Japan handed defending Volleyball Nations League champions Poland a second straight defeat, edging them 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 22-25, 17-15) in a dramatic battle in Linyi, China.
After falling to Slovenia a day earlier, Poland again came up short in a tie-break, with Japanese star Ran Takahashi delivering a match-winning performance. The outside hitter scored a match-high 26 points.
Takahashi received strong support from Kento Miyaura with 16 points, Tatsunori Otsuka with 15, and Akihiro Yamauchi with 12. For Poland, Aliaksei Nasevich led the way with 24 points, while Bartlomiej Lemanski added 16.
The defeat also had major implications in the FIVB World Rankings. Poland lost enough points to surrender the world No. 1 position to reigning world champions Italy.
“We played at a high level and so did they. It was a great match,” Takahashi said after the victory.
In other matches, Turkiye produced one of the biggest surprises of the day, sweeping reigning Olympic champions France 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-21) in Ottawa. Adis Lagumdzija led the Turkish side with 20 points as Turkiye.
Ukraine continued their good start with a convincing 3-0 victory over Cuba, improving to 2-1. Cuba remains without a set win so far.
The United States stayed unbeaten, defeating Germany in straight sets to move to the top of the standings on six points. Opposite Jake Hanes led the Americans with 19 points.
In Brasilia, Serbia claimed second win by defeating Belgium 3-1 behind 18 points each from Veljko Masulovic and Vuk Kulpinac.
Iran celebrated first victory of the campaign with a 3-0 sweep of Argentina, powered by a 22-point performance from Ali Haji.
Results – Volleyball Nations League 2026 (June 13)
- Japan def. Poland 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 22-25, 17-15)
- Turkiye def. France 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-21)
- Ukraine def. Cuba 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-16)
- USA def. Germany 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-20)
- Serbia def. Belgium 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22)
- Iran def. Argentina 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23)