2019 VNL opens with bang, schedule reveals
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 4, 2019 - The full and detailed
schedule of the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations has been officially
released today, as the second edition of the competition
approaches.
First service will be in the women's competition on the shores
of the river Danube at 14:00 GMT (17:00 local time) on May 21,
when defending champions USA take on Belgium in the Bulgarian
city of Ruse.
https://www.volleyball.world/vnl/schedule#/d20190521
The men's competition starts ten days later, with first serve at
08:00 GMT (16:00 local time) when Italy face Iran in the Chinese
city of Jiangmen on May 31.
But focus on the opening day of the women's competitions will
surely be on the Serbia v the Netherlands game in Belgrade, a
rematch of the 2018 FIVB World Championship semifinal (in which
the Balkan side prevailed in four sets).
The Belgrade pool also features last year's VNL finalists
Turkey, alongside Korea. Poland host Italy, together with
Thailand and Germany, in Opole. And Brazil entertain Russia,
China and the Dominican Republic. Aside from USA and Belgium,
the Ruse pool also features Japan and VNL rookies Bulgaria.
The men's competition also opens with a bang, when defending
champions Russia take on France at Novi Sad in a rematch of the
2018 VNL final (which Russia convincingly won in straight sets
at Lille). The opening weekend has yet another huge match lined
up, when Poland and Brazil clash at Katowice on June 2 in a
rematch of the 2018 FIVB World Championship final (which the
Europeans won in straight sets at Turin).
The Jiangmen pool also features hosts China and Germany, while
in Katowice USA and Australia complete the lineup. And in Novi
Sad, Serbia host Japan alongside Russia and France. Elsewhere on
the opening weekend of the men's VNL, Argentina host Canada,
Bulgaria and newly-promoted Portugal in Mendoza.
The women's VNL preliminary round runs for five weeks, until
June 20, ahead of the Final Six scheduled from July 3-7 in
Nanjing.
The men's competition also features five weekends, wrapping up
on June 30, before the top six teams move to Chicago for the
finals.
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