TOKYO Olympics gold medalist United States opens its second week campaign of the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Nations League against Russia when action shifts to the Philippines.

In the schedule released by the FIVB website yesterday, the Americans will battle the Russians at 3 p.m. in the second day of women’s action on June 15.

A three-time VNL champion, United States will play Poland at 11 a.m. on June 17, before facing China the following day at 7 p.m.

The Americans will wrap up their Quezon City leg against Southeast Asian queens Thailand at 3 p.m. on June 19.

In their first competition after the Hanoi SEA Games, the Thais will take on Canada to open the event at 3 p.m. on June 14.

Japan, the reigning Asian champions, will go up against Poland in the other opening day match at 7 p.m.

Quezon City, with Smart Araneta Coliseum as its competition hall, will play hosts not only for the Week 2 of the women’s pool, but also the men’s matches on June 21-26.

The Philippines is hosting the VNL for the first time since its inception in 2018.

France, which ruled last year’s Olympics, set in motion its second week campaign in the men’s side against two-time VNL winners Russia at 3 p.m. on June 22.

Up next for the French are The Netherlands at 11 a.m. on June 23, fan favorite Japan at 3 p.m. on June 25 and Germany at 11 a.m. the following day.

Action in the men’s side will actually open on June 21, with Slovenia and The Netherlands duking it out at 3 p.m., to be followed by the Japan-Argentina clash at 7 p.m.

A total of eight women’s and men’s teams will play in the Quezon City event.

The Philippine VNL leg will also be a great opportunity for fans to watch the sport’s biggest names like Tokyo Games women’s MVP Jordan Larson, two-time VNL MVP Michelle Bartsch-Hackley and 2019 VNL MVP Andrea Drews of the United States, and rising star Arina Fedorovtseva of Russia.

The Japanese power trio of Yuki Ishikawa, Yuji Nishida and Ran Takahashi, as well as Tokyo Games men’s MVP Earvin Ngapeth of France are among the players to watch in the men’s side.