Team USA’s women’s volleyball team is officially back on top of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) standings after a dominant performance in Week 2. After a shocking and historic straight-sets loss to Canada during the opening week in Quebec, the Americans completely flipped the script. They bounced back in spectacular fashion, storming into a tie for first place with Brazil, holding a stellar 7-1 overall record.

The early setback in Quebec was a massive wake-up call for the squad. Facing their North American rivals, Team USA suffered a stunning sweep (25-22, 25-22, 30-28) at the hands of a relentless Canadian team. This wasn't just a regular loss; it marked Canada’s first-ever victory over the United States in VNL history. Led by a brilliant performance from Kiera Van Ryk, the Canadians exploited USA’s early-season rust and defensive gaps, leaving the Americans searching for answers.
However, the team found those answers quickly during Week 2 in Manila, Philippines. Team USA looked entirely reborn, pulling off a flawless 4-0 run and dropping only a single set all week. The absolute highlight of their redemption tour was a commanding 3-0 sweep of world number one Italy. They followed that up by taking down powerhouse Serbia 3-1, proving that their opening-week slump was just a minor bump in the road.
Several key adjustments triggered this dramatic turnaround for the Americans. Their net defense became an absolute wall again, heavily anchored by middle blocker Dana Rettke. On the offensive side, hitters like Avery Skinner and Logan Eggleston stepped up big time to share the scoring load. This incredible depth and tactical flexibility allowed Team USA to overwhelm their opponents and regain their status as tournament favorites.
With momentum fully on their side, the Americans are heading into the final week of preliminary action in Osaka, Japan. They are now in a prime position to comfortably secure their spot in the upcoming Finals in Macao.
Photos: Volleyball World