Germany🇩🇪 vs. Japan🇯🇵 - Highlights | Week 1 | Women's VNL 2026

In black it's Germany looking for win number two in their third match here in week one of the VNL up against the team in white Japan two from two so far and both by three one and we've got our early decision 23 points to her name across the first two games the pass from Cesar de Libro and cut across her body by Kamila Wajcic. Her hitting and blocking has been dominant this week and we've seen a lot of really impressive middle players here in the baseline where she's about to serve but also front and backcourt as a hitter she's wrapped another good ball nice pass from Grota edge of the envelope slider now that's a risky play from Germany a great serve by Wada perfect pretty much a perfect pass but the long just slightly blockers fancied they had a chance there but once again the hitting very accurate from Wada Germany get a good struggling to get into the game at the moment but that's a good serve that's a ball that will frustrate coaches well it's going to frustrate the defense as well for Germany because they got Japan out of system coulda woulda shoulda often said when you're playing Japan and then they go and just put the lid on it what a swing from the back line Wada he's played really well again this is it over the block and down Fukudomi beautiful ball in and volleyed straight over that'll count for the point from Nanami Seki just a little creative wrinkle Shikawa silence descends in the videotron another good serve great pass from Cesar and this time Weitzel doesn't put it down can he get another go at it Germany Grosa stopped with a monster block Shimomura who plays her volleyball at ALA Peppers in Korea and Camilla Weitzel who's been flying her trade over in Italy for the last few seasons Japan take it out to four set points this time's the jump Japan then can put it away and they do well it was worth the wait from Japan's point of view this is how it finished another out of system connection not the best strongest attack and then Japan hadn't gone to the middles offensively very often and to do it at set point that makes Germany think a little bit more in the next set about who they're going to set on offense so good play there to finish it for Japan so Germany got some elements right in that opening set the white with the serve Germany goes straight to the middle and Japan doing a very good job of nullifying the main scoring error for their German opponents now that one hurts a little bit because Weitzel's been very good her first good serve but it's controlled so well brilliant blocking again that's been the one shining light for Germany in the match so far now that's a one-on-one move too by the setter just good discipline hands for Japan that is a brutal hit from Ishikawa last control for Germany easily read forceful stuff from Germany but Japan now in control of that ball feels like Germany have gone into a vortex again everyone's running and swinging and it's nothing's happening well exactly as Rod Snoop set the scene with his pre-game interviews defense defense defense and that is another superb finish Alsmire tries the line but Japan adjusts their position to defend she is some player I've been watching Wada for a number of years now and she needs more support the system ball but Sato still makes it work it was coming covered the middle well there we go last Lina Alsmire unlocks the angle she wants to hit a small combination attack that just positions Wada in a perfect place with the middle reaching 11 for Sato it is relentless nine set points for 2-0 what a dig from Fukudomi on the Struber hit block is good Fukudomi covers again and the point belongs to the Libro on that one and a two-set Germany then in the black will get set three underway but they've been shut out of the game so far and that is exactly what coach Bregoli doesn't want to see a footfall on the first set Alsmire and Grosser back out on the left side Struber comes in for Scherzl in the middle unfortunately the entirety of the match huge for Invesca what a dig there's some seriously good stuff going on down there it's Mia Kirchhoff my apologies not Vesca that started in the opposite slot and the Japan players will be heading back to Italy this season plus a couple of new signings it's like Wada's octopus stop but still in play every swing and still Japan will not let the point go Germany not covering themselves in glory on that last rally another tricky one for starts Alsmire tips it block is good there's a clever play trying to lob the German defense but Germany aware and then everything going against them now the referee has got involved oh there we go it's the ball the ball that moves the net not the arms of the player Japan have played a very solid game of volleyball Ukraine stole a set off them France stole a set off them Germany are going to be hard pressed I think they need Vesca out there good discipline from the blockers one action with two movements that was a it was a broad interpretation Germany eating up the score there we go referee's decision is final Japan have the point this to win it in three fences there they're going to get a swing for the match defended Alsmire tips it over it's Ishikawa again it's in Fukudomi plays it and now free ball Germany fights off she can't put it down out of the back line Ryder of course she can and Ryder brings it home and breaks German hearts