Published August 22, 2025
The United States, a formidable presence in international volleyball, successfully commenced their campaign at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women`s World Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima. Facing tournament newcomers Slovenia, the Americans secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory to mark a strong start.
Avery Skinner contributed 15 points for the American side against Slovenia.
Dominant Performance by the Skinner Sisters
Sisters Avery and Madisen Skinner were instrumental in the American triumph, collectively scoring 28 points. Outside hitter Avery led the team with an impressive 15 points, comprising 14 kills and one ace. Opposite Madisen added 13 points, with ten kills, two aces, and one block. Further support came from outside hitter Sarah Franklin, who chipped in ten points from nine kills and one block.
“We understand that we`ll need to approach this entire tournament with maximum effort, as every team will be bringing their best against us,” stated team captain and setter Jordyn Poulter. “Slovenia started exceptionally strong and managed to take the second set from us. However, I`m incredibly proud of our team`s collective effort today. Everyone contributed and made a significant impact. It’s going to be a demanding journey every night here, and we will rely on every player to secure victories.”
Slovenia`s Resilience and Key Scorers
Despite their rookie status, Slovenia displayed commendable resilience, particularly in the initial sets. The match`s top scorer was 22-year-old outside hitter Fatoumatta Sillah, who delivered an outstanding performance with 20 points, including 18 kills, one block, and one ace. Middle blocker Nika Milošič also made a substantial contribution with 13 points, while opposite Evá Zatkovič registered 12.
“My focus was entirely on the court, striving to assist the team in every way possible,” remarked Sillah. “Looking ahead to our next matches, I believe we need to exercise greater patience with our decisions, as some choices today weren`t optimal. Nevertheless, we will continue to fight.”
Match Dynamics and Decisive Factors
A critical factor in the American victory was the higher number of unforced errors from the Slovenian side (30 errors compared to USA`s 17). While the USA edged out Slovenia in kills (53 to 50), the Europeans compensated with a stronger showing in blocking (ten to five) and serving (seven to four).
Other Pool D Results and Upcoming Matches
Earlier on Friday, Pool D action saw Argentina stage a comeback to defeat Czechia 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-17, 26-24). On Sunday, Slovenia will face Czechia at 16:00 local time (9:00 GMT), while the undefeated Americans and Argentinians will battle to maintain their perfect record at 19:30 local time (12:30 GMT).
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick