🇯🇵 JPN vs. 🇨🇳 CHN - Highlights Week 1 | Women's VNL 2023

It is China in blue receiving the final game from week one of the Volleyball Nations League here in Japan. And it's a very nice side-out start from Juan. Right, Japan does a really good job of reading and moving in their defense. They're not just stagnant on the floor, but they're adjusting to what they see in front of them. Has hit the floor, there's no pancake. Touch. Now there's more options. And one of them is Li Yingying. It's going to be free ball for Japan. Three front-court attackers. Koga available on pipe. Look at this. Lots of words. That set is magical. And still have a high elbow to hit down and around. Magnificent. Wang Yunlu. That's one of the hardest balls to hit coming high over the back of your shoulder. It's going to be a threat all game long. It's Li Yingying. Great shot. Right, it goes into the front row. So it's trying to get three attackers in that front row. Well, that was clever play. Not the high ball, just going a bit quicker. Oh, what a dig. Nishimura. There's no stopping that one. And step posing high and fast. Love it. Koga, the hands ready to strike. Even though they have had a discipline block all game, Japan's just going high hands and fast arms here. Oh, what a save. Seki. But it's free ball, China. Three front-court options. Hammond. To bring up the set point. Set point save for the moment. As good as you get from passing, it's a brilliant finish. And it is China who take the opening set. 25-18. And then when you don't see any movement. Li Yingying with the serve. Chinese quick set. Still, we continue. Oh, yes. It's too tight. It's a good ball in. Liu Shengyu. And it was one step off the net. It was not even a metre off the net on the cross court. It's in. But it's China who take the point. Keeping the pressure on. Clever play. Oh, he's still going. This is... It's haiku comes to life. It's watching. I mean, they really... Everyone's just putting on their helmets, ready to go. China are back to within two. That's a cracking block. Lovely. The pass. Kanira Sawadoo from serve. And she can do that. This is great. There's going to be a swing chance to turn it back in Japan's favour. Oh, the block's too good. It's too good. And China survive. And they have another set point. Yuan Xinyue. And China have pinched that set from Japan. 27-25. The blocking's working at the moment for China. A few centimetres of the court. Zone one. Well played. Unbelievable. Two metres and two. Sprawled out to make the dig. Make the pass. There's a chance here for China to restore the lead. And it's done again. So shoulders and hips square and just uses her wrist to turn that ball. Oh dear, too tight. Chance for Japan. But the block was ready and waiting. So now she's the opposite player but she's stepping in to pass. And Sawadoo's the outside hitter stepping out so she can run ten. Which works really well. Means they can run a rather quicker ball. Three metre line and sideline. Good dig. That's great. Could have easily just said no, you're having it again. Saved by Li Yingying. It's another set that goes beyond. Towards the block for China. And now they do have a match point. There's going to be a swing chance here. Li Yingying does it. And China have pinched it from Japan yet again. But this time taking the set 27-25. They've taken the match by three sets to nothing.