VNL 2026: Week 1 in Linyi continues – another tie break win for Slovenia, Japan down hosts China

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Week 1 of 2026 Volleyball Nations League continues today in Linyi, China, with other two games, won by Japan and Slovenia, respectively.
In the day opener, Japan down hosts China by 1-3 (23:25, 22:25, 25:20, 21:25) to climb to the top of standings still undefeated!
The world’s number six team Japan did not allow any surprises in the classic Asian clash with China and kept their unbeaten record since the start of the competition, scoring their third win of the season.
In Saturday’s opening match, in front of an enthusiastic crowd, French coach Laurent Tillie’s boys were led by star outside hitter Ran Takahashi, once again the team’s top scorer as he contributed a match-high 21 points through 64% in attack, three aces and two blocks.
His teammate and captain Yuki Ishikawa was among the starters for all four sets of the match and also tapped into the double digits in scoring with 12 points, all in attack at a 55% success rate, while Middle blocker Taishi Onodera also contributed with five of Japan’s 10 blocks in the match.

“It was a tough game for us, especially in reception. I didn’t play well,” Ishikawa said after the game. “We didn’t play well, but we won 3-1 and that’s the important thing. But today is today, and tomorrow is another match. In the next match we will play better.”

“In the first two sets, we saw some nervousness and many ups and downs. We were not able to maintain our level and that was frustrating today. But it’s good that it happened now and it’s good that we found a way to win,” coach Tillie added, “We have to keep in mind that it’s a growing process. We always have to learn and try to be better, so let’s try to be better tomorrow against Slovenia.”

For China, with four blocks and 70% in attack, Zhang Zhejia was the most prolific player with 18 points, while his teammate Peng Shikun delivered three of the team’s four aces towards an 11-point tally. Outside hitter Wang Bin put away 15 points, including two blocks.

“I am happy that so many people came here to watch this game. I liked the excitement,” Zhang Zhejia said.
“And we played not so bad, but we lost. So, we still need to improve. We need to push ourselves. We always enter the games with confidence, and tomorrow we will fight.”

Winless China stand third from the bottom, in 16th place on 0-3 and 1 point, and they will close their campaign in front of the home crowd in Linyi on Sunday with a game against Germany, while Japan will take on Slovenia in their last clash of the first competition week.

“Last year we won some matches, but now we play against better teams. Slovenia is complete, Japan is complete…” commented China’s Belgian head coach Vital Heynen. “I think we had to win the first set today, but we were not mature enough to do that. I think it would have been a different game, if we had won the first set. But still, I cannot be disappointed, because I see we do good things as a team, but it is my job to be disappointed, because there is always more…”

On the same Pool, Slovenia played their third tie break in as many games after China and Poland, defeating Cuba with the score of 2-3 (15:25, 28:26, 25:19, 14:25, 11:15), giving their rivals’ first point in the standings!

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🏐| FIVB Volleyball Nations League 2026 | Games of the day

— Saturday | June 13, 2026 —

👉🏼 Pool 3 – Week 1 – Linyi 🇨🇳
• 16.30 (Local Time) | China – Japan 1-3 (23:25, 22:25, 25:20, 21:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Cuba – Slovenia 2-3 (15:25, 28:26, 25:19, 14:25, 11:15)

| Pool 2 – Week 1 – Brasilia 🇧🇷
• 11.00 (Local Time) | Brazil – Serbia
• 15.30 (Local Time) | Bulgaria – Argentina

| Pool 1 – Week 1 – Ottawa 🇨🇦
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Canada – USA
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Türkiye – Italy

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Japan 8
2. Slovenia 6
3. USA 6
4. Serbia 6
5. Brazil 6
6. Ukraine 6
7. Poland 5
8. Italy 4
9. Canada 4
10. Bulgaria 3
11. Türkiye 3
12. Belgium 3
13. Iran 3
14. France 2
15. Germany 2
16. China 1
17. Cuba 1
18. Argentina 0

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🏐| NEXT GAMES

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