The third and final week of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 Preliminary Phase is set to be a decisive period for all 18 participating national teams. This holds especially true for Ljubljana, where intense competition will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, with teams vying for positions at both the top and bottom of the standings.
Italian captain Simone Giannelli is one of the stars who will be in action in the Slovenian capital.
As hosts Slovenia, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Ukraine each play four matches at the Arena Stožice, every team has significant objectives, and they are prepared to exert maximum effort to achieve their tournament aspirations.
A press conference for VNL Men`s Week 3 was held in Ljubljana, featuring key team representatives.
Italy, currently in third place with six wins and 17 points, and Ukraine, in sixth with five wins and 15 points, begin the week holding qualification spots for the Finals. Meanwhile, Slovenia (12th, four wins, 11 points) and Canada (14th, three wins, 11 points) are pushing to secure one of the seven remaining spots alongside host China for the decisive stage. At the other end of the spectrum, the Netherlands (17th, one win, four points) and Serbia (18th, one win, three points) are fighting to avoid relegation, needing to move out of the last place to ensure their participation in next season`s VNL.
Reigning world champions Italy are well-positioned for qualification, needing just three wins from their four matches in Slovenia to secure their spot, irrespective of other results. Key players for Italy include Yuri Romanò, their leading scorer with 87 points; captain Simone Giannelli, fourth among VNL setters with 191 actions; outside hitter Alessandro Michieletto, who ranks fourth in serving with 12 aces; and middle blocker Giovanni Gargiulo, the fifth-best blocker with 19 stops.
“Every team competing here in Ljubljana will battle fiercely for every single point,” stated opposite Kamil Rychlicki. “From our perspective, we aim to secure as many victories as possible, but we must remember that all other teams also have their own objectives, which will undoubtedly make our task very challenging.”
Team members also shared insights and moments on social media.
Ukraine has performed exceptionally well in their debut VNL campaign, positioning themselves with a strong chance to reach the Finals. Offensively, outside hitter Illia Kovalov has been their driving force, accumulating 124 points. Captain Yurii Semeniuk leads all VNL blockers with 27 stops, and both outside hitter Dmytro Yanchuk and opposite Vasyl Tupchii are tied for fifth in aces, each with 11.
“Our results have been truly remarkable thus far,” admitted outside hitter Yevhenii Kisiliuk. “To be frank, we didn`t anticipate such a strong start. Our primary objective here is to qualify for the Finals, and we are prepared for any challenge this third week brings. I`m optimistic about our prospects, but we will simply strive to do our utmost and see the outcome. The team`s dynamic has shifted considerably since the initial weeks as our expectations have evolved. We`ve dedicated significant time to practice over the past fortnight and feel ready for anything.”
Further social media updates provided additional perspectives from the teams.
Following their semi-final appearance in 2024, Slovenia`s VNL campaign this season began somewhat slowly. However, they are relying on strong home crowd support in the final week of the Preliminary Phase to propel them forward. Rok Možič, an outside hitter, has been their top scorer with 97 points. Libero Jani Kovačič is another key player for the home side, ranking fourth in the VNL for digs with 61.
“As always, we are delighted to play at home this week; it provides the ideal competitive environment for us,” stated team captain and outside hitter Tine Urnaut. “We will exert every effort to secure a place in the Finals. This season, we`ve incorporated slightly faster plays and welcomed some new players, so our VNL priority has been to showcase our best possible volleyball and let the results follow.”
Undergoing a significant squad overhaul, Canada experienced an inconsistent start over the first two weeks. Despite this, they retain a chance to reach the Finals if they perform well in Ljubljana this week. Xander Ketrzynski, an opposite, has proven to be their most dependable offensive threat, accumulating 89 points. Middle blocker Fynn McCarthy also stands out in individual statistics, ranking fourth in blocks with 22.
Fans can find more behind-the-scenes content on team social media channels.
“Our team`s confidence has been steadily increasing with each practice session,” disclosed outside hitter Brodie Hofer. “While we have a relatively young squad, a key advantage is that many of us have been playing together and competing against each other since the age of 15. Our collective strength stems from these deep connections, which instill significant confidence as we enter Week 3.”
The Netherlands also enters VNL 2025 with a youthful roster and currently faces a battle against relegation following the first two weeks. Michiel Ahyi, stepping into the prominent role of opposite, has performed admirably for the Dutch, scoring 124 points. Other strong contributors include outside hitter Tom Koops, who leads the VNL in passes with 81 and ranks sixth in digs with 59, and middle blocker Luuc van Der Ent, who is sixth in blocks with 18.
“The two-week break leading up to the third week was beneficial for us,” setter Wessel Keemink stated. “Our first week was satisfactory, but the second week saw little go our way. We must train rigorously, build confidence, and I hope we approach these matches with renewed self-assurance. Playing cohesively as a team is essential, and hopefully, we will achieve the necessary results.”
Serbia, currently at the bottom of the VNL standings, urgently needs to earn points this week to escape relegation. Veteran opposite Drazen Luburić leads the team in scoring with 102 points. Middle blocker Aleksandar Nedeljković has contributed significantly with 22 blocking points, ranking him fourth in the VNL for this category. In a bid to secure their VNL status, head coach Gheorghe Crețu plans to introduce setter Nikola Jovović and outside hitter Pavle Perić to the lineup this week.
“Our team has faced challenges over the last two weeks, but there`s always a glimmer of hope,” noted Jovović. “I`m optimistic that Pavle and I can contribute to securing some victories for the team. We narrowly lost several difficult matches at the close of sets, and our current situation is critical, so we must perform better in these final four matches. While all four opponents here will be formidable, we are committed to giving our absolute best and exploring new strategies to achieve the desired outcomes.”
Action Begins on Wednesday
Wednesday marks the opening day of matches in Ljubljana, featuring three exciting encounters. Ukraine will face the Netherlands at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT), followed by Serbia against Italy at 16:30 (14:30 GMT), and concluding with Canada versus Slovenia at 20:30 (18:30 GMT).
The subsequent three days will host doubleheaders, with matches commencing at 16:30 (14:30 GMT) and 20:30 (18:30 GMT). Thursday`s lineup includes Ukraine vs. Italy and the Netherlands vs. Slovenia. On Friday, Ukraine will play Serbia, and the Netherlands will take on Canada. Saturday will feature Serbia vs. Canada and Slovenia vs. Italy.
The final day of matches will also present three games. Ukraine and Canada will open the day at 13:00 (11:00 GMT), followed by the Netherlands and Italy at 16:30 (14:30 GMT), and the Preliminary Round will conclude with Serbia and Slovenia at 20:30 (18:30 GMT).
Additionally, the third and concluding week of the VNL Preliminary Phase will feature matches in Chiba, hosting Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Türkiye, and the United States, as well as in Gdańsk, where Poland will compete against Bulgaria, China, Cuba, France, and Iran.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick