Japan 🇯🇵 vs. Korea 🇰🇷 - Preliminary phase | AVC Women's Continental Championship 2026 | Highlights

Japan in the white and red serving. Korea in all blue receiving for this ABC Women's Volleyball Continental here in Tianjin, China. That has not caught the block. It's a ball in. Very nice on that slide there. He had no clue where that was going. And again swing chance here for Korea. That was too tight and that is a top block from Ishikawa. Wada. That's a great pass as well. Really good. That's a solid side out from Korea. Baek Se-young gets herself set for this serve. Shimomura's arm so fast. That's a touch. There's a chance here and it's taken and the lead now is with Japan. Oh well played Seki. There's a half a chance here. Well that is a better chance. Oh my goodness. What a dig that is. Shimomura's made it. Well that is the... It's a nice pass. Just a tad behind Sato. Couldn't get a full swing. It might be costly. It is. Wada saves Japan. Lee Dae-hyun with the serve. Has made it. It's squished on the line. Set point again for Korea. Absolutely lovely. What a set from Seki. Ishikawa once again. He was only ever going to go wide to Kang So-hee. Park Eun-joon. Good serve. Lovely side out and straight into the front row. Set point once again for Japan. Seki serving. Good serve. Good touch. Oh that's enough. Oh but it won't stay in play and Japan have managed to get themselves over the line and take the opening set. Korea with the serve. Japan leading one set to nothing. That's a good serve. Opportunity. Nice first time combination play running the X. Here's a swing and again it's that same same scenario isn't it? That's a good serve. A fast arm from Ishikawa. That's another go. Oh rotten up. That is super footwork. Wada's out of the play. Well that is quality. Sato acting as the backup opposite. Free ball now for Japan. That is coming down with snow on it. And Shimomura gets a swing. Japan at the point. All that for a side out. Oh that's a fabulous block. Chance here for a break point. Not an easy one but made to look easy by Sato. Good serve by Kitamata. Now pulling away big time Japan. This could be another point here. Yes it is because they know where to tip the ball so well. They need to change things around here. Korea as quickly as possible. Monster block. Touchtastic I say. That's incredible. So is Ali. No. It's pinball wizardry from Japan at the moment and they're still in the rally and so too Korea. That's ridiculously good. Free ball now for Japan. Everybody moving. What a dig. Magnificent from Handa Hei. This is the rally of the match so far. Free ball again for Japan and Sato still hasn't done it. We're still going. Fukudomi getting another go. Another chance Japan. What a. Oh don't believe it. Magnificent volleyball. Great touches. A high ball. Free ball now Japan. Four attackers moving on. One side out gives Japan a set point. This is so good from Korea. So good from Korea. Tight. Good cover. Played really well as Handa Hei. And that will do it though. Japan take the set. 25-19. They did that. It's a bit low to get a decent swing on that. So a chance for Japan and they go straight to the business of making the block their best friend. Good serve. Off the bounce. Off the park engine. Looking for touches. I don't think they're going to get well. They are pretty sure. Wiggle wiggle. Jiggle jiggle fingers. A big chunk of space keeps it on the body. What a really good pickup that is from Handa Hei. Right the second time though and lovely Seki wants to go back to Shimomura. That's a touch. Good defense both sides. His career will take the point. That was a sensational swing. And number three and three-time Olympian Shimomura with the serve. We just admire the set. That wasn't a fault because it wasn't challenged. Good side out. SV big champion last season. That's him. Very good. They didn't want us to. Perfect pass. Korea should side out. But it's been dug by Fukudomi. A chance here now. Wada. She can't get a swing away. Another opportunity for Korea. Another chance now for Japan. Ebbing and flowing. Who's going to get it done? Oh what a save. But it's fallen for Wada who takes it to birdstown and gives Japan.