Poland 🇵🇱 vs. Japan 🇯🇵 - Bronze Match | Women's VNL 2025 - Highlights

The margin for error for her is really small on a lot of her sets. And their last matchup against Italy and Smaragic went in. Poland's going to need a lot of right side production, especially against shorter outsides in Japan. First serve, putting it on Chernianska. Yoshino, she has been a huge part of this offense, relentless on both the defense and offense. Over and out, point, Poland. Chernianska's serve, handled by Kojima, through the middle. Tight ball, challenging the block, Stysiak is behind. Stysiak, serve to the center, well handled. Stysiak, feed her. This is one of the best matches that we've seen Stysiak look from the beginning. Sometimes it takes her a bit to get going throughout a match, but right now... Off the tape, Chernianska gets it. And gives it. Ishikawa. Poland has been very low error in this first match. We'll show you the numbers afterwards. And the blocking has been great. I love how Kornelik always drops to a knee after a big one. Yeah, trying to get her team hype up there. Beautiful read, identifying that solo stuff, getting those hands in a good position, taking away that line of approach. Poland leading the match, one set to none. Here's first serve, second set. Seiki chooses Ishikawa. Chernianska back to Stysiak, more of the same. Trying to go sharp. What a heavy ball to the center, it's an overpass, Shimiya Mura cleans it up. All right, here's Japan putting a lot more pressure on Poland and doing it really from the service line. Targeting seems incredibly well. Going between the passers, dropping it low, pushing it deep, not allowing. Lukasik and underneath it is Fukudome, Ishikawa responding. The block is picked up, that cover will frustrate you if you're playing against Japan. Stysiak, another over dig. It's not going down on Japan's side, they won't allow it. And then off hands. Perfect example of how Japan plays the most frustrating team in the world because defensively, they're picking everything up. Then you think you've got a stuff block. All of a sudden, someone's right under there to cover it. You're a chick. Wada again. Very clear pattern of repeat setters. Poland trailed by as many as five earlier. What? That is 100% Kojima style. That's what you have to do when your libero lays out. Make it work. Now you've got to get that point for Kojima. How about the rundown? Nearly going over the LEDs for that one. But man, she moves fast. You see the smile break out when she touched that ball. She's literally always smiling. Serving for the set. There's your middle attack with authority. Ace served by Japan to finish it out after being tied all the way from 20. What allowed Japan to end strong? And the biggest thing was keeping pressure on Poland. And I think just the IQ of the players really. Free ball, it's high. That gives so much time to Japan. And they love to tip right over the top. Really used to Yoshino and and Wada having big nights. What's what's happening now? And the biggest thing is Japan's passing has been so good that Shimomura is getting a lot of sets. And normally when you have a middle, get a lot of sets as Poland puts that one down. It makes it easier. Powerful serve. Great pass. Seki goes outside. That's what we're used to from Ishikawa. She had 14 points the last time this team, these two teams played. I.D. through the middle. Japan. Wada, door closed. She just puts up a wall. Seki outside. Ishikawa big swing. Smart play. Keeping control. Second opportunity. Stijak. There's the pound that ignites the fans. Wada had to go behind her to grab that set. Great pop up by Strzokowska. Strzokowska again. Ball down to Ryanska. When you look back at her statistics, she's the MVP of the All Japan High School Championship. That's how young she is. Meanwhile, Poland looking much more smooth. Tough ball. Free ball. Not the ideal set. Somehow, Kornelik makes it work. Sijak behind, outside Lukasik. Switch up, gets it done. Also back there. First contact is good. Kornelik. Beautiful. To close out set three and take the lead. Can Japan get Wada more involved? We'll see. Pass is good outside. Coach couldn't get out of the way in time. Zegi quick to the pin over Ishikawa. Lukasik off hands. Right in the middle, it's a play you've talked about. Moving their middles around. And that's how Poland wins. Power. Ball is good. A serve at just the right time for Lukasik. And that'll give Poland a ton of momentum there. Smarczak, you've got Kornelik in the middle again now. Great dig. Smarczak. This is bigger. Over the top. Send that back. Fantastic by Kornelik. Wada. Lukasik tries to punch it through in that tight set. Smart control. Ishikawa over the top. Lukasik has it. Everybody knows it's going to Magda behind. Deep corner using your head. Wada serving to tie it up. Laser of a serve. Shugovskaya underneath. Oh, out of system set, went nowhere. Block is huge and stays in. Exactly what Japan needs to avoid in this situation. It's a good hole and three points away from capturing the bronze medal. For the third consecutive year. Match point number two for Poland. Can they capture the bronze medal right here? Pass is good. Backs, Deszak swinging. They do it. Poland, bronze medal winners again.