Men Finish 3-1 at 2026 Men's VNL Week One; Drop Finale to Top-Ranked Italy - USA Volleyball

USA Men's Volleyball closed a busy first week of the Volleyball Nations League in Ottawa, Canada, posting a 3-1 record after a 3-2 loss to world No. 1 Italy on Sunday. The five-set thriller featured scores of 25-18, 15-25, 25-19, 25-18 and 15-10, with no set decided by fewer than five points, underscoring how tightly matched the teams were. The U.S., ranked No. 4 globally, will open Week Two in Orleans, France, facing Cuba at 8 a.m. PT on Wednesday, June 24, as it builds on a weekend that highlighted progress and development. Italy finished with a 57-50 edge in kills, while the U.S. held slight advantages in blocks (12-10) and service aces (8-7).