In the third week of the Women's Volleyball Nations League 2025 Preliminary Round (Chiba), Japan played against Poland on Saturday, 12 July local time, winning 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22).
Starting Lineup
Japan
S Seki (2), OH Ishikawa (22), MB Miyabe (8), OP Wada (7), OH Sato (17), MB Shimamura (14), L Iwasawa
Substitutes: S Shiode, OH Fukazawa, OH Kitamado (3), OP Akimoto (5), MB Yamada (1)
Poland
OH Łukaszyk (15), MB Jurczyk (7), S Wenelska (1), OH Cirniaska (1), MB Kornek (18), OP Smajek (19), L Szyczygłowska
Substitutes: OP Stisiak (8), OH Piasecka (7), L Wisiak, S Grabka
Match Report
In the first set, Japan allowed three blocks to the tall Polish team, but they maintained the lead throughout the set with a service ace from OH Sato and a spike from OH Ishikawa, taking the lead 25-21.
In the second set that followed, Japan continued to score points mainly through spikes from OP Wada and OH Ishikawa, and the match progressed with Japan leading Poland, but in the final minutes they struggled with spikes from OP Smajek and substitute OH Piasecka, as well as blocks from MB Jurczyk, and Poland came back to take the lead 23-25.
Poland took the lead in the early part of the third set with quick plays from MB Korneluk, but Japan replaced OP Wada with OP Akimoto, who used her spikes to tie the score in the middle of the set. Japan then continued to score, mainly with MB Shimamura's powerful broad attacks, to turn the game around and take the set, 25-23.
In the fourth set, MB Kornerk made six blocks in this set alone, and the match continued in Poland's favor, but Japan narrowed the gap with the help of OH Kitamado and OH Fukazawa, who were later brought in, and Japan turned the game around in the final stages with a service ace from S. Seki. Finally, MB Yamada, who entered the match as a substitute, made a block to win the set 25-23, and Japan won the close match against Poland 3-1.
Match stats▼
https://vnlw.volleystation.com/en/phase-3451-vnl-2025-women/matches/2227581
personal MVP
Haruyo Shimamura
Middle Blocker
14 points (attack 13, block 1), attack efficiency rate 521 TP 3T
Shimamura scored points mainly from broad attacks, and in a good way showed a presence that is not typical of a Japanese middle blocker. Until the middle of the third set, he was the best scorer on the team despite being a middle blocker. Has anything like this ever happened before? What a great performance. He also showed tenacity with one block and five touches. I hope he will go wild more.
Shimamura's point was only possible thanks to the set by setter Seki, and the aforementioned substitute players and libero Iwasawa, who showed outstanding energy and defense, also performed very well (it goes without saying that Ishikawa and Sato were great, and it was Ishikawa's ace for the 23rd point that decided the fourth set).
If we could choose someone outside the team, I think the MVP would be Coach Akbaş (laughs). I think the substitutions were really accurate. And the players lived up to those expectations, which led to the victory. Coach Akbaş seems to be giving accurate instructions even during timeouts, and it feels great to be fighting together with the players. I look forward to seeing more of him in the future.
Agnieszka Kornek
Middle Blocker
18 points (attack 11, block 7), attack efficiency rate 521 TP 3T
Poland's Kornerk left an even bigger impression than Japan's Shimamura. His tall quick serves and blocks, taking advantage of his 200cm frame, were astounding. His floater serve, which he deliberately didn't jump for, was also effective, and his tricks, such as intentionally delaying the timing of his jump for a block, were also difficult.
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Qualifying Round Rankings
As of 22:00 on Saturday, July 12
1 Italy 10 wins, 0 losses, 28 points, 30/5 sets ★
2 Brazil 10 wins, 1 loss, 28 points, 30/11 sets ★
3 Japan 9 wins, 2 losses, 27 points, 30/9 sets ★
4 Poland 8 wins, 3 losses, 24 points, 28/15 sets ★
5 Türkiye 8 wins, 2 losses, 22 points, 26/11 sets ★
6 China 7 wins, 3 losses, 20 points, 24/16 sets ★
7 Germany 6 wins, 4 losses, 19 points, 24/18 sets
8 USA 6 wins, 4 losses, 17 points, 21/18 sets
9 Czech Republic 5 wins, 5 losses, 13 points, 18/20 set
10 Dominican Republic 5 wins, 6 losses, 13 points, 19/24 sets
11 France 4 wins, 7 losses, 14 points, 20/25 sets
12 Netherlands 4 wins, 6 losses, 13 points, 16/22 sets
13 Bulgaria 4 wins, 7 losses, 11 points, 19/28 sets
14 Belgium 3 wins, 8 losses, 8 points, 12/28 set
15 Serbia 2 wins, 9 losses, 11 points, 18/28 sets
16 Canada 2 wins, 8 losses, 7 points, 14/28 sets
17 South Korea 1 win, 10 losses, 5 points, 11/32 sets
18 TaI 1 win, 10 losses, 5 points, 9/31 set
★…Final Round advancement confirmed
Next race information
July 13th (Sun) 19:20～ vs Brazil
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Photo: FIVB
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