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Slovenia’s men’s national team continues to astonish in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), clinching a breathtaking 3-0 victory over Italy in Ljubljana.
Slovenia's Unstoppable Momentum
In front of 11,000 roaring fans at the packed Stožice Arena, Slovenia showcased their dominance with a clean sweep over Italy, winning 25-19, 25-21, 25-19. This win not only solidifies their top position in the VNL standings but also extends their winning streak to three consecutive matches this week.
Key Performers: Štern and Čebulj
Tonček Štern was the star of the night, leading the charge with an impressive 21 points, consisting of 16 kills, three blocks, and two aces. Klemen Čebulj also made a significant contribution, adding nine points to Slovenia's tally.
"We played as a unit tonight, and the crowd's energy was incredible," said Štern after the match.
Italy's Struggle
On the Italian side, Mattia Bottolo tried to keep his team in the game, scoring 11 points with ten kills and one ace. Luca Porro added eight kills, but it wasn't enough to overcome Slovenia's relentless attack.
Other Thrilling Matches
In another exciting VNL encounter, Poland narrowly defeated Serbia 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-11). Bartlomiej Boładź was Poland's top scorer with 25 points, including 20 kills and five aces. Kamil Semeniuk and Aleksander Śliwka added 18 and 15 points respectively. Serbia's Marko Ivović led his team with 14 points. This result keeps Serbia in contention for the last spot at the Paris Olympics, which will be decided in Sunday’s matches.
Argentina's Triumph
Argentina also had a successful outing, sweeping Bulgaria 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-20), with Bruno Lima scoring 14 points.
Looking Ahead
With Slovenia holding 26 points and poised to enter the VNL Finals as the top seed, their form suggests they could go all the way. As the competition heats up, fans eagerly await the next set of matches to see if Slovenia can maintain their unbeaten run.
Editor: Emiliia Morozova
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