The preliminary phase of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 Women`s tournament has concluded, setting the stage for the highly anticipated knockout rounds. The final pieces of the quarterfinal bracket fell into place following a spectacular and decisive match between China and the United States in Arlington.
China`s Epic Comeback Defines Final Standings
In a contest that epitomized resilience, China delivered a stunning performance, coming back from two sets down to defeat the USA 3-2 (18-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-16, 18-16). This dramatic reverse sweep on the final day of the preliminary phase proved crucial, reshaping the upper half of the final standings.
The architect of the Chinese resurgence was outside hitter Wu Mengjie, whose exceptional attacking prowess yielded an impressive 27 points, including 26 kills that consistently pierced the American defense. Supporting her effort, Zhuang Yushan added a valuable 18 points, contributing significantly to the comeback with both kills and blocks. The Chinese team, notably young, displayed remarkable passion and energy under pressure, fighting for every point.
For the United States, outside hitter Sarah Franklin was a standout performer, leading all scorers with a remarkable 32 points (29 kills, three blocks). Opposite hitter Taylor Mims also reached double digits with ten points. Despite these strong individual efforts, the American side was unable to counter China`s momentum shift in the later sets. Post-match reflections from the US camp acknowledged the need to better adapt to opponents` tactical adjustments, viewing the loss as a valuable learning experience heading into the finals.
The Final Eight: Road to Łódź
China`s victory secured them the fifth position in the overall standings, leapfrogging Türkiye with a final record of nine wins and 24 points. With all preliminary matches now complete, the quarterfinal pairings for the VNL Finals, hosted in Łódź, Poland, from July 23rd to July 27th, are confirmed:
- Italy (1st place) vs. United States (8th place)
- Brazil (2nd place) vs. Germany (7th place)
- Japan (3rd place) vs. Türkiye (6th place)
- Poland (4th place) vs. China (5th place)
These single-elimination clashes promise intense competition as the top eight teams vie for the prestigious VNL title. The preliminary phase, concluding with such a memorable match, has set a high bar for the excitement that the knockout rounds are expected to deliver.
