The United States eliminated reigning world champions Italy from the 2026 Men's Volleyball Nations League quarterfinals with a commanding 3-0 win (25-22, 25-21, 25-21) in Ningbo Beilun. Jake Hanes was the star of the match with 21 points including 6 aces, powering the American team into the semifinals.
Italy, the defending world champions, struggled to find their rhythm under pressure from the US serve. The Hanes-Anderson-Defalco trio proved lethal in attack, while the Italian reception struggled throughout the match.
This early exit breaks Italy's positive run in the VNL, where they hadn't missed the semifinals since 2025 when they won silver. Velasco's team will now focus on preparing for upcoming international competitions.