenia in the competition thus far.
Poland did get this far despite head coach Nikola Grbic heavily rotating his squad. Outside hitter Aleksander Sliwka was the Poles’ leading scorer in the Preliminary Phase with 69 points (59 kills, six blocks, four aces).
The Poles are going to be up against Brazil, their opponents at this same juncture last season. The Samba Boyz qualified on the last day of the Preliminary Phase, ending in seventh place with six wins and six losses. However, they are on a two-match losing streak heading into Thursday, with back-to-back losses against Canada (3-0) and France (3-2).
Darlan Ferreira Souza was Brazil’s top scorer with 143 points (124 kills, 10 blocks, nine aces), while middle blocker Flavio Gualberto was the second-best blocker in the Preliminary Phase with 30 blocks.
Brazil will be looking to defy the odds and potentially make it back to the podium for the first time since winning the gold in 2021, when they defeated, you guessed it, Poland in the finals.
World and Olympic champions set to duel
The match between Italy and France is going to be epic because it pits together the reigning world and Olympic champions.
Italy are something special, as they are third behind Slovenia and Poland after the Preliminary Phase, compiling nine wins and three losses. They were led by outside hitter Alessandro Michieletto, who had 123 points (94 kills, 15 blocks, 14 aces), and Yuri Romano, who had 104 points (86 kills, 10 blocks, eight aces).
France, on the other hand, were the sixth seed with eight wins. Opposite Jean Patry is spearheading Les Bleus’ charge with 137 points (113 kills, 13 blocks, 11 aces), and libero Jenia Grebennikov ranked third in digs with 87.
The Frenchmen will be aiming to be back on the podium after winning it all in 2022. In the five editions of the Volleyball Nations League, they finished within the top three on three occasions.
Will the Slovenians stay on top?
Slovenia qualified for the Olympics for the first time because they were the best team in the Preliminary Phase with 11 wins and only one loss, and they have a couple of standout players to thank.
Opposite Toncek Stern finished second in points (212) and aces (27). Setter Gregor Ropret was first in successful sets (302), and libero Jani Kovacic was second in digs (91) and passes (65).
Slovenia will look to continue their good run of Volleyball Nations League 2024 results against Argentina, the eighth seed after the Preliminary Phase (six wins, six losses). They are undefeated in their last four encounters against their South American counterparts, including their Round 3 matchup in their homecourt in Ljubljana last week.
However, despite this, Slovenia cannot fully count out Argentina since they have a couple of stars too, as Agustin Loser topped the blocking charts with 32, and libero Santiago Danani led in digs with 113.
Japan gunning for the top four again
Japan are reigning bronze medalists in the Volleyball Nations League, and they will be up against Canada, who have made it this far for the first time ever.
Japan were the fourth seed in the Preliminary Phase with nine wins and three losses. Opposite Yuji Nishida has established himself as one of the best players of the tournament, leading Japan in scoring with 149 points (123 kills, nine blocks, 17 aces). Canada were right behind Japan in fifth with eight wins and four losses, including a flawless run in the Manila leg, and they are going to be led by outside hitter Stephen Maar, who has 211 points, good for third after the Preliminary Phase.
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