Australia and Korea advanced to the semifinals of the AVC Men’s Volleyball Asian Championship.
Australia booked their place in the last four with a straight-sets win over Thailand. Lorenzo Pope led the scoring with 17 points, while Lincoln Alexander Williams added 15.
Korea had to work harder against China, recovering from a one-set deficit to claim a four-set victory. Donghyeok Im and Subong Heo scored 21 points each as Korea edged a dramatic fourth set 29-27 to close out the match. China produced 17 blocks and stayed competitive throughout, with Li Yongzhen and Wang Bin finishing on 16 points apiece.
Both Australia and Korea are now one win away from the podium and a place at the 2027 World Cup. The Asian champions will also secure the continent’s qualification spot for the men’s volleyball tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Quarterfinal results:
Australia def. Thailand 3-0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-19)
Korea def. China 3-1 (17-25, 25-21, 25-22, 29-27)
