Comebacks galore shaping Week 2 of the VNL

USA and Turkey remain the only undefeated teams at the 2021 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League, after Japan fell to Brazil on Monday, Day 4 of the competition at Italy's Adriatic resort of Rimini. But Monday's highlight was Britt Herbots high scoring for Belgium and a series of incredible comebacks that had fans on edge throughout the day.

Coach Gert vande Broek made some critical internal changes as Herbots scored a tournament high 33 points to get Belgium back on track after trailing by two sets for a complete turnaround and a five-set win over the Dominican Republic.

Twenty-one-year-old Herbots is the first player this season to score 30 points or more in a single VNL game and her tally on Monday shot her up to first place in the overall list of best scorers at this VNL.

• Check out the individual rankings of players

But Belgium's full comeback was not the only of the day. With Hanna Orthmann back in action, Germany had built up a solid two-set lead over China, but the reigning world champions came back to overrun them.

Orthmann and China captain Zhang Changning shared top-scoring honours for the game with 23 points each, but it was really the 31 unforced errors conceded by Germany (to China's mere 17) that made the difference in the end.

VNL rookies Canada, meanwhile, were well on their way to a massive upset, leading 2018 silver medallists Turkey 2-1 and 23-17 in the fourth - before Turkey responded with an incredible eight-point run to force a tie-break.

Kiera Van Ryk had an amazing night in Rimini, stopping at a match high 27 points which brings her in the top three of the overall best scorers table - but just not enough to take down Turkey.

This leaves Turkey undefeated, but they have now dropped two points and trail USA in the standings after the Americans retained a perfect record with their sweep of Serbia in the closing match of Monday.

But it was Brazil who produced a show of power, downing Japan in straight sets and knocking the Asia side off the top of the standings. Fe Garay delivered in the best possible way with a 55% attacking efficiency (21/38) and some great coverage in the back restricted Japan to an overall mere 30% (34/113).

Both Brazil and Japan are now at 3-1.

With Serbia focusing on their next match against Thailand, USA coach Karch Kiraly also rested some of his usual starters - though with the depth that USA have that was of little significance and Jordan Thompson emerged the game's high scorer on 17.

• Check out the full standings

Elsewhere, at the start of Week 2, the Netherlands extended their record to 3-1 and sit third in the standings behind the two undefeated sides of USA and Turkey, following a sweep of Thailand.

And Poland shut out Korea in three sets (though had to came from behind to take the third) - Magdalena Stysiak unhappy at not getting in any aces, but still contributing 17 points which has her in second place of the best scorers table.

And Russia are still struggling to get the right pace - but somehow they again managed to scrape through, fending off a fiery and passionate, if inexperienced, young Italian squad for a 3-0 sweep that was their third win in four matches so far.

It was their up-and-coming young star Arina Fedorovtseva who saw them through this time, producing 18 points, though the match high of 22 came from Italy's Sylvia Nwakalor.

• Check out the full results and details of all matches, plus remaining schedule