Reigning two-time Olympic champions France kept their VNL 2026 Finals hopes alive with a commanding 3-0 sweep of China (25-21, 25-19, 25-20) in Chicago on the second matchday of the decisive third week of Preliminary Phase action.
Opposite Stephen Boyer led the way with 16 points, while 21-year-old outside hitter Mathis Henno added 15 — all from swings. Middle blocker François Huetz contributed four kill blocks en route to 10 total points. Outside hitter Wang Bin paced China, already assured of a Finals berth as host nation in Ningbo, with a team-high 14 points.
The victory moves France to a 5-5 record with 13 points, good for 11th place and firmly in contention for one of the five remaining Finals berths. Japan and the United States have already clinched their spots. In the day's other key result, Serbia rode Veljko Masulovic's 26-point explosion to a 3-1 win over Ukraine in Belgrade, climbing to ninth (5-5, 15 points) and back into the qualification zone.
