Japan has advanced to the Women's Indoor Volleyball semifinals after defeating China in five sets 28-26, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 18-16.
The Japanese versus China match could not have been any more exciting. Both teams pushed each other to the brink clawing back into sets and hustling for every point.
In the first set, China looked to be headed straight for victory as they held an 18-14 lead over Japan. With beautiful blocking at the net, however, Japan was able to go on a 7-3 run to tie the game at 21. Both teams exchanged points and tied the game at 26. Japan put the match away after scoring two consecutive points to take the set 28-26.
In the second set, China jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead. Again, Japan facing a deficit, they fought back, tying the game at six. They exchanged points until the set was 14-14, then China went on a 5-1 run to take the 19-14 advantage. Japan almost tied the match at 23, but China ran away with the victory wrapping up the set on Yunli Ku spike.
Japan, for a change, led in the third set up until the game was tied at 7-7. With the set tied at 12, China took the lead going on a 3-point run. Japan regained the lead at the end of the set as score was 22-21 and they did not relinquish the lead.
In the fourth set, China took an early 10-6 lead. Japan could not get in scoring mode and China extended their four-point lead to a five-point lead as the score was 14-9. Japan went on a 6-1 run tying the game at 15. From here on, both teams exchanged points up until score was 23-23. China received a spike from Yimei Wang, which Japan could not handle and then Yunwen worked the net with a block and Soari Kimura could not spike the ball in play.
The final set once again went down to the wire. No team took more than a two-point lead during the set. It saw nine ties up until when Japan's Erika Araki got a point off a spike and then Hitomi Nakamichi put the set and match away with a serve that was mishandled by Ruoqi Hui of China.
