Italy and Turkey are the only undefeated teams left in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League women’s division. Italy are at the top of the table with a 7-0 record, and they’re coming off a thrilling five-set battle against previously unbeaten Japan. On the other hand, Turkey improved to 6-0 with their latest win against Canada.
Italy and Turkey are likely to advance to the final round, as they’re in form. Poland, Japan, Brazil, Germany, and China are also expected to join them. Elsewhere, the Volleyball Nations League 2025 odds predict Serbia to exit the competition early, as they’re the only winless team remaining in the tournament at 0-6.
Read more below to learn the latest Volleyball Nations League 2025 updates, courtesy of SBOTOP.
Italy win in the clash of unbeatens
Fans at the Kai Tak Arena in Hong Kong were entertained last Friday, as the battle between Italy and Japan lived up to the hype. It was the Italians who came up on top, notching a 3-2 (25-23, 16-25, 25-15, 20-25, 19-17) to hand Japan their first defeat of the competition.
Japan came back from a set down twice in their epic clash with Italy and were the first to reach the match point at 14-13 in the tie-breaker. However, the reigning champions denied four of those before taking the lead for good.
Japan had a 76-62 edge in the attacking category and a 6-5 advantage in aces, but Italy made a huge difference in blocking (13-5 in kill blocks) and had fewer unforced errors (18-25). Star opposite Paola Egonu and middle blocker Sarah Fahr led the Azzurri with 16 points each. Egonu had 12 kills, one block, and three aces, while Fahr notched 14 kills and two blocks while achieving a 74 percent success rate in offense. Outside hitters Stella Nervini and Alice Degradi added 15 and 13 points, and team captain Anna Danesi added 11 points (seven kills and four blocks).
Japanese opposite Yukiko Wada produced a match-high 28 points (26 kills, one block, and one ace), and team captain Mayu Ishikawa added 25 points (22 kills, one block, and two aces) in the losing effort. Outside hitter Yoshino Sato chipped in 17 points, all kills.
Turkey shuts out Canada
Meanwhile, in Istanbul, hosts Turkey gave the home crowd something to cheer about by beating Canada 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 26-24) at the Sinan Erdem Dome last Friday. It was the Crescent Stars’ second consecutive shutout win following a 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 28-25) victory over the Dominican Republic the day before.
Opposite Melissa Vargas had a stellar outing for Turkey, notching a match-high 21 points (14 kills, three blocks, and four aces). Outside hitter Ebrar Karakurt added 12 points (11 kills and one block), including the game winner at Turkey’s second match point. Turkey had 39-33, 8-5, and 9-0 advantages in kills, blocks, and aces, respectively, but were tied with Canada in unforced errors (20).
Outside Anna Smrek posted 13 points (11 kills and two blocks), and outside hitter Hilary Johnson added eight points (all kills) in the losing effort for Canada.
The Maple Leafs dropped to 2-5 after losing 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-23) their latest match against Brazil earlier today. Despite having a 45-41 advantage in kills, the Canadians were outmatched in the blocks (13-4) and aces (4-1) categories.
Outside hitter Julia Isabelle Bergmann, middle blocker Julia Gambatto Kudiess, and outside hitter Ana Cristina led the way for Brazil with 17, 16, and 13 points. On the other hand, outside hitter Abagayle Guezen and middle blocker Nyadholi Thokbuom scored 13 and 12 points for Canada.
Serbia still winless, even at home
Serbia are still without a win in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League following their 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23) defeat against Germany at the Belgrade Arena last Thursday. Serbia were 50-45 and 12-11 in the kills and blocks categories over Germany. However, Germany had an 8-4 aces edge, and Serbia almost doubled Germany’s unforced errors (34-19).
Middle blocker and team captain Maja Aleksic did all she could by putting up 16 points (eight kills, six blocks, and two aces), and outside hitter Vanja Ivanovic added 15 points, all kills, in the losing effort for Serbia.
Opposite Lena Kindemann posted a match-high 17 points (16 kills and one block). Outside hitter Lina Alsmeier added 15 points (13 kills, one block, and one ace), and middle blocker and team captain Camilla Weitzel produced 11 points (four kills, two blocks, and five aces) for Germany. Sub-in outside Antonia Stautz gave the Germans a massive boost in the last two sets, recording six points (five kills and one block).
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE SPORTS STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
