The 2025 Volleyball Nations League quarter-finals are set, with Italy, Brazil, Japan, Poland, China, Turkey, Germany, and the United States as the eight remaining teams in the competition. And among the eight teams, Italy is the only undefeated squad after the preliminary round. With a 12-0 record, Italy seized the top spot and will face the United States. Meanwhile, Brazil, Japan, and Poland will take on Germany, Turkey, and China, respectively. Don’t be surprised if Italy win it all again because they’re the heavy favourites, according to the Volleyball Nations League 2025 odds.
On the other hand, France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Bulgaria, Belgium, Serbia, Canada, Thailand, and South Korea have missed out. Thailand and South Korea are at the bottom with one win each, but the former is not relegated.
Check out the latest Volleyball Nations League 2025 updates, courtesy of SBOTOP.
Italy sweep the Netherlands on the road
As mentioned, Italy topped the preliminary rounds by finishing with a 12-0 record and gathering 33 points after shutting out the Netherlands 3-0 (25-23, 28-26, 25-18) in their last match at Apeldoorn on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Netherlands finished 10th in the standings with a 5-7 record and 15 points.
Inspired by the home crowd, the Netherlands gave the defending Volleyball Nations League champions a run for their money during the first two sets, but Italy outlasted the hosts. The Azzurri held the advantage in kills (50 vs. 40), blocks (8 vs. 4), and aces (6 vs. 5), and the Dutch had more errors (18 vs. 14).
Ekaterina Antropova shined the brightest for Italy, as the 22-year-old opposite notched 25 points (20 kills, three blocks, two aces). Sarah Luisa Fahr added nine points (five kills, two blocks, two aces), and outside hitters Stella Nervini and Gaia Giovannini had seven points apiece. Reigning MVP Paola Egonu only had three points (two kills, one block).
Opposite Elles Dambrink was the only one who reached double-digit points for the Netherlands, registering 16 points (15 kills, one ace) in the losing effort. She remains one of the tournament’s top scorers with 165 points (152 kills, five blocks, eight aces).
China beat the United States in thrilling comeback
China booked their tickets to Lodz by staging a massive 3-2 (18-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-16, 18-16) comeback win against the United States in Arlington, Texas, last Sunday. This result gave China the fifth seed, while the loss dropped the United States to eighth.
After dropping the opening two sets, China dug deep and reeled three straight sets to steal the match. A 67-64 edge in the kills categories surely helped, though they slightly had more errors than their Western counterparts (28 vs. 25).
Mengjie Wu was instrumental in the Chinese comeback, as the star outside hitter produced 27 points (26 kills, one ace). She is the second-leading scorer of the tournament with 230 points (204 kills, 14 blocks, 12 aces). Fellow outside hitter Zhuang Yushan added 18 points (15 kills, three blocks), and captain Xiangyu Gong had 14 points.
American outside hitter Sarah Franklin recorded a whopping 32 points (29 kills, three blocks), while opposite Taylor Mims came off the bench and added 10 points (nine kills, one block). Before losing to China, the Americans were on a five-game winning streak, defeating Canada, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, France, and the Netherlands.
Thailand avoid relegation after final matchday loss
Reigning Asian champions Thailand will extend their stay in the Volleyball Nations League after finishing this year’s tournament in 17th place. The Thais salvaged their 2025 campaign by claiming a point in their 3-2 (17-25, 25-23, 30-28, 23-25, 15-13) loss against Canada in Arlington, Texas, last weekend. Because they had the same wins and points as South Korea, Thailand would continue in the top division if they won at least two sets against Canada.
After winning the first set with authority, Canada won sets 2 and 3 via a whisker. Thailand came back and won set four, getting what they needed to survive and send South Korea into the relegation zone, and then they went down in a close tie-breaker. Team captain Ajcharaporn Kongyot led the Thais with 27 points (26 kills, one ace), and star opposite Pimpichaya Kokram added 23 points.
As for Canada, Hilary Johnson led the way with 25 points (22 kills, two blocks, one ace), and middle blocker Emily Maglio and outside hitter Andrea Mitrovic added 19 and 13 points. The Maple Leafs finished 16th in the standings with a 3-9 record.
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