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China Dashes Japan's Hopes of Staying Unbeaten in Volleyball Nations League

The Japanese women gave China a run for the money but came up short and fell to 3-1 in the first week of the international volleyball tournament.

Published

1 year ago

June 5, 2023

Jim Armstrong

Japan's Sarina Koga serves in the first set against China in an FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League match on June 4 in Nagoya. (ⒸSANKEI)

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Japan's hopes of going 4-0 in the first week of competition in the FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League were thwarted after a straight-sets loss to powerhouse China on Sunday, June 4.

The Japanese women's team came into the match against its Asian rival undefeated in Pool 2 after wins over the Dominican Republic, Bulgaria and Croatia.

But Sunday's showdown in Nagoya would prove to be more difficult.

Yingying Li led the way with 20 points while Wang Yuanyaun had 11 to power world No. 5 China to a 25-18, 27-25, 27-25 win and a perfect 4-0 record.

"I am so happy for this win," China's setter Linyu Diao said. "The Japanese team is very strong and all of our spikers were ready to go in tough moments, so I could have a good choice."

China moved into second place in the standings on 4-0 and 11 points, just below Poland on point ratio. Japan (3-1) is currently fifth with nine points.