JAPAN vs KOREA | HIGHLIGHTS | Women's VNL 2025. Japan beat South Korea in straight sets to record second consecutive home win in the Women's Nations League.
The Japanese women's volleyball team, ranked 5th in the FIVB world rankings (before the start of the match), faced South Korea, ranked 34th, and won 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-22), marking their second win in the Chiba tournament. Prior to the match against South Korea, the team has secured a place in the final round, which will be held in Lodz (Poland) from Wednesday, July 23rd.
The first set started with a serve from Nakagawa Tsukasa, who was starting for the first time in this tournament. Yamada Nichika pushed through a long rally to make it 7-5. Both teams showed excellent defense and traded points, but Wada Yukiko and Sato Yoshino scored some sharp spikes to put Japan one step ahead at 11-8. Wada's well-placed serve and Akimoto Misora's spike, who was starting for the first time in this tournament, helped Japan maintain a 17-14 lead into the middle of the match. A block from Araki Ayaka put Japan in the 20s first, and they finally took the set point with a spike that bounced off Kitamado Ayane's block to take the lead 25-21.
The second set started with a quick from Araki. After a nice receive from Nishimura Yanami, Sato scored a back attack to make it 6-3. Consecutive points from Akimoto helped South Korea extend their lead to 10-5. At 14-9, Shiode Hitomi and Kitamado were brought in as substitutes to try to widen the gap. Akimoto and the other outside hitters were active, and South Korea maintained the lead going into the final minutes. A B quick from Araki made it 20-15, and Sato's feint attacks and Wada's spikes continued to add to the points. South Korea showed tenacity and brought the score to deuce at 24-24, but a block from Akimoto and a spike from Fukasawa Megumi added points to take the second set in a row at 27-25.
In the early stages of the third set, it was a back-and-forth battle with both sides trading points. The match continued with neither side giving in until the score was 14-14, but in the middle of the match, South Korea took the lead at 15-17. With South Korea leading 16-20 going into the final stages, Japan replaced Akimoto with Kitamado to try to change the flow of the game. With Wada's spikes from Kitamado's serves, Japan started to catch up, winning four consecutive points to tie the score at 20-20. Wada's spike put Japan on match point, and finally Yamada's quick hit made it 25-22, giving Japan a straight win with a 3-0 set count.
It's Japan with the serve.
Korea looking for a side-out.
It's day two of the Women's Volleyball Nations League,
we're in Cuba and it is a break-point start.
Courtesy of the dig from Japan.
Way to go.
Yes!
Excellent.
No messing with that one from Yukiko Wada.
That's not a foot fault.
Was there an indication that it may be a net touch?
So if Korea don't win this rally,
they may be challenging for net touch,
but they do, it doesn't matter.
And for those who are wondering why I said that,
because there is no mid-rally challenge in this VNL.
On a positive note,
for those who think you're too short to play volleyball,
think again!
Because the setter for Japan is only 1.59m.
She may well be shorter,
in fact, than Yoshie Takashita,
who won a bronze medal with Japan in London 2012,
for the iconic setter for them.
And from that generation,
what another spectacular rally we've got going on here.
Oh, lovely dig.
But we're still going.
It's still Japan looking for the point.
That's going to stay in play.
Free ball coming.
And already the signals being made by Tsukasa
as to where she wants everyone to run.
Four players all running.
Slides, no good.
But the tip is working the block.
What a rally.
Sato.
And that's what Korea just have to do
throughout the entire time that Tsukasa's at the net.
And they have to know
that there will be two defenders protecting them.
That's the play.
Good, confident swing.
Not trying to do anything extra.
Ball from a good situation.
Deep and away from the defenders in the second line.
Korea waiting for exactly that from Japan.
Oh, that's unlucky.
It doesn't come back.
And that's the good variation in speed as well.
And again, so we're not trying to do anything extra with this ball.
It's fast.
She just gets there, puts her hand on it.
Oh, yes.
Go for it, Clayton.
Mike Town!
Lovely pass.
And that's what Korea think of that jump serve.
And that will do it.
Japan take the set.
Set number two.
Korea serving.
Japan leading one set to nothing.
That's a great hang time for Araki.
That's a lovely pass.
Oh, what a dig.
That was a free swing.
Dug your best.
Now it's Japan with free ball of sorts,
although Wada's taken out of the play.
That was well played by Korea.
And that finds the baseline.
Wada takes advantage.
Rotation one for Japan.
Three front row attackers blockers.
And all moving.
Oh, that's a great dig.
Will he stay in play?
Oh, unlucky.
No.
Scorer's table.
Get out of the way.
We want that ball to come back.
They're touching the blocks.
And Korea can't bring it back into play.
Easily covered by Korea.
They don't stack everyone in the three-meter line.
It's really good to see that they have somebody just behind them
and somebody deep as well to cover the court.
You don't necessarily need the libero being part of those players
inside the three-meter line.
When you're siding out,
you've got all the attack coming to the net.
And that's recognition of the situation by the libero.
The movement for Korea wasn't quite right for Japan.
Now they have to go high and wide.
And they make it work.
Speaking of people with glasses doing great things.
That is a wonderful swing through the middle.
And a wonderful save by me.
That is yet again a fantastic hit from Yoshino Sato.
And now they've got a chance to bring up a set point.
Oh, no.
They're not going to get it, though.
That is a monster block.
Akimoto.
Hello, Moto.
Jeon goes straight into the block.
Great pass.
A very clever play from Araki.
Araki with the serve.
What a dig.
That's from the middle blocker.
And Japan have the set.
That is an incredible piece of defense from Aki.
Araki to set that up.
They are such an important set three underway.
Japan serving.
They're up two-nothing.
Well, that looked...
Well, you know what?
It might need a double touch on the set behind.
That didn't matter.
With a perfect pass.
The positive attack.
The point for Japan.
And a serve for Wada.
Another good serve.
Good cover as well.
Oh, what a save.
It's scramble-tastic at the moment.
And it is Japan will take the point.
That's well done.
From Yukseong into that far corner.
Muncheon came on as a substitute in the second set.
Kept a place on court here in set three.
From off the net like that.
That's a solid swing from Yoshino.
A rare attack from the right-hand side of court for Korea.
Two-point lead for Korea.
Well done, Akimoto.
Good touch from Aki.
Well played.
A little off-paced attack.
Gets it done.
Ki eyes open.
Knew that there'd be...
Well, it might have been going out.
That's gone straight down.
This is great for Korea now.
19-16, they lead.
Yes, that's in play.
Ki and Yoshino finds the floor.
Five points.
In a row for Japan here.
And the combination play not working.
Japan holding firm.
It's 23-20.
This rotation paying massive dividends for Japan.
They get the side out eventually through Lee Tae-yong, Korea.
But that...
That's not happening now though.
Wada brings up match point for Japan.
And it's very, very appreciative.
That will do it.
Straight through the middle.
Japan have got a straight set win.
They remain undefeated here in week three
of the Women's Volleyball Nations League in Chiba.
