By Megan Kaplon

In the second week of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, the U.S. Women’s National Team pulled ahead of the Netherlands and Turkey to take the lead in the standings with a 5-1 record and 16 total points. 

More importantly, head coach Karch Kiraly used the first two weeks of competition to get closer to determining the best lineup for his team, which travels to Bangkok, Thailand, this week to face No. 13 Germany, No. 9 Dominican Republic, and No. 16 Thailand. 

Here’s what to expect in the upcoming matches.

Team USA 

The Americans are headed to Thailand with the same roster that achieved an undefeated record in last week in Toyota, Japan.

Bartsch-Hackley has been the top offensive player for Team USA so far in this tournament, tallying 61 kills with a 46.21 kill percentage, a rate which puts her fourth in the entire competition. 

Lloyd has played almost every point at the setter position and is the best setter in the tournament with an average of 20.52 running sets per set, in addition to ranking third in digs with 2.19 per set. 

After four matches at the libero position, Robinson ranks fourth in digs per set across all VNL teams.

Following the Americans’ last match in Japan, a sweep of Belgium, captain Larson emphasized teamwork, while Kiraly spoke to the challenges of the six-week-long VNL competition.

“This Volleyball Nations League is a difficult tournament, and this is only the second week,” he said. “We have a long way to go.”

The Competition

Germany | Tuesday, May 29, 3:05 AM CT

Although Germany has won medals in European Continental Championships, it has failed to make much noise on the international level. Since the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, the team has qualified for only three Olympics, boasting a highest finish of sixth in the 2000 Sydney Games.

The Germans made a strong statement in their first VNL match, knocking off No. 4 Brazil in four sets in Sao Paulo, but results have been all downhill since. The team is 1-5 overall and 15th out of 16 in the standings. 

Coached by 34-year-old Felix Koslowski, the German squad relies heavily on 6-3 outside hitter Louisa Lippmann. Through six matches so far in the competition, the 23-year-old leads Germany with 103 kills on 255 attempts, hitting .403.

Against Brazil, Lippmann contributed 18 points in that match, while 31-year-old outside hitter Maren Fromm (nee Brinker) led the match with 19 points. 

Dominican Republic | Wednesday, May 30, 3:05 AM CT

The Dominican Republic team is also 1-5 in VNL competition, with its only win coming against Argentina; however, two of the losses were in five sets (to Belgium and Korea). With five total points, Dominican Republic ranks 14th in the current VNL standings. 

Twenty-one year old Brayelin Martinez serves as the go-to hitter, server, and defensive player for the Dominican Republic. Standing 6-foot-7, Martinez has played for the senior national team for more than five years, and her sister Jineiry is also a member of the team and is on the VNL roster. 

The Brazilian middles and opposites did a good job of shutting Brayelin Martinez down at the net when Brazil and the DR faced off last week. No doubt Kiraly and his team of coaches paid close attention to that match and will be looking to follow the a similar game plan on Wednesday.

Thailand | Thursday, May 31, 6:05 AM CT

Similarly to Germany, Thailand has had success in continental tournaments--winning the Asian Championships in 2009 and 2013 and winning bronze in 2001, 2007, and 2015--but has never qualified for the Olympics and never finished higher than 13th in the World Championships. 

A 2-4 record so far in the VNL tournament, with victories over Poland and Argentina, puts Thailand 12th in the standings. 

Pimpichaya Kokram and Ajcharapron Kongyot lead Thailand with 35 total points each so far in the competition. Nineteen-year-old Kokram and 22-year-old Kongyot are representative of a team that features an abundance of youthful talent. 

On the opposite side of the experience spectrum, you’ll find veteran captain Pleumjit Thinkaow. The 34-year-old middle blocker made her senior national team debut in 2001 and is one of the best players ever to don the Thailand jersey. With 18 kills in the VNL competition, she ranks third on the team, while her seven stuff blocks top the list.

Non-USA Matches in Bangkok

Thailand vs. Dominican Republic | Tuesday, May 29, 6:05 AM CT

Thailand vs. Germany | Wednesday, May 30, 6:05 AM CT

Dominican Republic vs. Germany | Thursday, May 31, 3:05 AM CT