Japan is now set to face the host nation, Thailand, in the upcoming eighthfinals on Friday, August 29th, while Serbia will compete against the Netherlands.
Japan’s playmaker Nanami Seki in action against Serbia
In a thrilling encounter at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, Japan defeated two-time defending champions Serbia in four sets to claim the top position in Pool H. This decisive victory, achieved on Wednesday, pushed Serbia into second place, thereby determining the eighthfinal pairings. Japan will now go head-to-head with the host team, Thailand, while Serbia prepares to face the Netherlands. Both critical matches are scheduled for Friday, August 29. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Cameroon will compete for third place in Pool H at 20:30 local time (13:30 UTC) before exiting the tournament.
Japan showcased a superior offensive performance, registering 60 spike kills compared to Serbia`s 48, which was instrumental in their 3-1 victory (25-23, 30-28, 23-25, 25-18). The match-winning point was sealed by a crucial double block from middle blocker Airi Miyabe and setter Nanami Seki.
Captain and outside hitter Mayu Ishikawa was the leading scorer for Japan with 19 points, contributing two of the team`s three aces. Opposite Yukiko Wada also made a significant impact with 15 points, and outside hitter Yoshino Sato added 13 points.
Japan`s Turkish head coach, Ferhat Akbas, expressed his excitement for the upcoming match against Thailand, remarking on the `fantastic atmosphere` he witnessed at a previous game between Thailand and the Netherlands. Akbas also reflected on his team`s performance, stating that despite early challenges due to injuries, his players performed exceptionally well in this crucial match. He emphasized the importance of the win, regardless of its direct impact on ranking, and highlighted the team`s immediate focus on the next challenge.
Despite their loss, Serbia demonstrated stronger net defense with 10 kill blocks compared to Japan`s 6, and a slight advantage in serving with 4 aces to Japan`s 3. The match`s top scorer was Serbia`s 21-year-old outside hitter Aleksandra Uzelac, who tallied an impressive 20 points. Middle blocker Maja Aleksic contributed 11 points, including four kill blocks and an ace. Vanja Bukilic, stepping in for the injured star Tijana Boskovic, also reached double-digit scoring with 10 points, featuring two aces and two kill blocks.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick