The preliminary phase of the 2025 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship delivered an enthralling mix of decisive victories and nail-biting finishes across Pools A through D. Sunday’s matches were pivotal, offering clear demonstrations of power from some teams, while others fought tooth and nail to secure crucial points and keep their advancement hopes alive.
Pool A Highlights
In Pool A, the **Netherlands** showcased their dominance with a straightforward three-set triumph over **Egypt** (25-15, 25-13, 25-13), maintaining a high level of consistency throughout the match. Following this, **Thailand** clinched their second victory of the tournament by defeating **Sweden** in straight sets (25-18, 25-20, 25-22). Although Sweden made efforts to stay competitive in each set, Thailand`s clutch play in the closing points, amplified by their home crowd, proved decisive.
Pool B Standings Emerge
Pool B also featured two commanding three-set results. **Italy** secured their second consecutive win by overcoming **Cuba** 3-0. Paola Egonu was a pivotal force, leading her team with 12 points, as Italy remained in control. Similarly, **Belgium** earned a convincing 3-0 victory against **Slovakia** (25-19, 25-17, 25-18), with Britt Herbots delivering an exceptional performance, topping the scoring charts with 21 points. With these results, both Italy and Belgium stand unbeaten, sharing the top spot in their group with six points, strongly positioned for the next stage.
Credit: Volleyball World
Pool C`s Epic Battles
Matches in Pool C were marked by intense competition. **Greece** registered their first win of the championship, defeating **Puerto Rico** 3-1. Anthouli was the standout player, contributing an impressive 27 points, making a significant difference for her team. The showdown between **Brazil** and **France** was a five-set thriller. France started strongly, taking the first two sets, but a determined Brazil launched a spectacular comeback, ultimately winning 3-2. Gabi led Brazil with 18 points, while Cazaute scored 20 for France in a memorable encounter.
Pool D: Comebacks and Qualification
Pool D provided some of the most dramatic moments of the day. **Czechia** and **Slovenia** played a remarkably close contest, with Czechia fighting back from a two-set deficit to claim a thrilling 3-2 victory. Brancuska was key for the Czech side with 24 points, narrowly outscoring Slovenia`s Sillah, who recorded 23 points. Later, the **USA** solidified their campaign with a 3-1 win over **Argentina**, becoming the first team to officially qualify for the Round of 16. Middle blockers Dana Rettke (15 points) and Chiaka Ogbogu (14 points) were instrumental, notably dominating at the net with a decisive 15-6 block advantage against Argentina.
Credit: Volleyball World
Detailed Match Scores
- Pool A Results
-
Netherlands 3 vs Egypt 0
(25-15, 25-13, 25-13) -
Thailand 3 vs Sweden 0
(25-18, 25-20, 25-22) - Pool B Results
-
Italy 3 vs Cuba 0
(25-9, 25-8, 25-16) -
Belgium 3 vs Slovakia 0
(25-19, 25-17, 25-18) - Pool C Results
-
Puerto Rico 1 vs Greece 3
(19-25, 13-25, 25-23, 14-25) -
Brazil 3 vs France 2
(21-25, 20-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-13) - Pool D Results
-
Czechia 3 vs Slovenia 2
(22-25, 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-13) -
USA 3 vs Argentina 1
(25-14, 23-25, 25-12, 25-17)
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood