1 Video View·Feb 18, 2026
One of the CRAZIEST Comebacks in Japanese Volleyball History !!! Japan comes from behind to win a close full-set match against Ukraine at the 2025 Women's World Championship!
The 2025 Women's World Championships has been taking place in Bangkok and other locations in Thailand since Friday, August 22nd.
The Japanese women's volleyball team, ranked 4th in the FIVB world rankings (before the start of the match), faced Ukraine, ranked 17th, on Monday, August 25th, and won a close full-set match with a score of 3-2 (25-27, 20-25, 25-20, 26-24, 15-11).
The first set began with a service ace from Ukraine. Spikes from Sato Yoshino and quicks from Shimamura Haruyo gave Japan an early lead of 6-4. However, Ukraine used their height and power to make inroads with blocks and spikes, and took the lead to 8-10. A spike from Akimoto Misora and a block from Shimamura secured a break, and the game continued to go back and forth through the middle of the set. With the score at 21-21, Sato scored a service ace to turn the game around. A serve from Kitamado Ayane gave Japan set point, but Ukraine forced it to deuce, and Japan lost the first set 25-27.
Early in the second set, Ukraine was trailing 1-4. With broad attacks from Shimamura and a service ace from Akimoto, Japan seized the momentum and tied the score at 5-5. Ukraine again trailed at 8-11, but Japan caught up with quick plays from Miyabe Airi. However, Ukraine's blocks thwarted Japan, and with a large lead of 9-16, Japan sent in two substitutes, Wada Yukiko and Nakagawa Tsukasa. Japan fought back with spikes from Ishikawa Mayu and Sato, scoring four consecutive points, but lost the set 20-25.
With no room for error in the third set, Japan started with Wada and Yamada Nichika. The early stages were a back-and-forth battle with both teams trading points, but spikes from Ishikawa and Wada, and a service ace from Seki Nanami, led to eight consecutive points, extending Japan's lead to 16-7. Continuing their momentum, Japan was the first to reach the 20-point mark, and a spike from Wada earned them set point, taking the third set 25-20.
In the early stages of the fourth set, it looked like Ukraine would make a run, but Sato's spikes and Shimamura's blocks kept the momentum going at 6-6. They then took a break from Sato's serve and successfully turned the game around to 7-6. Both teams continued to score points until the middle of the set, when the score was 15-15, but Ukraine continued to score consecutive points to take the lead at 15-17. With Wada's spikes and other efforts, Japan continued to score consecutive points, becoming the first team to reach the 20-point mark. The match remained close until the end, when Ishikawa scored a final spike to take the score to 26-24, forcing a full set.
The fifth and final set started with Ukraine scoring. From the beginning, Ukraine used powerful spikes, while Japan scored points with good receives and spikes aimed at the fingertips of Sato and Wada. Japan took the lead with four consecutive points to make it 10-7 in the middle of the set, and then with a spike from Ishikawa and a block from Yamada, they had a set point at 14-10. Yamada's final block was successful, giving Japan a close full-set victory at 15-10.
Topspin coming from Havlík.
Oh, good block.
Szekely pushes it backwards
and another!
In the fight, we're at 24-0.
Michikau in a bit early
and then that allowed the blocks to do what they wanted.
She could have gone a little bit later,
then gone quick at the ball
and changed her timing,
but it's easy to say that when you're watching.
That's long.
Back in a good position.
Akimoto just come back into the front row.
Akimoto with this...
Michikau just now came on across the back row to pass.
By Ukraine to stay in it.
Extra situation.
Keep your eyes off the scoreboard here.
Just keep taking it one touch at a time.
One opportunity at a time.
It's a piece.
Float serve.
A little bit of backspin on it.
Overpass.
Ukraine get a free ball.
It's got to be a bump set.
Lefty swing and no center on court for Ukraine.
Unbelievable in that situation.
Japan put in a bad pass like that.
Seki did well to get anything on it,
but we've got a challenge for reaching beyond the net here by Japan
as they cross the plane of the net.
So yeah, it will be unsuccessful.
Both players within their rights to play that ball at the same time.
It shows how well Seki did.
It's 26-25 set point.
Shikawa takes the first ball and a swing to go with it.
Big block.
But the firm goes away of Ukraine.
Who's going to come out on top?
22-18.
Japan need four points to tie it up.
Shikawa puts in a pressure serve.
On the right side.
Kraduba loses the conversation.
At last they get off of the rotation.
It wasn't the best of sets,
but Kraduba does well to find that gap in the block.
Lead for Ukraine.
They are trying to close out this second set.
They took the first one.
Oh, what a defense.
Bump set.
It's tight.
It's on the net.
It's going to be a joust.
Stays on Japan's side.
Back to Wada.
Off hands.
Going again.
The lefty swing is not down yet.
Pick up.
Out of system play.
That was a ridiculous one-hand dig from Sato in that rally.
It looked as if Ukraine were going to take that.
Look at that.
That was just crazy.
And then off the back of that.
That is a super swing.
Big swing on the right side.
There it goes.
Malishka not getting it done.
They got themselves to exactly where they wanted to be.
Set point.
Ukraine 24-19.
Pressure serve on Kojima.
But that was good work by Japan to get out of it.
Kimimura with a quick arm.
Not run the middle very much.
The serving pressure has been good enough from Ukraine to stop them doing that.
Wada at the line.
Set point Ukraine.
They've got four of them.
That is enough to get it done.
25-20.
Ukraine takes set number two.
Pressure serve.
Just trickles over the blockers.
That's a good idea.
It looked like she was going to have a big swing all the way up to the moment.
Just rolls it casually over the block.
16 serving 23.
Back to Wada.
What a dig.
Recycle play from Japan.
One more chance to get it done.
Wada again.
Hands are there for the taking.
Up early.
Must have been a net touch.
Oh, yes.
Put both her hands on the net.
She played it over.
That's a big let-off as well because Nuda's ball in was what caused all the
problem.
Tough serve.
Hands off the net.
Looking for the sideline.
That's a great angle out of her.
Continues putting pressure on Japan with her serve.
That's much better.
Yoshida.
Plenty of line to work.
For Japan, 24-18.
Six chances to get it done.
That's not going to be the one.
To keep Ukraine in this set.
Yes, it is.
Monster block.
Straight down.
Hands across the net early.
20-24.
Another chance for Japan.
Wada.
Take the third set.
25-20.
Down the line.
Forcing Ishikawa to take the first ball.
He's out of system.
What a dig by Nemetseva.
Off the hands of the block.
Ishikawa's got to go again.
And she goes wide.
Unbelievable.
It is an incredible, incredible dig from Japan.
Off the swing.
But look at this.
So close.
Nerves of steel at the moment.
Ishikawa.
Too wide.
Set.
Point.
Japan to go to a fifth.
No, no.
Floats it.
Ishikawa.
Puts herself in a great spot.
Just takes on the hand nearest the antenna again.
Set.
Point.
Japan.
Can they get it done?
Ukraine.
To stay in it.
Got themselves in where they wanted to be.
Japan.
Seki floats it.
It's off the net.
Hajime doesn't get a full swing on it.
Ishikawa doesn't either.
And the block.
It's exactly what it needs to be.
It's still a great position for Japan to be in though.
And 13.
Nishikawa drops it in.
Ishikawa again.
Drops it.
So well played.
What a great tip to bring up match point.
Japan.
14 to 10.
They've come all the way back.
They were two sets down.
And now they're on the verge of taking it.
Ishikawa.
Goes for it in the serve.
It's still alive.
Yoshino wants to unwind.
But it's too late.
Match point save then for the moment.
First match point avoided.
Three more to go.
Is this the one for Japan?
Wada will tip it over.
And it's covered well.
Ukraine trying to stay in it.
But the block is gone.
Done it.
In the fifth set.
After being down two sets to zero.
