The Japanese women's volleyball team has relinquished its position as the top team in Asia, and Ishikawa Mayu hopes to "end on a positive note."

On the evening of June 21, Beijing time, in a key match of the 2025 Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) held in Hong Kong, the Chinese women's volleyball team defeated the Japanese team 3-1, achieving their third consecutive victory and reclaiming the title of Asia's "number one" by surpassing Japan in the rankings.

Wu Mengjie scored an impressive 24 points, becoming the key player in the team's victory.

Before the match, the Japanese women's team, led by the attacking trio of Ishikawa Mayu, Sato Yoshimi, and Wada Yuki, had a record of 5 wins and 1 loss in the tournament. They faced the world number one Italian team, also unbeaten, and narrowly lost 2-3 in a decisive match. This match between China and Japan was undoubtedly a significant test for the Chinese team, which is currently undergoing a transition with new and old players. However, the Chinese team gave their all, with four players—Wu Mengjie, Zhuang Yushan, Gong Xiangyu, and Wang Yuanyuan—scoring in double figures. The offensive core, Wu Mengjie, stood out with her 24 points, becoming the team's most valuable player. Additionally, a crucial factor in China's victory was their dominance at the net, leading Japan in blocking with a score of 14-3. However, the Chinese team left a major concern as Wu Mengjie was injured after scoring the final point, and it remains uncertain whether she will play against Italy on the 22nd.

After losing to the Chinese team, the Japanese women's volleyball team not only surrendered its top position in Asia but also faced two consecutive defeats in Hong Kong. Japanese media reported that the team was unable to break through the formidable wall of their Asian rivals, the Chinese team, suffering a painful series of losses as they prepare for the Los Angeles Olympics.

Ishikawa Mayu, who spiked against the Chinese team.

The Japanese women's volleyball team has been in excellent form this season, achieving four consecutive victories at the first leg of the 2025 Women's Volleyball Nations League in Ottawa, Canada, and winning their opening match in Hong Kong against Thailand. Although they started with five straight wins, they suffered a 2-3 defeat against Italy on the 20th, abruptly halting their winning streak. In the match against China on the 21st, they made several errors, losing the first and second sets directly. In the third set, with new members actively utilized, the Japanese team managed to win 25-18, but ultimately lost 1-3, bringing their overall record in the tournament to 5 wins and 2 losses.

Ishikawa Mayu, the captain of the Japanese women's volleyball team playing for the Italian club Novara, scored 11 points in this match but was unable to lead her team to victory. Reflecting on the match afterward, she stated, "We were often suppressed by the opponent (China)." Emphasizing her takeaways from the game, she said, "The adjustments in our lineup really helped me. They showed me where the whole team can win." The schedule indicates that the Japanese women's team will face the Czech Republic in the final round in Hong Kong on the 22nd. Looking ahead to this match, Ishikawa Mayu expressed her determination, stating, "We must lift our spirits and get into the game from the start. I hope we can defeat our opponents and carry good momentum into the next stage in Chiba, Japan."

As of the morning of June 22, the standings of the 2025 Women's Volleyball Nations League show...

The 2025 Women's Volleyball Nations League in Chiba, Japan, will take place from July 9 to 13, where the Japanese women's team will compete against France, South Korea, Poland, and Brazil. Among these matches, facing Poland and Brazil presents significant challenges for the Japanese team.