Japan allow no surprises in Asian classic against China

The world’s number six team Japan did not allow any surprises in the classic Asian clash with archrivals China and kept their unbeaten record since the start of men’s Volleyball Nations League 2026, scoring their third win of the season. In Saturday’s opening VNL match, in front of an impressive crowd of well over nine thousand enthusiastic fans in Linyi, French coach Laurent Tillie’s boys produced a four-set victory over the inspired home team, currently number 31 in the FIVB World Ranking.

• Watch the Volleyball Nations League 2026 on VBTV

Japan’s star outside hitter Ran Takahashi was once again the team’s best scorer as he contributed a match-high 21 points towards the 3-1 (25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 25-21) victory over China. He spiked 14 points at a 64% success rate, fired three serving aces and raised two kill blocks to help lift Ryujin Nippon to the top of the current VNL standings on a 3-0 win-loss record and 8 points. His cross-court teammate and captain Yuki Ishikawa was among the starters for all four sets of the match and also tapped into the double digits in scoring with 12 points, all in swings at a 55% success rate. Middle blocker Taishi Onodera shined in net defense with five of Japan’s 10 kill blocks in the match.

“It was a tough game for us, especially in reception. I didn’t play well,” Ishikawa told VBTV after the game. “We didn’t play well, but we won 3-1 and that’s the important thing. But today is today, and tomorrow is another match. In the next match we will play better.”

On Sunday, at 20:00 local time (12:00 UTC), Japan will take on Slovenia in their last fixture of the first competition week.

“In the first two sets, we saw some nervousness and many ups and downs. We were not able to maintain our level and that was frustrating today. But it’s good that it happened now and it’s good that we found a way to win,” coach Tillie added. “We have to keep in mind that it’s a growing process. We always have to learn and try to be better, so let’s try to be better tomorrow against Slovenia.”

China made fewer unforced errors than Japan and the only scoring element in which they outperformed the opponents was the blocking. Their middles played a key role in the match. With four kill blocks to his name and a 70% success rate in attack, Zhang Zhejia was the team’s leading scorer with a total of 18 points. His cross-court teammate Peng Shikun, on the other hand, delivered three of the team’s four aces towards an 11-point tally. Outside hitter Wang Bin put away 15 points, including two blocks.

“I am happy that so many people came here to watch this game. I liked the excitement,” Zhang Zhejia pointed out. “And we played not so bad, but we lost. So, we still need to improve. We need to push ourselves. We always enter the games with confidence, and tomorrow we will fight.”

Winless China stand third from the bottom, in 16^th place on 0-3 and 1. They will end their campaign in front of the home crowd in Linyi on Sunday with a game against Germany at 16:30 (09:30).

“Last year we won some matches, but now we play against better teams. Slovenia is complete, Japan is complete… ” commented China’s Belgian head coach Vital Heynen. “I think we had to win the first set today, but we were not mature enough to do that. I think it would have been a different game, if we had won the first set. But still, I cannot be disappointed, because I see we do good things as a team, but it is my job to be disappointed, because there is always more…”

Saturday’s program continues with a match between Cuba and Slovenia in Linyi, serving off at 20:00 (12:00). Later in the day, two undefeated teams – Brazil and Serbia – will lock horns in Brasilia, before an encounter between Bulgaria and Argentina. A North American clash between Canada and USA will get the day going in Ottawa. Turkiye will take on Italy in the last match on Saturday’s schedule.

VNL 2026 schedule and results
VNL 2026 ticket information

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