Liu Yanhan vs Ai Kurogo | China vs Japan | VNL 2021 (HD)

Stig. Can't find a way for him just yet, now they do. Broga changes the speed with the tip. Liu Xiaotong with the serve. Oh, what a block. Got her hands towards the antenna. Liu Xiaotong wanted to play the back row ball inside the slide attack. It didn't pull the block. That time she kept the first tempo in the middle of the court. Able to transition, defend and transition. I know you often talk about teams getting into neutral phases when the rally goes on. They're trying to get back into a position where they can have more options. Give the advantage straight to the other team. But there'll be certain moments in the rally where you might not be able to win the point directly, but you can set up difficulties, increase the pressure that will end up with a point at a later stage. Nice play again, Japan. Just, you're not going to put yourself in a position where you call a challenge and then suddenly realise the decision is... You would be able to challenge that, but if you're looking for touches, it doesn't matter. You call the wrong challenge. Exactly. It's a nice pick up in the first instance. Japan in the ascendancy. Nice work by Japan's block, slowing the ball down, allowing transition and allowing classic Japanese transition play. Perfect transition play there. Chinese block, we're in two minds. Second set underway, China with the serve, Japan leading by one set to nothing. Well played, Kurogo. Ishikawa's been the most impressive player in the first set. Japanese assistant is calling the serving targets. You have to say that he's been doing a great job until now. I know what that colour-coded system is, and his players definitely do. Such a good pass from Japan. Really good set. The Chinese position four block, she has to turn around, spin to see where the reception is coming from. Easy to lose orientation a little bit, especially if the reception's not perfect. Good dig by Ishikawa. Koga. Still in play, that one creeping over the net. Not anymore, though. As Japan take another point, and a stronger grip maybe on this second set. Momi was really in control of his action. Don't need to push the serve so much. That's not a really tough serve. One of the easiest, even though it's often a jump serve. That's the right word. Often when the back row player touches the line, it's because the ball is too far away from the net rather than too close. The outside hitter has to make a leap of faith and start their approach before the contact of the ball. In that time, they've got the reward of a broken block. They're going to have a swing for the set. Oh, they've done it. Brilliant. Fantastic dig to keep the ball in play by Inoue. And then off the back of that, it's a point scored by Kurogo. Japan take the set, 25-19. They lead China by two sets to nothing. Classic, sorry, not sorry. And into the technical timeout, six point lead for Japan. It's going to stay in play. Brilliant reactions Ishikawa. China come up with the point, but yeah, that wasn't coming back. We've won the point. And she comes up with a brilliant play to keep the rally alive. And it's China who take it eventually. Most of the time, they're not on that high ball. Facts with it, just for the speed of what she's able to generate. Early as she can, so that she can cut it cross court before the middle gets there and keep it still at a high point. That's well played by Yu Yanhan. Off the middle blockers hands. Some good high attacks against the block. A couple of blocking actions, closing the scene. And that's why it's so important to keep the width. Can't get there with that speed. You can see the middle is really nowhere. Make the block move to compound the advantage. But they've been playing the ball inside to take the ball, take the ball away from the from the position two from Naomi. So it hasn't worked as well. But that back set to the antenna has worked exceptionally well. They're flying into that one. Naomi with the serve. The other difference, of course, has been that reception. And whatever offensive system you have. It's a classic example. Setter's running in to play the second ball, but because she moved for. See the difference when China, when Japan have to go high ball. Even though it was the position four who got the block. Another point for China. Oh, what a pick up. Oh, and again, brilliant from Naomi. Fantastic play from Japan. It brings up match point to exceptional defensive plays. And Kuroga has a great shot here. Not in difficulty. She cuts the ball really short to position one. First time of asking Japan a serve Ishikawa. The MVP brings the match to Japan. They have beaten China by three.