Friday, 17 May 2024

After Long Break, U.S. Women Are Ready to Defend VNL Title

The U.S. Women’s National Team, ranked No. 2 in the world, is reuniting after a challenging year to defend its title at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in Rimini, Italy, from May 25 to June 24, 2021.

A Strong Lineup for the Tournament

The head coach, Karch Kiraly, and his staff have selected 18 promising players for the tournament. Due to health and safety concerns, the event will be held in a secure “bubble” without any spectators. Fourteen players will be chosen from this roster for each three-day segment of the preliminary round.

  • Jordan Larson, Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson, Kim Hill, and Kelsey Robinson, who all represented the U.S. at the 2016 Olympics, bring their experience to the team.
  • The 2019 VNL gold-medal-winning squad sees the return of nine players: Lauren Carlini, Jordyn Poulter, Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, Annie Drews, Jordan Thompson, Tori Dixon, Chiaka Ogbogu, Haleigh Washington, and Megan Courtney.
  • Five other players who participated in the 2019 VNL preliminary round or other tournaments are also part of the 2021 VNL roster: Micha Hancock, Kathryn Plummer, Sarah Wilhite Parsons, Hannah Tapp, and Justine Wong-Orantes.

The U.S. Women’s Dominance in VNL

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The U.S. Women’s National Team is the reigning champion of the VNL, having won the tournament in 2018 and 2019. Unfortunately, the 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this year’s competition, 16 women’s teams will compete in three-day round-robin segments from May 25 to June 20. Unlike previous editions, only the top four teams will advance to the final round, which includes the semifinals on June 23 and the medal matches on June 24.

A Crucial Preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games

The VNL serves as the U.S. Women’s only official international competition before the highly anticipated Tokyo Olympic Games, which are scheduled to begin on July 24. This tournament provides the team with an opportunity to fine-tune their skills and strategies for the upcoming Games.

How to Follow the U.S. Women’s Journey

For fans in the United States, the FIVB’s streaming service, Volleyball World TV, will broadcast the VNL matches. Stay tuned to witness the U.S. Women’s incredible athleticism and teamwork on the volleyball court.


FAQs

Q: When is the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) taking place?
The VNL is scheduled to take place from May 25 to June 24, 2021.

Q: How many players have been selected for the U.S. Women’s National Team for the VNL?
Eighteen players have been chosen for the U.S. Women’s National Team for the VNL.

Q: How many players will be selected for each segment of the preliminary round?
Fourteen players will be selected from the roster for each three-day segment of the preliminary round.

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Q: How many teams will compete in the VNL?
Sixteen women’s teams will be competing in the VNL.

Summary

The U.S. Women’s National Team is back and ready to defend their title at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL). Ranked second in the world, the team is assembling in Rimini, Italy, from May 25 to June 24, 2021. Head coach Karch Kiraly and his staff have carefully selected 18 players for the tournament, with four Olympians and several returning players from the victorious 2019 VNL Final Round roster. This year’s VNL will be the team’s sole international competition before the Tokyo Olympic Games, making it a crucial opportunity to refine their skills. Fans can catch the action on the FIVB’s streaming service, Volleyball World TV. Don’t miss out on witnessing the U.S. Women’s impressive performance on the court.