2019 Volleyball Nations League (VNL)

Quote from andrea

When I follow the games of VNL this edition, I've been wondering why this challenge system is so outdated and does not allow for challenging overreach above the net? This seems to be an area with the most controversial calls nowadays. The challenge system in Legavolley has already become very mature and can check players' overreach at ease. Is that system much more costly than the one FIVB is using?

I would guess that the main reason is that head referee “up ref” is supposed to be watching for it as they are above the net height. Additionally there is not a corresponding line to follow upwards, unlike foot faults.

Quote from fan_of_volleybal

Not enough with only 2 more wins.

Mathematically, even if Iran takes 3 wins next week with 3-0 including 3-0 France, there is still a remote chance Iran may miss F6 if they get 0-9 in the last week --

Imagine if Poland takes all 3-0 in the last 6 matches (including 3-0 Italy), Russia loses to Brazil with whatever score, Brazil loses 0-3 to both Italy and France, and Italy loses 1-3 to France in addition to the 0-3 Poland. Then Russia and Brazil will both have one more win than Iran, France will have same wins but one more point than Iran, Poland will have same wins and points but slightly better set ratio (38/17 vs 35/16), and Italy will have same wins, points, set ratio with Iran, and comparing point ratio, anything can happen...

Well, that's an extreme case just for mathematical exercise which would hardly happen. So if Iran really gets 3 3-0 next week, Iran is >99.9% in F6.

But 3 3-0 is not easy especially considering the match against France. A more realistic result might be 3-0 Australia and Portugal, and 3-2 France, then as long as Poland takes 6 wins with 3-0 or 3-1, Poland will be over Iran with 1 more point if Iran lose all 3 matches in the last week with 0-3 or 1-3. After all, Poland 3-1 Italy is not impossible, and 3-1 other remaining 5 are more possible. And the room for other teams is larger.

If Iran loses to France, and Poland beats Italy with whatever score, the door will be widely open, and Iran will have to send the regular starters to Bulgaria to fight for more wins and points to secure F6, since without them, Iran is a totally different team, hard to beat USA, Serbia, and even Bulgaria.

So, too early to say secured F6 and rest the regular 6 starters yet.

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That's true but consider two things: First its hard for Poland to get three wins ( 3-0 or 3-1) with Italy,Argentina (Which upset USA) and Serbia (Upset Brazil main squad). I strongly think that in the best case they might lose a point to either of these teams. Secondly, I think Iran's B team are strong enough to challenge Bulgaria not as much as other rivals. However, I think that Kolakovic might be stupid enough to bring the main squad to the Bulgaria for just showing his disagreement with Iranian's journalism who questioned him lots of times about why he always use his major players in every match.

If the latter one happens we possibly finish the final six in the last spot

Ben Patch has been so meh so far, but coach Speraw's trust in him still seems strong. I hope Kyle Engsing makes it the final 6 roster; he deserves it more than Patch.

French players in Iran (IG stories)

Timothee Carle

Trevor Clevenot

Yacine Louati

Thibault Rossard

Nicolas Rossard

Jonas Aguenier

Stephen Boyer

Barthelemy Chinenyeze

Benjamin Tonuitti

Jean Patry

Raphael Corre

Daryl Bultor

Kevin Le Roux

Not in Iran (IG Stories)

Nicolas Le Goff (Beaching somewhere ???)

Kevin Tillie (California)

Julien Lyneel (Beach with some old dudes )

Jenia Grebennikov (shout-out to T____________s of IG)

Rado's in Brazil, I hope Bulgaria's coach will give him some playing time.

Quote from treVBault-pad

French players in Iran (IG stories)

Timothee Carle

Trevor Clevenot

Yacine Louati

Thibault Rossard

Nicolas Rossard

Jonas Aguenier

Stephen Boyer

Barthelemy Chinenyeze

Benjamin Tonuitti

Jean Patry

Not in Iran (IG Stories)

Nicolas Le Goff (Beaching somewhere ???)

Kevin Tillie (California)

Julien Lyneel (Beach with some old dudes )

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E. N'gapeth?

Quote from 85dany18

E. N'gapeth?

So far no N'Gapeth.

And he had this IG story, like he's cleaning a bar.

95% he's not with them.

Quote from barnabas

Ben Patch has been so meh so far, but coach Speraw's trust in him still seems strong. I hope Kyle Engsing makes it the final 6 roster; he deserves it more than Patch.

Because Patch is capable of doing so much more. I'm not even going gaga over this guy but rating Ensing higher over Patch is absurd as it gets.

I understand. But I hope that hidden Patch comes up soon, perhaps throw in a more lethal serve too.

Incidentally, I've noticed that when Erik Shoji is on court, he takes zone 6. The other liberos take zone 5. What might be the reason for this? Shoji on 6 sometimes messes the timing of the pipe.

news about roster?

Quote from 85dany18

news about roster?

China should be the same as Week 3:

S - Zhan Guo-jun, Mao Tian-yi, Yu Yao-chen

OP - Jiang Chuan, Wang Jing-yi

OH - Liu Li-bin, Ji Dao-shuai, Dai Qing-yao, Du Hai-xiang

MB - Chen Long-hai, Rao Shu-han, Miao Ruan-tong

L - Tong Jia-hua, Ma Xiao-teng

Quote from 85dany18

news about roster?

Poland:

rozgrywający: Marcin Komenda, Grzegorz Łomacz.

przyjmujący: Bartosz Bednorz, Bartosz Kwolek, Artur Szalpuk, Aleksander Śliwka.

atakujący: Bartłomiej Bołądź, Łukasz Kaczmarek, Maciej Muzaj.

środkowi: Norbert Huber, Karol Kłos, Jakub Kochanowski.

libero: Jędrzej Gruszczyński, Damian Wojtaszek.

USA Roster CHICAGO

S(2): Micah Christenson, Micah Ma’a
OPP(2): Matt Anderson, Ben Patch
OH(4): Taylor Sander (C), Thomas Jaeschke, TJ DeFalco, Garrett Muagututia
MB(4): Max Holt, David Smith, Taylor Averill, Jeff Jendryk
L(2): Erik Shoji, Larry Tuileta

Excited to see Jasechke coming back after the long rehab! Hoping for a 100% recocery!

And seeing Micah Maa as back up setter is a great news! ( not for shoji tho)

Quote from Frankrussell

USA Roster CHICAGO

S(2): Micah Christenson, Micah Ma’a
OPP(2): Matt Anderson, Ben Patch
OH(4): Taylor Sander (C), Thomas Jaeschke, TJ DeFalco, Garrett Muagututia
MB(4): Max Holt, David Smith, Taylor Averill, Jeff Jendryk
L(2): Erik Shoji, Larry Tuileta

Excited to see Jasechke coming back after the long rehab! Hoping for a 100% recocery!

And seeing Micah Maa as back up setter is a great news! ( not for shoji tho)

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Damn Speraw really taking Muagututia over Langlois every week. Hope we see Ma'a at outside a bit

Patch doesn't have a lethal serve. The move to the jump float was in response to the high rate of errors to virtually no service aces. Berlin, who resigned him this year, even posted something on their IG wishing him good luck and an improved serve over the summer.

His block needs to improve, especially for someone his height and with his vertical leap. His back row defense is improving greatly, even when looking at the first half of the season in the Bundesliga.

He shines in attack and has not been disappointing in that regard. He is one of the top attackers in the VNL in terms of attack percentage. Last season and summer it seemed he was still used to attacking so much higher than the block, that he was still hitting at such a vertical trajectory that the ball was going into the block much often. He has rectified this a great deal. He is getting the ball around the block with much greater consistency.

Game Time

Yavbou vs. Volleyroo

Caique of Portugal is a very interesting OH.

Hoping for a Portugal win.

I don't know if Iran underappreciated Portugal, or just doesn't care as they are this close to qualifying to the finals, but I think that either way the level of Portugal improved greatly since they started the tournament.