VNL 2026

Shocker! Winless Dominican Republic beat unbeaten Japan

Earlier in Pasig City, USA upset reigning VNL, world and Olympic champions Italy in straight sets

Published 03:25, 20 Jun 2026

Japan (JPN) vs. Dominican Republic (DOM) - Pool 5 - Preliminary Phase #108365587

The Dominican players celebrate their incredible victory over Japan

In what was maybe the most shocking result in the women’s Volleyball Nations League 2026 so far, the Dominican Republic scored their first win of the season against Japan, handing their Asian opponents their first defeat since the start of the competition. The Caribbean Queens achieved a four-set victory over their powerful opponents in Pasig City on Saturday. Earlier in the day, in a remake of the Paris 2024 final, USA took out defending VNL titleholders and reigning world and Olympic champions Italy in straight sets.

Watch the Volleyball Nations League 2026 on VBTV

The Dominican Republic came back from a set down to celebrate a hard-earned 3-1 (17-25, 25-20, 28-26, 25-23) win over 2024 finalists and last year’s semifinalists Japan in the Philippines. The third set was by far the most competitive one in the match. The lead switched hands several times and, in the epilog, the Dominican Republic were the first to reach set point, but in the overtime, they had to save a couple of Japanese set points before finally taking the set and the lead in the match.

View this post on Instagram

The NORCECA team outperformed its opponents in net defense by 10-6 in kill blocks and in serving by 4-3 in aces. The Dominicans also capitalized on the more unforced errors Japan committed during the match, 21-17. Middle blocker Jineiry Martinez authored four of those 10 kill blocks for the winners and spiked at a 62% success rate to finish with a total of 14 points. Outside hitter Flormarie Heredia led the way with a match-high 17 points, while three more Dominican players reached the double digits as well – outside Yonkaira Pena Isabel with 13, and middle Sthefany Gonzalez and opposite 22-year-old opposite Alondra Tapia with 11 apiece.

Japan did better than their rivals in swinging with 68 spike kills against 60 for the Dominican Republic. Opposite Yukiko Wada also produced a match-high 17 points, supported by outside Yoshino Sato with 16, and middle Haruyo Shimamura and 21-year-old outside Ayane Kitamado with 14 each.

This win lifted the Dominican Republic from the very bottom of the current VNL standings. They surpassed Bulgaria and France and are now placed 16^th on a 1-6 win-loss record and 4 points. Japan dropped to 6-1 and 16 in third place. The Asian team also lost ground in the FIVB World Ranking, falling to number six.

One of the two teams that overtook Japan in the World Ranking was the United States. The Americans mastered a 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-16) shutout of the world’s number one team Italy and climbed to number five. They also surpassed Japan to the second place in the VNL standings, on 6-1 and 17. Swinging at a 60% success rate, opposite Stephanie Samedy led the winners with 12 points, while outside Madison Kubik Banks added another 12. 19-year-old Italian opposite Merit Chinenyenwa Adigwe was the top scorer of the match with 13 points, including four kill blocks and an ace.