By Paxton McNaught.
With the men’s Volleyball Nations League due to start on the 10th June, our eyes are drawn to the newer faces on the international stage, keen to see what they are capable of.
Many of these newer faces have made great impacts during club season, so fans are ready to see how their skills transfer into their national teams.
The four players listed below are a handful of many rising stars we will be keeping tabs on during this year’s VNL. Each player shone during the club season, and are now ready to take the next step with their national teams.
These young players will have to fight for their spot on the court, but their determination and skillset have brought them this far, and they will be itching to show the world what they can do.
Cooper Robinson, USA, Outside
23-year-old Cooper Robinson had an impeccable first season with Japanese club Hiroshima Thunders after graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) after the 2024/25 season.
Robinson played in a total of 41 matches for the Thunders in the 2025/26 club season, scoring an incredible 625 points. The outside hitter not only contributed massively to the attacking force of the team, but also had a 30.0% success rate on his receives.
He will be heading into this VNL, looking to take on his success through the club season on to the international stage.
Masato Kai, Japan, Outside
Masato Kai, aged 22, has been a player that excites many fans. His game intelligence and skillset are impressive for his age.
Since 2024, Kai has played for Osaka Bluteon with international teammates Yuji Nishida, Akihiro Yamauchi and Tomohiro Yamamoto. With such big names surrounding him, this outside has done an impeccable job at making a name for himself.
Kai had an impressive 171 attacking points in just 29 games this season, and 20 service points on top of that, proving him to be a threat all over the court.
Bryan Alves da Silva. Brazil, Opposite
Opposite hitter Bryan Silva’s powerful spikes from the left hand side has drawn attention to him at his club team Volei Guarulhos BateuBet in Brazil.
The 20 year old won Best Opposite Hitter at the 2024 Men’s U21s South American Volleyball Championship, in which Brazil took home their 21st title.
He will be wanting to take this achievement through into the senior men’s national team, battling alongside powerhouses Alan Souza and Darlan Ferreira Souza for a spot on the court.
Pardo Mati, Italy, Middle Blocker
The youngest on this list, being only 19, Pardo Mati has already burst onto the volleyball scene.
Mati currently plays for Italian side Valsa Group Modena. Nearing 40 block points this season shows the unbelievable strength this teenager has. He is a very well rounded player, with a 65.5% attacking efficiency in the last season.
Pardo Mati represented Italy in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship, and placed second in the overall tournament. Alongside Taha Behboudnia of Iran, Mati was voted Best Middle Blocker in the tournament.
