The 2024 Volleyball Nations League concluded with Italy being crowned champions after ousting Japan in four sets (25-17, 25-17, 21-25, 25-20) at the finals held at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok last Sunday.
This is Italy’s second championship in the tournament, with its first taste of Volleyball Nations League success being against Brazil in straight sets back in 2022.
Before their championship match, it was Brazil and Poland who squared up for the third-place decider.
As it Happened
Fans were treated to some mighty displays from the champions, not just in the finals but also after they manhandled Poland 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-12) in their semifinal affair.
Italy were unplayable in all areas as they outclassed Poland, kill after kill, block after block.
And after keeping a somewhat manageable game in the first set, Italy marched on and never looked back. The third set was a clinic, with Italy dispatching the opposition in less than 20 minutes.
The Azzurri outscored Poland 75-47, and even when Poland led in digs, receptions, and sets, they never quite put it all together to challenge the world number two. In fact, they did not get a chance at all.
Just as brilliant was Paola Egonu’s 22-point outing. And if her performances in the early parts of the tournament were any indication, then Italy’s championship run comes as no surprise.
Favoured by SBOTOP odds to lift the trophy against Japan, the Italians did not disappoint. Japan trailed heavily in blocks (12-2) and had 14 fewer attacks. They also had six more errors and conceded points in crucial moments in the first two sets, which allowed Italy to gain momentum.
Central to Italy’s success was their physicality and athleticism, which overpowered and towered over Japan. Not to mention the services of none other than one of the world’s best players, Paola Egonu.
The reigning two-time MVP and 2024 best opposite led the Azzurri as they outplayed their Japanese rivals almost the entire match, apart from the third set.
Egonu’s dominance was apparent all throughout the game, as the 25-year-old ace finished with 27 markers. Veterans Myriam Sylla and Alice Degradi aided Egonu’s effort with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
Even in the set that Japan won, Italy never looked so much as rattled as they almost staged a comeback after 6’8 Ekaterina Antropova drilled a point to make it 23-21.
Japan held their nerves in the remaining two points to close it out, but a comeback was sadly not on the cards.
Egonu continued her masterful display, pouring in six points in the fourth set, with Sylla and Caterina Bossetti adding three apiece. Middle blocker Sarah Fahr put the finishing touches on the victory with a towering block that sealed Hinotori Nippon’s fate.
Team captain Sarina Koga and Arisa Inoue combined for 28 points, while Nichika Yamada and Mayu Ishikawa chipped in with six points each.
Despite the loss, the silver medal is Japan’s best result since the tournament’s inaugural start back in 2018.
Battle for Bronze
Prior to the finals showdown, Brazil was on the losing end of another upset after Poland snatched the remaining podium spot in a five-set thriller (25-21, 26-28, 25-21, 19-25, 15-9).
Ranked as world number one, Volleyball Nations League 2024 odds had the South Americans as the favourite to lift the trophy—moreso after they secured a 12-match winning streak en route to the semifinals.
But after blowing their chances—in another five setter, no less—against eventual runner-ups, Japan, Brazil cannot get the monkey off their backs come Sunday’s third-place showdown.
Poland took the opening set behind Natalia Medrzyk and Martyna Lukasik’s combined 11 points. The second set was a much tighter affair, which saw both sides go tit-for-tat before Brazil finally eked out a 28-26 advantage.
After getting their bearings back in the third set, Poland looked set to finish off their opponents before Brazil staged a momentous comeback.
Down 11-6 at the start, 6’5 Julia Bergmann scored 10 of her 20 points in the set as the Canarinhas proceeded to outscore Poland 19-8 the rest of the way.
Brazil would fail to sustain any momentum they had as they were continuously kept at bay in the deciding set before Lukasik finishes the game off with a searing kill shot.
Martyna Lukasik and Magdalena Stysiak finished with 21 and 20 points apiece, with three other Polish players in double figures as well.
Meanwhile, Gabriela “Gabi” Guimaraes had her fair share of Volleyball Nations League 2024 highlights after tallying a game-high 22 points.
The third-place finish is Poland’s second in a row while Brazil marks another year of missing a podium spot in the competition.
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