The first week of the men’s VNL competition is over. Italy played the Ottawa tournament without Gianluca Galassi, finishing with two victories and two defeats. Hosts Canada won their opener on a tiebreak with Cuba before losing to Argentina, the United States and Germany. Stephen Maar totaled 56 points (4 aces, 8 blocks, 35.5% offensively, 30.7% receiving and 25 defenses); Arthur Szwarc, who alternated with Ryan Sclater, scored 24 points (3 blocks, 45.7% in attack and 9 defenses); still not used Eric Loeppky.
Brazil was also on the field, finishing with three victories and one defeat in the tiebreak with Cuba; Fernando Kreling was used by Renan Dal Zotto mainly for the double substitution, he only started in the match against Argentina, he lifted 85 balls with a positive percentage of 36.47%, the highest of the whole event. In the other tournament in Nagoya hosts Japan won all four games and now lead the event with full points. Ran Takahashi scored 52 points (5 aces, 1 block, 55.4% in attack, 28.6% in reception and 28 defenses), Ibrahim Lawani not called up for France.
In the European League Petar Visic’s Croatia is still looking for the first victory after four of the six scheduled matches, the setter from Monza after alternating in directing with Bernard Bakonji against Ukraine has not been called up.
