Germany W vs China W

The opening set was a tense, high-quality affair that went deep into extra points. Germany showed formidable resistance, pushing China all the way before finally clinching it 27-25 to draw first blood in front of a lively Ankara crowd.

Germany carried that momentum into the second set, racing out to a lead and looking capable of taking a shock 2-0 advantage. But China, as they have done so often in this fixture, showed their championship pedigree. The Asian giants steadied themselves, tightened up their blocking and ultimately levelled the match with a 25-23 win.

It was in the third set that China truly began to impose themselves. The German side, who had matched China blow-for-blow in the opening two sets, suddenly found themselves on the back foot. China's attacking firepower — led by their formidable outside hitters — proved too much for the German defence as they cruised to a 25-18 victory to take a 2-1 lead in sets.

Trailing 2-1, Germany faced the prospect of seeing the match slip away. But the German women summoned a spirited response in the fourth set. They rediscovered the aggression and precision that had served them so well in the opener, battling back to take it 25-20 and force a deciding fifth set.

The comeback set up a winner-take-all fifth set, and it was China who rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion. The Chinese side raced to a commanding lead and never relented, eventually closing out the decider 15-6 with a ruthless display of attacking volleyball.

The result extends China's extraordinary record against Germany to 15 wins from 17 meetings since 2009. Germany's only two victories in this fixture came in earlier editions of the VNL, but they have now lost 11 straight meetings against their Asian opponents.

Remarkably, the 2-3 scoreline has become a recurring theme between these sides. Of the last five meetings dating back to 2021, four have finished 3-2 in China's favour, including the 2025 VNL meeting which also ended 2-3. The only exception was a 3-0 China win in June 2024.

For China, this hard-fought victory in Ankara keeps their VNL 2026 campaign on track as they look ahead to the Finals later this summer in Macau — which China will host. Recruiting new talents into their squad for this VNL cycle, China continue to blood emerging players alongside established stars like Li Yingying and Gong Xiangyu.

Germany, meanwhile, will rue what might have been after pushing China to the limit once again. The German side have shown they can compete with the world's best, but the inability to close out tight matches against elite opposition remains an area for growth. Germany face Belgium in their next Week 2 fixture on 19 June.

With a youthful Chinese roster taking shape under the guidance of their coaching staff, several players stepped up when it mattered most in the fifth set. The Chinese middle blockers were particularly effective at the net, registering key denials that disrupted Germany's attacking rhythm in the crucial stages.

For Germany, their resilience in fighting back from a set down — and then forcing a fifth set after trailing 2-1 — demonstrated significant character. The German passing game was sharp throughout, and their service pressure troubled China in the fourth set in particular.

The match was played at Ankara Arena in the Turkish capital as part of VNL Week 2 Pool 4, which also features hosts Türkiye alongside Brazil, France, Belgium, Germany and China. Ankara has provided a vibrant backdrop for the tournament, with strong crowds turning out to watch the world's best women's volleyball nations.

Both teams continue their VNL Week 2 campaigns in Ankara. China take on France on 19 June before facing Brazil on 20 June and Türkiye on 21 June. Germany's schedule sees them face Belgium on 19 June, hosts Türkiye on 20 June and Brazil on 21 June as they seek to build momentum in the preliminary phase.