The FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League is just around the corner, as it will take place from May 14 to June 23, 2024.
Turkey come into this tournament as the defending champions after winning their first title last year in Arlington, Texas. However, according to the Volleyball Nations League 2024 odds, you can never count out teams like the USA and Italy because they’ve also won here, with the former completing a three-peat from 2018 to 2021 and the latter winning in 2022.
SBOTOP volleyball fans will be treated to world-class action. That is because the 2024 edition of this competition will play a huge role in determining the last five national teams who will qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Continue reading below for the latest Volleyball Nations League 2024 updates.
China get a huge boost from Zhu Ting
China are one of the teams competing for Olympic spots, and they will fancy their chances because of Zhu Ting, who announced on social media that she will return to the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League.
The 29-year-old outside hitter last played for China during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and after the quadrennial meet, she took time off for wrist surgery.
Zhu Ting was back in action in 2022 and has been playing for Savino Del Bene Scandicci in Italy, but she never rejoined the Chinese national team until now.
Without Zhu Ting, China were unable to take advantage when they hosted one of the FIVB Road to Paris Volleyball Qualifiers in Ningbo last year since they finished just below the cut-off for the Paris Olympics. However, they’re currently the top-ranked Asian team in the world (6th overall), so they’re in a great position to punch their ticket to France.
With Zhu Ting back in the fold, China’s potent attack will be much more dangerous, especially since she’ll team up with the likes of Yuan Xinyue and Li Yingying, the third-best scorer and attacker in last year’s tournament.
China will start their 2024 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League campaign with an all-Asian tiff against Korea, and they’ll also play against the United States, Canada, and reigning world champions Serbia in the first week.
Former MVP ready to help Italy
Another country that will get a huge boost is Italy because Paola Egonu is set to return after missing the action last year.
The 25-year-old opposite was one of the reasons why Italy won in 2022, as she was the best scorer, best attacker, second-best server, and the MVP of the tournament.
New head coach Julio Velasco has brought Egonu back, and the Allianz Vero Volley Milano star will rejoin fellow stars libero Monica De Gennaro, setter Alessia Orro, and outside hitters Myriam Sylla and Caterina Bosetti. Meanwhile, Italy notably excluded middle blocker Federica Squarcini, libero Beatrice Parrochiale, and outside hitter Francesca Villani.
On the other hand, some notable returnees include setter Carlotta Cambi and middle blockers Sarah Fahr and Sara Bonifacio, while opposite Camilla Mingardi, outside hitters Gaia Giovannini, and Martina Bracchi, and middle blockers Emma Graziani and Yasmina Akrari will look to make their first major tournament appearance in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League.
Italy are currently the highest-ranked non-qualified country among the women (5th overall), so they need to earn FIVB World Ranking points in this tournament, starting in the Preliminary Phase, to book their ticket to France.
They will play their first set of matches in Turkey, where they’ll take on Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, and the defending champions during the first week.
Youngsters to lead the way for Thailand
Thailand are hoping to make it to the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League Final this year since they are the hosts of the said game.
With Nataphon Srisamutnak at the helm, continuity and youth are going to be the theme for the Thais. Most of the players who were part of the squad during their 2023 run are still there except for setter Nootsara Tomkom, who is already 38 years old.
Nataphon Srisamutnak’s lineup has plenty of young talent because he has five players under the age of 20 and another seven under the age of 25.
The two players that are 25 or younger to look out for are opposite spiker Pimpichaya Kokram and outside spiker Chatchu-on Moksri.
Chatchu-on Moksri was the best receiver in last year’s Preliminary Phase, while Pimpichaya Kokram was the fourth-best scorer in the same juncture of the tournament in 2022. But Thailand will go through a wringer to commence their FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League campaign against USA, Serbia, Canada, and Korea in Rio de Janeiro.
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