China beats Japan in FIVB Women's Nations League

China players after winning the 2023 Volleyball Nations League match against Japan in Nagoya, Japan on June 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

China got past Japan 3-0 and recorded its fourth successive victory in the FIVB Women's Nations League.

NAGOYA, Japan, June 4 (Xinhua) -- China beat hosts and arch rivals Japan 3-0 to score its fourth successive win from as many matches in the FIVB Women's Nations League here on Sunday.

The three-time Olympic champions won the thriller 25-18, 27-25, 27-25 in front of a Japanese home crowd of 5,500 to finish the first competition week undefeated and climb to second place in the standings on 4-0 and 11 points, just below Poland on point ratio.

Japan, who beat China 3-1 in last year's Nations League, suffered its first loss and slipped to fifth on 3-1 and nine points.

China's outside hitter Li Yingying, who scored the winner with a smash, was again the top scorer with 20 points. Middle blocker and captain Yuan Xinyue finished with 10, including two aces.

Li Yingying looks on during the match. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Captain Sarina Koga led Japan with 19 points, and Kotona Hayashi added 13.

China fought back from 16-8 down in the second set to level the score at 22-22. They survived a Japanese set point and turned it around at 27-25.

In Sunday's other matches, Germany defeated Bulgaria 3-2 (18-25, 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 15-10), while Brazil beat Croatia 3-0 (26-24, 25-18, 25-8).