Slovenia`s team delivered a commanding performance, securing an emphatic victory and their initial three points in Pool E.
Slovenia, ranked sixth globally by the FIVB, commenced their 2025 Men`s Volleyball World Championship journey with a strong showing. They decisively defeated Chile in straight sets during their opening match on Saturday, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Demonstrating their growing prowess in global volleyball, the Slovenians maintained absolute control throughout the entire match. Leveraging their superior experience on the elite stage, they swept past Chile with a conclusive 3-0 victory (25-19, 25-20, 25-16) in the day`s final fixture at the arena.
This triumph places Slovenia alongside their European counterparts, Bulgaria, at the summit of Pool E. Bulgaria had earlier secured their own 3-0 win against Germany (40-38, 25-22, 25-20). Both Slovenia and Bulgaria now boast three points, while Chile and Germany concluded their initial matches without points. The top two teams from this pool will progress to the Round of 16.
Key Performances
For the Slovenian team, opposites Tonček Štern and Nik Mujanović (who played as an outside hitter for this opening game) emerged as the highest scorers. Štern contributed 15 points (11 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces), while Mujanović added 12 points (9 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace). Middle blocker Jan Kozamernik also reached double figures with 11 points, comprising seven kills and four blocks.
Nik Mujanović shared his thoughts on the match: “We`ve faced some injuries this season, and we`re striving to perform optimally with our current lineup. While playing as an outside hitter isn`t my usual role, I`m glad to contribute if it helps the team. This was an excellent start for us, and we aim to maintain this momentum. However, we must remain vigilant, as a single error in this tournament can be costly.”
For Chile, opposite Vicente Parraguirre led with 12 points, all earned through offensive plays. Outside hitter Noé Aravena also made a significant contribution with 11 points, consisting of seven kills, three blocks, and one ace.
Vicente Parraguirre expressed his enthusiasm: “It`s truly exciting to be competing here. Our team has dedicated over a decade to qualifying for this tournament, and we`re eager to continue challenging the world`s top teams. I believe we offered Slovenia a strong challenge in the first two sets today, but ultimately, they proved superior. Falling behind 6-1 in the third set made a comeback incredibly difficult, especially against such a formidable opponent as Slovenia.”
Match Statistics and Upcoming Fixtures
Slovenia demonstrated overall dominance, outscoring Chile significantly in spikes (47 to 30), blocks (ten to five), and aces (five to one). This superior performance effectively offset their higher error count (19 compared to Chile`s 13).
The next round of Pool E matches is scheduled for Monday. Germany and Chile will both seek their initial wins when they clash at 13:30 local time (05:30 GMT). Four hours later, the undefeated teams of Slovenia and Bulgaria will face off in what promises to be a compelling encounter.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick