COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 20, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s National Team faced off against host Japan in their final match of the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), falling short with a 3-0 scoreline (25-21, 25-19, 25-23) in front of a passionate crowd in Chiba.
With this loss, the U.S. wrapped up their VNL campaign with a 6-6 record, while Japan advanced to the finals with an 8-4 record. The U.S. now turns its focus to the upcoming 2025 FIVB World Championship, set to be held in Manila, Philippines, come September.
Head Coach Karch Kiraly acknowledged the team’s efforts, stating, “We brought a lot of guys into the mix playing against teams who are much closer to their full strength. That was a really good team across the net. We were struggling to score points at the service line, to score break points.
We learned a lot. We are excited about what we can get better at going into World Championships and we are also excited about the good stuff we have to build on.”
Throughout the VNL, the U.S. deployed various lineups, providing players with valuable competitive experiences. Kiraly emphasized the importance of this approach, saying, “These are golden opportunities to play against the elite teams in the world. Our guys did great with the variability in our lineups.
For us, it is not the time to stick with the same seven match after match in the first competition of a new Olympic cycle that is going to last for almost four seasons. It’s imperative that we mix and match.
The guys handled it really well even with in-match substitutions. We will not play merry-go-round like that in World Championships. We wanted and needed to learn a lot about who can do what. The only way to learn is to try stuff. Hats off to the guys for being really open to trying different things and now we can get more stable heading into a really exciting World Championship.”
In this match, Japan outperformed the U.S. with a 44-28 advantage in kills and a 4-2 lead in aces, although both teams recorded four blocks. Jordan Ewert, participating in his first VNL as a senior player, led the U.S. with 13 kills.
Ewert reflected on the tournament’s outcome, stating, “It’s bittersweet. We have had a lot of different lineups and of course our ultimate goal was to go to the VNL finals. We had a shot and it slipped right through our fingers.
That’s not easy but at the same time, we achieved a lot of other goals with long-term development and trying out a lot of different guys and competing at a high level against incredible teams like this. At the end of the day, we can’t be disappointed.
It was an incredible experience.” Ewert also shared how taking on a senior role in the young team has influenced his experience. “It’s interesting because I’ve never taken on a rookie role either.
It’s my first time getting a lot of playing time in the VNL and now I’m one of the senior guys on this squad. Traveling with them and being in the hotel playing games. It’s a whole new brotherhood that I get to have for a long time.”
Expressing his appreciation for the Japanese volleyball culture, Ewert said, “It’s well-known in volleyball that Japanese fans are some of the best fans in the world. They are extremely respectful, they love the sport, they cheer for every point and are super loyal and supportive of their team.
This is the trip I was most looking forward to and to finish it off against Japan in a competitive match is incredible. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
In addition to Ewert’s performance, the team saw contributions from various players. Gabi Garcia added ten points to the scoreboard with eight kills and two aces, while Cooper Robinson delivered nine kills. Ethan Champlin also made an impact in just his third set, scoring five points through four kills and a block.
The match began competitively, with the U.S. taking a brief 13-11 lead in the first set after a Robinson kill. However, Japan quickly responded with a 7-1 run to secure a lead they maintained for the remainder of the set. Robinson finished the first set with six kills despite the U.S. out-hitting Japan but committing more errors, including seven service errors.
Japan took control early in the second set, scoring four of the first five points. The teams exchanged points until Japan pulled ahead, extending their lead from 15-12 to 19-12 after scoring four consecutive points. A Garcia ace and a McHenry block tried to close the gap, reducing Japan’s lead to five points at 24-19. Garcia led this set for the U.S. with seven points.
The third set began on a positive note for the U.S. with Ewert scoring two quick kills. Yet again, Japan surged forward, scoring the next four points and pushing the U.S. to respond. The U.S. momentarily took the lead at 21-20, thanks to Garcia serving three consecutive points, including an ace. However, Japan finished strong, concluding the match with a 5-2 run. Ewert led all players in the final set with eight kills.
Looking ahead, the U.S. Men’s National Team aims to build on the lessons learned during the VNL as they head into a critical World Championship. The team’s blend of experienced and younger talent has provided valuable insights and opportunities to establish a strong foundation for future competitions. As they prepare for Manila, the U.S. remains optimistic and motivated to make their mark on the international stage.
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