Lausanne, Switzerland, May 16, 2019 - Bringing together three of last year's Final Six entrants, Pool 4 of the 2019 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League provides a cracking opener to the season, from May 21-23 in Belgrade.
Reigning world champions Serbia host the Netherlands, Turkey and Korea in a three day tournament that will surely set the tone for the next month and a half.
Serbia failed to make the medals round of the 2018 VNL, but they're coming in to this year's edition on the momentum of the 2018 FIVB World Championship where they picked up the first world title in their history - an amazing feat on the back of their silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and their 2017 European Championship crown.
Turkey's Seyma Ercan up against the Dutch triple block of Lonneke Slöetjes, Nicole Koolhaas and Maret Balkestein when the two teams met in a thrilling five setter at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
The Netherlands also didn't make it to the top four last year in the VNL, but they too are riding on some awesome results in the last few years, including their fourth place in Rio 2016 and a silver medal in the 2017 European Championship when they lost to Serbia 3-1 in the final.
Turkey did make it to the medals round in the 2018 VNL - indeed, they only fell in the final after five dramatic sets to USA - so they're maybe looking at improving that finish this year. They also completed the podium with a bronze medal at the 2017 European Championship behind Serbia and the Netherlands.
Korea finished a mere 12th last year in the VNL (and just 17th in the 2018 World Championship), but they've embarked on a new cycle, bringing on Italian coach Stefano Lavarini to lead the side going forward. It will be highly interisting to see how all this works out in this year's VNL.
All three of the European teams in Pool 4 have a long history of huge matches and a plethora of medals and awards amongst them. Add a Korea side with brand new visions to the mix and this makes for the most explosive of the opening week pools in the 2019 VNL.
Related articles:
Women's VNL Pool 3: Opening with 2018 bronze medal rematch
Women's VNL, Pool 2: Can USA get a head start in defence of their title?
Women's VNL, Pool 1: How will Italy make their entry this year?
Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB.com - Volleyball Nations League
FIVB.com - Volleyball
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram