Japan stays perfect, defeats China 3-1 to reach Volleyball Nations League semifinals in Ningbo
Japan extended its perfect record to 13 wins, overcoming a first-set loss to eliminate host China in the Volleyball Nations League quarterfinal in Ningbo, China.
The match
Japan lost the opening set but recovered to beat China 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-23) in the Volleyball Nations League quarterfinal on Wednesday. The victory kept the Japanese side unbeaten through 13 matches, 12 in the preliminary phase and the knockout opener, and secured a semifinal berth. China, the tournament host, had entered the finals with only one win in the intercontinental round and finished last in the standings.
Japan's dominant campaign
Japan went 12-0 in the preliminary phase to top the standings, led by star outside hitter Ran Takahashi. Takahashi is set to join Bogdanka LUK Lublin for the next club season, and his national team remains in contention for its first VNL title. The semifinal opponent will be the winner of the Italy–United States quarterfinal. Japan last met China on 13 June 2026 and won that preliminary-round contest as well.
- Russia
- Russia
- Brazil
- France
- Poland
- France
- Poland
- Poland
The title picture
Defending champion Poland finished the preliminary round in second place and will face Ukraine on Thursday. Coach Nikola Grbić will be without middle blocker Jakub Kochanowski, who recently underwent knee surgery. The team was already missing Bartosz Kurek, Mateusz Bieniek and Norbert Huber this season for various reasons, yet still has a deep roster, including Wilfredo Leon, Tomasz Fornal and the in-form attacker Bartłomiej Bołądź.
It's a very short tournament. An uncomfortable quarterfinal against Ukraine, who on any given day can do anything. And then we'll see who we have to play. I wouldn't count my chickens before they hatch.
Several traditional powers missed the Finals altogether. France and Brazil did not finish in the top eight, nor did 2025 world silver medalists Bulgaria. Italy, after a slow start, faces the United States in the remaining quarterfinal.
Poland's chronic injury list
Grbić has contended with significant player absences nearly every season since taking over in 2022. That year Norbert Huber ruptured his Achilles tendon late in the club season and Wilfredo Leon missed the World Championship with a knee injury. In 2023 Mateusz Bieniek was hurt in the VNL final against the United States and missed the European Championship and Olympic qualifier; Bartosz Kurek withdrew with hip pain after the European Championship semifinals.
- Norbert Huber ruptures Achilles; Wilfredo Leon misses World Championship with knee injury.
- Mateusz Bieniek injured in VNL final vs USA; Bartosz Kurek withdraws with hip pain after Euro semis.
- Tomasz Fornal picks up minor injury; Marcin Janusz and Paweł Zatorski play through serious issues.
- Jakub Kochanowski undergoes knee surgery, ruled out of VNL Finals.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Poland won silver, Tomasz Fornal picked up a minor injury in the opening match and Marcin Janusz and Paweł Zatorski played through serious physical problems. The pattern now repeats with Kochanowski’s knee procedure keeping him out of the 2026 Finals. Grbić can still call on Jakub Nowak, Bartłomiej Lemański, Szymon Jakubiszak and Jakub Majchrzak in the middle blocker position.
