JAPAN vs FRANCE HIGHLIGHTS Women s VNL 2025

JAPAN vs FRANCE | HIGHLIGHTS | Women's VNL 2025. Japan recovered from an early opponent surge to delight the home crowd with a straight-set win over France in Wednesday’s closing women’s Volleyball Nations League match in Chiba. Last year’s silver medalists improved to a 7-2 win-loss record and 21 points and occupy the fourth place in the current VNL standings. France are 12th on 3-6 and 10, still with a reasonable shot at the Finals.

France shocked their hosts as they stormed the match on a 5-0 run and stayed in control of the scoreboard through most of the first set, but in the money time Japan found a way to turn the course and take the lead. After that, with very few stumbles on the way, they cruised on to celebrate a 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-19) sweep.

Outside hitter Yoshino Sato was by far the best scorer of the match. She fired three aces and spiked 16 kills to finish with a total of 19 points, 10 more than each of Japan’s next two highest scorers – opposite Yukiko Wada and captain Mayu Ishikawa. Two French players reached the double digits with 11 points apiece – 22-year-old middle blocker Fatoumata Fanguedou with four stuffs, one ace and six successful swings, and opposite Iman Ndiaye with two kill blocks and nine kills in attack.