The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Women (VNLW) has reached its climax, with Italy, Brazil, Japan, and Poland emerging as the top four national teams from the preliminary phase. These powerhouses are now poised to battle it out this weekend for the coveted title of the competition`s seventh edition.
The first semi-final, scheduled for Saturday at the Atlas Arena in Łódź, promises a thrilling encounter between host nation Poland and the reigning VNLW champions, Italy.
Italy`s Dominant Path
Italy enters the semi-finals on an impressive run, extending their winning streak to 13 matches in the current VNLW season and an astounding 21 matches overall. Their dominant 3:0 quarter-final victory over the United States showcased their formidable form.
Despite some fluctuations in performance, with set scores of 25:22, 25:21, and a challenging 28:26 in the third, the European squad ultimately delivered a stellar performance to secure their spot.
Paola Egonu was instrumental in Italy`s success, scoring 20 points, ably supported by Ekaterina Antropova (9 points), Anna Danesi (8 points), and Sarah Fahr (8 points). Their collective effort strengthens Italy`s bid for a potential third VNLW title.
Poland`s Home Advantage and Resilient Fight
Their semi-final opponent, Poland, presents a familiar challenge, as it`s a repeat of last year`s semi-final where Italy secured a decisive 3:0 victory. However, with the home crowd behind them, Poland will be highly motivated to deliver an exceptional performance and potentially claim their first-ever VNLW title.
As the fourth-placed team from the preliminary round, Poland faced a formidable test against the People’s Republic of China in their quarter-final match.
Spurred on by their passionate home supporters, Poland demonstrated incredible resilience, twice recovering from a set down after losing the first (17:25) and third (19:25) sets. They forced a deciding fifth set with a 25:19 win in the fourth, ultimately triumphing 15:12 against the Chinese side to secure their semi-final spot.
Star opposite Magdalena Stysiak was the driving force for Poland with 25 points, complemented by Martyna Czyrnianska`s season-high 16 points, which collectively propelled the European team to their third consecutive VNLW semi-final appearance.
Other Semi-Finalists: Japan and Brazil
Despite strong performances from Melissa Vargas (22 points) and Yaprak Erkek (17 points), Türkiye was unable to secure another semi-final berth. After losing the first and third sets to Japan, Türkiye bravely fought back to push the match to a decisive fifth set.
In the thrilling decider, Japan`s captain Manu Ishikawa stepped up with a crucial 19 points, leading her team to a 15:9 victory and a place in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, the fourth European team, Germany, faced a dominant Brazil, ultimately losing 0:3. Only the second set provided a close contest, with Brazil narrowly winning 26:24.
The stage is now set for two exciting semi-final matchups this Saturday: Italy against Poland, and Japan facing Brazil. The highly anticipated medal games will follow on Sunday.
