The first round of the final tournament of the 2025 Women's Volleyball World Championship (World Volleyball) was held on Friday, August 29th, with Japan facing off against the host country, Thailand.
In the first set, Thailand, with the support of the home crowd, took a 2-6 lead at the start, but Japan quickly turned the game around with a service ace from Shimamura to make it 8-7. After that, Japan continued to score points, mainly through attacks from Ishikawa and Wada, and maintained their lead, taking the lead 25-20.
In the second set, Thailand took the lead early on with attacks from Pimpichaya, but Japan turned the tables with attacks from Shimamura and Sato. In the final stages, they were down to one point, but in the end, a Thai serve error made it 25-23, and Japan took the set.
In the third set, Thailand changed setter from Pornpun to Nattanicha. The change worked well, and Thailand continued to score points, mainly through Chatchuon, and maintained the lead until the end. However, Japan tied the score at 20-20 with a service ace from Miyabe, and then took the lead at 23-21 with a long rally from Wada's serve. A final Thai serve error made it 25-23, and Japan won 3-0 against Thailand.
Japan - Thailand
3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-23)
Japan
Starting lineup: OH Ishikawa (14), MB Miyabe (8), OH Wada (11), OH Sato (7), MB Shimamura (12), S Seki (1), L Kojima
Substitutes: MB Yamada (0), OH Iwasawa (0), S Nakagawa (0), OH Akimoto (3)
Thailand
Starting line-up: MB Wimolrat (2), S Pornpun (1), OH Chatchuon (12), MB Thatdao (7), OP Pimpichaya (11), OH Sasiphaporn (7), L Piyanat/Jidapa
Substitutes: Hattaya (2), S. Nattanicha (2), OH. Atcharaporn (1), OP. Thanacha (2)
Match stats▼
https://en.volleyballworld.com/volleyball/competitions/women-world-championship/schedule/22440/#teamstats
Next up, they will face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, September 3rd at 7:00 PM.
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Photo: Volleyball World
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