Volleyball fans around the world will have their eyes on Chiba, Japan as the Women's Volleyball Nations League resumes after a nine-day break on Wednesday, July 9. The third week of competition brings together some of the tournament's strongest contenders, including current runners-up Poland and third-placed Brazil.
The six-team pool in Chiba features an impressive lineup with hosts Japan, France, Bulgaria, and Korea completing the roster. A total of 12 matches will unfold over five days until July 13, with each team playing four matches.
"This week will be crucial for teams looking to secure their positions in the Finals," a statement from tournament organizers highlighted as competition heats up.
Poland, bronze medalists in the previous two VNL editions, currently hold second place with a 7-1 record and 21 points. They'll face their toughest challenge against three-time silver medalists Brazil (7-1, 20 points) on Friday at 19:20 local time. Interestingly, both powerhouses have identical win-loss records, separated by just one point in the standings.
Host nation Japan, silver medalists from the last edition, currently sit fifth with a 6-2 record and 18 points. The home crowd will surely pack the arena when Japan takes on Poland on Saturday and Brazil on Sunday – the latter serving as the pool's closing match.
The action kicks off Wednesday with Bulgaria (13th place, 3-5) challenging Brazil at 12:00 local time. Later that day, Poland will face relegation-threatened Korea (17th place, 1-7) before Japan meets France in the evening match.
For teams like France (11th place, 3-5) and Bulgaria, this week presents a realistic opportunity to qualify for the Finals for the first time in their history. Every point matters as the Preliminary Phase winds down.
The eight best-ranked teams from the Preliminary Phase will advance to the Finals in Lodz, Poland (July 23-27), with the host country already guaranteed a spot. Can any of the underdogs in Chiba make a surprising push toward qualification?
Daily programs for Wednesday and Sunday will feature three matches each, while Thursday through Saturday will offer two contests per day, providing volleyball enthusiasts with plenty of elite competition to enjoy.
