Fefè De Giorgi’s Italy returns from Ningbo with a historic silver medal, their best finish since the Volleyball Nations League was founded. They did so after 10 wins in the preliminary round out of 12 matches played, as well as victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals in China. Italy’s first medal in the VNL comes after coming close to the podium in 2022 and 2023, not to mention eight victories in the World League.
In the final won by Poland, Wilfredo Leon stood out, scoring 16 points and the game’s top scorer, followed by Perugia’s Kamil Semeniuk, who scored 14 points, with Daniele Lavia adding 12.
Poland climbs to the top step of the podium for the second time, the other victory dating back to 2023.
All eyes now turn to the World Championships scheduled for September 12-28 in the Philippines.
Italia-Polonia: 0-3 (22-25, 19-25, 14-25)
Italia: Giannelli 1, Michieletto 7, Anzani 3, Rychlicki 4, Galassi 4, Lavia 12, Balaso (L). Bottolo 4, Romanò 3, Sbertoli, Porro 1, Gargiulo, Pace (L). Ne: Sanguinetti All. De Giorgi
Polonia: Komenda 3, Leon 16, Kochanowski 7, Semeniuk 14, Sasak 6, Nowak 1, Popiwczak (L). Bednorz, Jakubiszak 4, Granieczny (L), Ne: Firlej, Fornal, Szalpuk, BołAdź. All. Grbic
Arbitri: Simonovic (Sui), Cespedes (Dom)
Durata Set: 28’, 30’, 24’
Italia: A 4 Bs 14 Mv 6 Et 24
Polonia: A 3 Bs 10 Mv Et 16
VNL 2025 Tabellone Finals, Ningbo (Cina)
Quarti di Finale
Italia – Cuba 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21)
Brasile – Cina 3-1 (29-31, 25-19, 25-16, 25-21)
Francia – Slovenia 1-3 (22-25, 25-15, 19-25, 18-25)
Giappone – Polonia 0-3 (23-25, 24-26, 12-25)
Semifinali
Italia – Slovenia 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-18)
Brasile – Polonia 0-3 (26-28, 19-25, 21-25)
Domenica 3 agosto – Finali
Finale 3°/4° Posto
Brasile – Slovenia 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-19)
Finale 1°/2° Posto
Italia – Polonia 0-3 (22-25, 19-25, 14-25)
Classifica finale Volleyball Nations League 2025
1. Polonia, 2. Italia, 3. Brasile, 4. Slovenia, 5. Francia, 6. Giappone, 7. Cuba, 8. Cina, 9. Iran, 10. Ucraina, 11. Bulgaria, 12. USA, 13. Argentina, 14. Canada, 15. Germania, 16. Serbia, 17. Turchia, 18. Olanda.
I 14 azzurri d’argento
Palleggiatori: Simone Giannelli (Sir Susa Vim Perugia), Riccardo Sbertoli (Itas Trentino).
Centrali: Simone Anzani (Valsa Group Modena), Gianluca Galassi (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza), Giovanni Gargiulo (Cucine Lube Civitanova), Giovanni Sanguinetti (Valsa Group Modena).
Schiacciatori: Mattia Bottolo (Cucine Lube Civitanova), Daniele Lavia (Itas Trentino), Alessandro Michieletto (Itas Trentino), Luca Porro (Valsa Group Modena).
Opposti: Yuri Romanò (Fakel Yamal – RUS), Kamil Rychlicki (Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle – POL).
Liberi: Fabio Balaso (Cucine Lube Civitanova), Domenico Pace (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza).
