Alan is the difference as Brazil beat Italy in five-set battle

The veteran opposite produced an impressive 31 points to lead the South Americans in their sixth victory in the VNL 2025

In one of the most exciting matches of the Volleyball Nations League 2025 held in Chicago so far, volleyball powerhouses Brazil and Italy clashed on Saturday. After a five-set battle full of shifts in momentum, the South Americans ultimately emerged victorious.

Brazil secured a 3-2 triumph at the NOW Arena with set scores of 25-22, 21-25, 33-31, 17-25, and 15-13. Determined to hold onto their top position in the VNL standings, the Brazilians successfully countered strong challenges from the world champions.

This hard-fought win grants Brazil two points, provisionally keeping them in first place in the VNL standings with 17 points (six wins, one loss). They could potentially be overtaken by Poland depending on later results. Italy earned one point from the five-set defeat, maintaining their third-place position with 14 points (five wins, two losses).

Veteran Brazilian opposite hitter, 31-year-old Alan Souza, stepped up as a key leader in arguably the team`s most challenging match of the tournament. He delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a remarkable 31 points (26 kills, four blocks, one ace). This ties for the highest individual scoring performance in the VNL 2025 so far.

Reflecting on the victory, Alan emphasized its significance, acknowledging Italy as a very strong team. He felt the performance demonstrated Brazil`s ability to play at a very high level and credited the team for supporting his strong game.

Brazil also received significant contributions from their outside hitters. 21-year-old Lukas Bergmann tallied 15 points (13 kills, one block, one ace), while 28-year-old Henrique Honorato added 14 points (nine kills, three aces, two blocks).

For Italy, opposite Yuri Romanò had a solid match, leading his team with 24 points, including 19 kills, four aces, and one block. Outside hitters Alessandro Michieletto and Daniele Lavia also reached double digits with 18 and 16 points respectively.

Romanò commented on the match, stating Italy played well but felt it was unfortunate that the close contest didn`t go their way against Brazil. He expressed confidence that the team would come back stronger.

Both Brazil and Italy are scheduled to play their next matches on Sunday in Chicago. Brazil will face Poland, while Italy will compete against the United States. Earlier in the day, China and Canada are also set to play their final match at the venue.