A Stunning Comeback: Japan Women's Volleyball Team Defeats Ukraine

Japan's national team defeated Ukraine 3-2, securing first place in Group H at the 2025 Women's Volleyball World Championship.

On the evening of August 25 at Huamark Arena, Bangkok, the Japanese women's volleyball team demonstrated great resilience by rallying to beat Ukraine 3-2 (25-27, 20-25, 25-20, 26-24, 15-11) in Group H. 2025 Women's Volleyball World Championship. The match, lasting over two hours, delivered an intense and thrilling chase for the audience.

Ukraine started confidently and unexpectedly gained an early advantage. In the first set, Milenko and Meliushkyna repeatedly exploited weaknesses in Japan’s defense, helping the Eastern European team win 27-25. In the second set, Ukraine increased the pressure and won 25-20, leading 2-0 and putting Japan in a difficult position.

However, at this point, the Asian team’s determination shone through. In the third set, captain Ishikawa and Yoshino took turns scoring, allowing Japan to narrow the gap with a 25-20 win. The fourth set became a turning point with both teams neck and neck. Ukraine had a chance to close the match, but Japan fought back fiercely and won a dramatic 26-24, pushing the contest to a decisive fifth set.

In the final set, Japan maximized their experience and steadiness. Ishikawa remained a key player with powerful spikes, and Yoshino also contributed significantly in crucial attacks. Ukraine gradually lost accuracy, allowing their opponents to break away and secure a 15-11 victory.

Statistics showed Ishikawa as the standout star with 29 points, while Yoshino added 24 points and Wada contributed 12 points. For Ukraine, Milenko led with 21 points, followed by Meliushkyna with 19 and Kraiduba with 16 points. Despite their efforts, Ukraine has yet to win any matches after two group games.

With this result, Japan holds two wins, 5 points, and leads Group H. Serbia is second with 3 points, Ukraine has 1 point after two losses, and Cameroon is last with zero points.

The victory over Ukraine not only helps Japan maintain the top spot but also confirms the mental strength of the team from the Land of the Rising Sun, a strong contender for advancing in this year’s tournament.