In the women's final round of the Volleyball Nations League 2025 (Poland), Japan faced Turkey in the quarterfinals on Thursday, July 24th, and won 3-2 (25-21, 16-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-9), advancing to the semifinals.
Participating members
Japan
Starting line-up: S Seki (3), OH Ishikawa (19), MB Miyabe (10), OP Wada (15), OH Sato (15), MB Shimamura (8), L Kojima/Fukudome
Substitutes: S Nakagawa (0), OH Kitamado (0), OH Akimoto (2)
Türkiye
Starting line-up: S Ozbay (2), OH Karakurt (4), MB Güneş (12), OP Vargas (22), OH Elkek (17), MB Karachi (11), L Orge
Substitutes: L Akoz, OH Sahin (0), OH Baladun (0), S Özdemir (0), OP Kartash (4).
Match Report
In the first set, Japan scored points mainly through OH Ishikawa and OH Sato, while Turkey made many mistakes in both attack and serve, allowing Japan to take a comfortable lead 25-21.
In the second set, Turkey scored many points with highly accurate spikes from OH Elkek and OP Vargas, while Japan was unable to score as they wanted due to their own mistakes and blocks by MB Karachi and others, and lost the set by a large margin of 16-25.
In the third set, Japan's stable serve reception led to S. Seki launching a variety of attacks to score points, and with a total of four blocks, including two by MB Miyabe, and solid defense, Japan took the lead in the match and took back the set 25-20.
In the fourth set, Japan's OP Wada, who had been in poor form up to that point, recovered and continued to score points along with the continuing good OH Ishikawa, but Turkey's OP Vargas and OH Elkek scored points with even more decisiveness, taking the set to a full set with a score of 22-25.
In the fifth set, MB Shimamura blocked OP Vargas and Japan went ahead at 5-4. From there, Japan scored points with counterattacks from OP Wada and MB Shimamura from their solid defense. Turkey also made a series of mistakes, and Japan took a big lead at 10-5. Japan continued to hold the lead, and in the end, OH Ishikawa's service ace closed the set at 15-9 to win 3-2.
Match stats▼
https://vnlw.volleystation.com/en/matches/2227594/
personal MVP
Airi Miyabe
Middle Blocker
10 points (6 attacks, 1 serve, 3 blocks)
Attack Effectiveness Rate 38%
A middle blocker who made a big contribution against the tall Turkish team with 3 blocks and 4 touches, turning a pinch into an opportunity. Although there were periods when the team struggled to score spikes, her blocks brought about a change for the team. She also contributed greatly with quick points during rallies and effective serves. For Japan to aim higher, it is essential that middle blockers grow and perform well.
Melissa Vargas
Opposite
22 points (19 attacks, 3 blocks)
Attack Effectiveness Rate 38%
Vargas, one of the world's number one opposites, led his team with 22 points, the most of both teams, in this match. However, his performance fluctuated greatly during the match, and he was not much of a threat this time except in the fourth set.
Toshiki's comment
Japan struggled but managed to win in full sets.
They struggled with the opponent's high blocks, giving up a total of 13 block points, and also missed 14 attacks, making it a tough match where attacks did not go as they wanted, but they persevered and won by using blocks and defense to create rallies.
I think that on this day in particular, the Japanese block, including Miyabe mentioned above, made the difference between victory and defeat. The turning point in the fifth set was also Shimamura's block.
Japan has always had good receiving skills, so their blocking worked well this time, which I think strengthened their overall defensive strength, and this may have also led to Turkey's mistakes.
It was also good to see how the setter, Seki, struggled but managed to shift the attacker's hitting position, and showed his ingenious toss work with pipe attacks and quicks during rallies. I was particularly impressed by Shimamura's C-quick from the long rally in the fifth set.
And it was great that the match ended with a service ace from Ishikawa, a serve point that symbolized the Japanese women's match this year. It was a truly wonderful victory.
Turkey's players are taller than the Japanese men's team and have great potential, but their play is a bit rough, which is a shame. If their play becomes more stable, I think they have the potential to beat the absolute champion Italy.
However, there were many injuries during the VNL and they didn't have much time to practice together, so I would like to see them at a more refined level at the World Championships.
Now, Japan, who have advanced to the semi-finals, will face Brazil, who they lost to in straight sets in Chiba. Will they be able to get revenge?
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Next race information
Semi-final vs Brazil
July 26th (Sat) 27:00~
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Related links
Photo: FIVB
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