The Volleyball Nations League got this year's international season started. Enjoy this look back at some of the highlights of the competition.
VNL 2022
Looking back: Men’s VNL 2022 in pictures
Publicado 08:00, 24 dez. 2022
![_1VT1693](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/orxnhlyxgdxurj1kdiua.jpg)
Southern European neighbours Serbia and Bulgaria met in Ottawa for the opening match of VNL 2022
![Volleyball Nations League 2022 Brasilia Men - BRAvsCHN-22](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/a9nntnwtlmdli7y4bkc2.jpg)
In the biggest upset of the first competition week, China shut out Brazil in Brasilia
![_1VT8390](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/qkllffvokq1mv82jmvhn.jpg)
Poland were still reigning world champions when a young Italian squad managed to beat them in Canada
![Volleyball Nations League 2022 Brasilia Men - USAvsBRA-25](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/mu3bsr6vmeqdvrg1ttxn.jpg)
USA celebrated four victories in Brasilia to remain the only undefeated team in the competition after week one
![EP_VNL_2022_ARG-NED-700](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/ispp8eoi0lcssdb6qrx2.jpg)
In a hard-fought five-setter in Quezon City, Nimir Abdel-Aziz played a key role in the Netherlands’ win over Argentina - he went on to become the tournament’s best scorer, spiker and server
![EP_VNL_2022_JPN-ITA-170](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/q45ri1hrqs0520zjyivo.jpg)
Japan’s Yuji Nishida scored five aces towards a five-set win over Italy in the Philippines
![KBA_2446](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/rau1yiz1y9ilhe6kojja.jpg)
Amin Esmaeilnezhad led Iran to a 3-0 victory over USA in Sofia, handing the Americans their first defeat of the competition
![KBA_6428](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/orgwkehn23lvg5vbcqhw.jpg)
Bartosz Kurek was the man of the day as Poland also beat USA to collect a full set of four wins from week two in the Bulgarian capital
![IN_VNL2022_OSAKA_ARG_FRA_016](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/r8qnx2cemkhg68p7gmjl.jpg)
Argentina surprised Olympic champions France with a 3-1 win in Osaka, but it was not enough to qualify for the Finals
![THE VENUE AND POLISH FANS](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/t2vl591nyroaow11yq2s.jpg)
The Polish fans packed the week three venue in Gdansk...
![BARTOSZ KUREK (POL)](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/sm1sq0pci8ypquzcyxsh.jpg)
... but the home favourites were stunned by Iran in a spectacular five-setter
![IVAN ZAYTSEV (ITA) SPIKES](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/rqpnaz8h7jus5o7ppjro.jpg)
Italy cruised through four victories in Gdansk to top the Preliminary Phase standings
![CKU USA-BRA 015](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/v1658342317/fivb-prd/qf12erfjwbv6tovgbnao.jpg)
The United States dethroned defending champs Brazil 3-1 in the first quarterfinal in Bologna
![VNLFINALS2022_BOLOGNA_NT_ITA_NED_22](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/v1670591865/fivb-prd/vlws9jinqrdglvnj9cce.jpg)
Hosts Italy started the Finals with a 3-1 quarterfinal victory over the Netherlands
![VNLFINALS2022_BOLOGNA_NT_FRA_JPN_9](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/gkakrqomgpw5vu6mzroz.jpg)
Jean Patry led France to a straight-set quarterfinal win over Japan
![VNLFINALS2022_BOLOGNA_NT_POL_IRI_6](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/v1670591802/fivb-prd/ohl1lfmabkhhkeakgwpx.jpg)
Poland and Iran put together another five-set thriller, this time the European side came out on top to advance to the semis
![CKU POL-USA 007](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/t3pbvziob3gzprgqq2x0.jpg)
Torey Defalco aced six times in USA’s shutout of Poland in the first semifinal
![VNLFINALS2022_BOLOGNA_NT_ITA_FRA_14](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/v1687173937/fivb-prd/keelhd8p63mdjmjwylg6.jpg)
France were merciless in disappointing the home crowd with a 3-0 semifinal victory over Italy
![CKU ITA-POL 028](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/fivb-prd/khcb7msffs22cecmbesi.jpg)
Poland’s captain Bartosz Kurek rejoiced at the end of a victorious bronze medal match against Italy
![CKU FRA-USA 030](https://images.volleyballworld.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/v1668761734/fivb-prd/zzahnjvjx94ejoe2qrdu.jpg)
Earvin Ngapeth broke loose when it mattered most in the five-set final against USA, to claim a historic gold and the MVP award