Japan 🇯🇵 vs Slovenia 🇸🇮 | Bronze Medal Match Highlights | Men's VNL 2026

Japan vs Slovenia | Bronze Medal Match Highlights | Men's VNL 2026. The final round of the "Volleyball Nations League 2026" is being held in Beilun, Ningbo, China, from Wednesday, July 29th.

The Japanese men's volleyball team, ranked 5th in the FIVB world rankings (before the match), faced Slovenia, ranked 6th, in the semi-finals on Sunday, August 2nd. They lost 1-3 in sets (21-25, 28-26, 22-25, 22-25), finishing the tournament in 4th place.

The first set started evenly. Slovenia took the lead with a service ace, but Takahashi Ran's serve disrupted their rhythm, and Nishimoto Keigo made a block to make it 10-9. However, Slovenia also made a block to take the lead at 10-11. After that, although they disrupted their rhythm with serves, they couldn't convert those opportunities into decisive hits, and both teams continued to exchange side-outs. Towards the end of the set, their serve reception faltered, allowing a break and putting them down 18-20. Then, Slovenia scored a service ace, and Nishimoto Keigo lost the first set 21-25.

In the second set, starting player Tatsunori Otsuka made a dig, which led to a back attack by Ran Takahashi, and then Otsuka's spike made it 5-2. After that, Slovenia gradually narrowed the gap with service aces. When Slovenia made it 20-21 with a block, Japan called a timeout. With Slovenia in the lead, Yuji Nishida made a block to tie it at 23-23, and then Nishida's serve led to a break, making it 24-23. The set went to deuce, but Japan won the rally and took the set 28-26, making the set score 1-1.

In the third set, Eva Dedan Larry gets a block, but both teams show tenacious volleyball and the match remains tied. However, Slovenia scores consecutive blocks, putting them down 9-11, and the match continues with Slovenia in control. Nevertheless, Japan breaks serve with Otsuka's serve to make it 14-15. Furthermore, Yamauchi Akihiro scores a block with a serve from Ishikawa Yuki, who came in as the release server, tying the score at 16-16. However, Japan is blocked at crucial moments, falling behind 18-21, and calls a timeout. With the difficult situation continuing, Nagatoki and Miyaura Kento are brought in, but they cannot change the momentum and Japan loses the third set 22-25.

In the fourth set, with cheers for Japan coming from the crowd, Miyaura's serve created an opportunity, and Otsuka scored to give Japan a 6-3 lead. Further back attacks by Miyaura and a service ace by Fukatsu Hideomi extended the lead to 11-8. However, Slovenia fought back and quickly tied the score, and Japan, unable to secure a side-out, fell behind 14-16. The chase continued thereafter. Although they scored a point from Tomita Shoma's serve, they were unable to close the gap until the end, losing the set 22-25 and ultimately losing the match. As a result, Japan finished the tournament in 4th place.

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