Japan W vs Italy W

The decisive passage came at 23-23 in the second set. Japan had erased a two-point deficit and appeared to have seized control of the set. Italy head coach Julio Velasco called no timeout — trusting his on-court leaders — and the faith was rewarded. Middle blocker Marina Lubian combined with setter Alessia Orro for a quick kill, and the following rally ended with Japan's Koga attacking long. That 25-23 margin effectively ended the contest; Japan scored only 18 points in the third set, their lowest of the tournament to that point.

Ekaterina Antropova (Italy) — Playing as opposite hitter for the first time this VNL season, Antropova led all scorers with 17 points (15 kills, 1 block, 1 ace). Her power from the right side and improved defensive reads kept Japan's blockers off balance throughout.

Alessia Orro (Italy) — The setter orchestrated Italy's offence with precise distribution, involving middle blockers Marina Lubian and Sarah Fahr to keep Japan's floor defence from loading up against Antropova.

Mayu Ishikawa (Japan) — Japan's most consistent attacker, Ishikawa carried much of the offensive load alongside captain Sarina Koga, but lacked reliable support as Italy's serve targeted libero Manami Kojima hard in serve-receive.

Anna Danesi (Italy) — The captain contributed three aces and multiple roof blocks in set two's crucial moments, setting the tone from the service line.

Player of the match: Ekaterina Antropova.

The final set scores — 25-21, 25-23, 25-18 — show a match that was tighter than a 3-0 sweep suggests, especially in the second set. Italy's cumulative 75-62 point advantage (+13) reflects their ability to win the points that mattered, particularly in set two when Japan had their best chance.

Japan's 23 points in the second set was their peak offensive output for the match. The drop to 18 in the third tells the story: once Italy broke Japan's spirit in the tight moments, the defensive system that relies on precise first-touch passing collapsed. Italy's blocking structure — Antropova and Danesi combining to shut down the pins — was the single biggest tactical factor.

Italy finished Week 2 with three wins from four matches in Pasig (losing only to the USA), keeping them well inside the top four of the VNL 2026 standings at 7-2. The defending champions showed they can win not just through power but through composure under pressure.

Japan dropped to 6-3 but remain firmly in contention for a Finals berth. Head coach Ferhat Akbas, in his first season in charge, will need to address the serve-receive fragility against elite serving teams — a weakness Italy and the USA both exposed in Pasig.

Italy next face China in Week 3 (28 June–2 July 2026), while Japan take on Brazil in what shapes as a critical test of their medal credentials.

A textbook Italian victory: disciplined serving, clinical blocking, and the composure to win the big points. Japan competed on equal terms for long stretches but lacked the second-set resilience to turn parity into a set win. Italy, on current form, look the most complete team in the competition outside the USA.