Korean volleyball team lose to Japan in straight sets

Kim Yeon-koung [VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE]

Korea’s national volleyball team dropped their third game at the 2021 Women’s Volleyball Nations League, losing 3-0 to Japan in Rimini, Italy on Tuesday.

Korea struggled from the off, with Japan holding onto a lead throughout the first two sets to win both 25-18.

Korea caught a break at the start of the third set, opening the scoring with Yang Hyo-jin spiking the ball onto the other side of net. Kim Yeon-koung added a block and aced her serve, giving Korea an 11-6 lead.

However, Japan was quick to comeback to tie the set at 23-23.

In volleyball, matches are played as a best of five sets. The first four are played to 25 points and the final set is played to 15. A team must win each set by at least two points.

At 23-23, Lee So-young’s ace gave Korea a one-point lead, but just when it seemed the game was going to go to a fourth set, Japan blocked Kim’s spike. Korea was unable to add any more points and finished the set with a two-point lead 27-25.

"It was a difficult game," Kim told the Volleyball World after the match. "They played well against us. Their reception was very good. It meant they could attack easier than us."

At the Volleyball Nations League, 16 countries play in groups of four for five weeks, playing three games every week . The top four teams advance to the semifinals to determine the two who will face off in the title match.

After two losses against China and Japan and one win against Thailand, Korea sits at 10th out of 16 countries. Korea will next face Poland on June 1.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]