The fourth edition of the Volleyball Nations League will begin on Tuesday, May 31 when the women’s national teams of Thailand and Bulgaria take to the court in Ankara at 15:30 local time (12:30 GMT). The Turkish capital and USA’s Shreveport-Bossier City will welcome the two pools in Week 1 of the women’s VNL 2022.
The pool in Louisiana will also get started on Tuesday at 17:00 local time (22:00 GMT) with a game between Germany and the runners-up of the previous two editions, Brazil.
Olympic champions and pool hosts USA will launch the defence of their three consecutive VNL title three hours later with a game against NORCECA Championship title-holders Dominican Republic.
The remaining four teams in that pool, Canada, Korea, Poland and reigning Asian champions Japan, will play their first matches on Wednesday, June 1.
In addition to Bulgaria and Thailand, the Ankara-based pool will also feature the teams of Belgium, two-time VNL medallists China, current European champs Italy, the Netherlands, reigning world champions Serbia and hosts Turkey, who claimed VNL silver in 2018 and bronze in 2021.
Over the course of six competition days, from Tuesday through Sunday, each of the 16 teams will play four matches.
An all-Asian clash between regional rivals Japan and Korea on Wednesday, a game between mighty Brazil and Poland, one of the co-hosts of this year’s FIVB Volleyball World Championship, on Thursday, and a North American derby between USA and Canada on Friday are just some of the many thrilling encounters this week’s match schedule in Shreveport-Bossier City has to offer. The programme is expected to culminate on Saturday, when a titanic duel between the Americans and the Brazilians will offer a remake of last year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic final.
Action in Ankara will start with a bang on the very first competition day, when the stars of Turkey and Italy clash at 18:30 local time (15:30 GMT) on May 31. The Netherlands, the other World Championship co-hosts, will launch their VNL campaign with a difficult challenge presented by China on Wednesday. Friday’s programme offers a full day of excitement with regional rivals Serbia and Bulgaria getting the day started, the Dutch taking on Italy in the second match, and Turkey locking horns with China. The all-Asian encounter between Thailand and China will take place on Sunday.
This first competition week is one of the three that comprise the women’s Preliminary Round. All matches count towards the general standings, which will determine the seven teams set to join hosts Turkey at the Finals in Ankara from July 13 through 17.
In addition to Bulgaria and Thailand, the Ankara-based pool will also feature the teams of Belgium, two-time VNL medallists China, current European champs Italy, the Netherlands, reigning world champions Serbia and hosts Turkey, who claimed VNL silver in 2018 and bronze in 2021.
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