Japan 🇯🇵 vs. China 🇨🇳 - Quarter Final | Highlights | Men's VNL 2026

China in red serving, Japan in the white and black shorts receiving for this quarterfinal match of the Men's Volleyball Nations League here in Ningbo, China. Did she counter out of the attack? She did not. Another good touch in the block and there's a real opportunity not taken by China who all got sucked in on that play. So used to expecting this adjustment to end up in a set towards one of the outside attackers. Another good serve by Fukatsu, another great block by Japan. Good serve, it's a little on the tight side but it means Ishikawa can work it. Again Fukatsu, what a lovely play. Six point lead has disappeared for China. What a dig, that's in the hitting zone, that's in the hitting zone. Great chance to do it. Oh good save by Fukatsu. That is Ishikawa at his absolute best. Has such trust that his hand will put the ball where it needs to go. There is no reason for him to be so aggressive. China pulls the block early. It's almost the whole court available. You've got Ran and Yamamoto and Nishida, all of which can put the perfect ball up for someone to have a swing, which might be going to have to happen here. Oh no, that is such a good play. Good serve, really good serve. Oh dear, that's bordering on a double touch. Better chance now for China. He forced the middle and what a time to force the middle. China take the set and reap the rewards at the end of the set. So find a way to hang in on these last few points once more. As they started the set they finished with aggression, setting the ball to the middle. Great start for China. Still a lot of work to be done. Away we go with set number two. Fukatsu serving. China leading Japan by one set to nothing. A very tidy pipe attack from Liu Ye. They've only used that, I think it's the second time in the match. Floating in. Four attacking options. The block well and truly split by Japan's movement. Gets the middle going. He's got the whole court to himself. Shoma Tomita says okay float servers, you can all go at me, that's no problem. I'm happy to take that responsibility. Work to be done here for China. Nice play by Aero. Better chance here for China. That's some block, good cover. Can only go on the cross. Tomita waiting for it. Oh Ram has absolutely battered that one into Wong Bin. Spent too much time making too many serving errors and then let the team come back onto court as opposed to. Now it's a time to focus in on. Here's what we need to do. Is that going to go the way of Japan? Yes it is. To serve for China. That's a good ball. Oh I say that is a block. Wong Bin back off of the bounce. Wong Bin to serve. Plenty of options and Nishida gets it done. 25-23 Japan take this set. They're back in the match. It's one set all. Away we go then with set number three. It's one set all here in this all-important quarterfinal of the Men's Volleyball Nations League here in Ningbo, China. And a side out start for Japan. Fukatsu to serve. That's a touch and so is that Nishida looking for touches. Those of you who think you need to be told to play volleyball just think again and watch how Japan play China have service. That's got a touch on the way through. Here we go. Oh well that's no good for us. A bit too blocky but there will be a much clearer picture from the challenge and they're saying yes there is a touch in defense for China. There's the touch. Ball is on the ground but not on the ground. There's the touch ball still in the air. It's dealt with and then dealt with. Coach's hat trick. A coach's hat trick yes. All challenges, all tie nights, all subs but it's eight now not six. Oh yes well played. Rises, twists and turns. Not the best of passes and there's a chance here for China to get a break point and they will get a break point. Nishimoto with the serve. It's a monster block from Larry. Japan take the set. 25-16 and they lead China by two sets to one. Away we go. Set number four. Japan leading two to one and they lead by one to nothing. Break point start for them and it's a Fukutsu serving run. Fukutsu serves again. That worked. But Li Yongzhen was going to get it again through the middle. You all got to see it in slow-mo. Nishida. That's a lovely pass. What where the speed comes from. Great touch in the block and look at the speed here. Japan all ready to go but that is excellent blocking through the middle. Fukutsu never lost sight of it. This is unbelievable. Oh yes. Nishimoto. Oh it's a bit tight. Oh Larry. Was that going over? They'll challenge for sure. Larry might have gone a bit too early. Right now Japan are feeling great. They're leading by two and once again the middle. Yeah there is. Nice shuffle. They're weighing towards a good pass and a very good side out. Tomita with the serve. It's a great serve. It's an ace serve. It's all up. Japan beating China by three sets to one. They continue their unbeaten run in the Volleyball Nations League and book their place in the semi-finals.