The Asian team lost in five sets but managed to gain a crucial point, improving their position in the VNL standings and moving away from the bottom.
Two Korean blockers against the attack of Bulgaria’s Aleksandra Milanova
The Saturday program of the women`s Volleyball Nations League commenced with a gripping five-set battle in Chiba, Japan. Bulgaria emerged victorious, improving their win-loss record to 4-7 with 11 points, placing them 13th in the current VNL standings. Despite the loss, the point Korea secured by pushing the match to five sets proved invaluable. It allowed them to rise from the relegation-threatened bottom of the table, moving up to 17th place with a 1-10 record and 5 points, now holding a slightly better set ratio than Thailand, who remain in the danger zone. The resolution of the relegation battle will come on the final day of the Preliminary Phase. Korea is scheduled to face France on Sunday, while Thailand will fight for survival against Canada. Canada, currently 16th with a 2-8 record and 7 points (with a game in hand), is the third team facing potential relegation, but winning two sets against USA on Saturday would secure their safety.
The match in Chiba saw Bulgaria take an early two-set lead. However, Korea demonstrated resilience, fighting back to claim the next two sets and force a decisive tie-breaker. In the fifth set, the European team regained control, ultimately celebrating a narrow 3-2 victory with set scores of 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 23-25, and 15-13.
Leading the scoring for Bulgaria were outside hitters Aleksandra Milanova and Iveta Stanchulova, each contributing 20 points. Opposite Radostina Marinova added another 17 points. Middle blockers Mariya Krivoshiyska and 21-year-old Aleksandra Saykova also reached double digits with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Marinova commented after the match, “We really like to make our lives difficult, so we are used to it. But I am happy that we finished with a win, because it was important for us. We had a difficult game yesterday and we had to work things out for today. We knew that we needed to give all so we could win today. It was difficult, but I am happy that we did it in the end.”
For Korea, outside hitter and captain Sohwi Kang was the top scorer with a match-high 22 points. Opposite Jiyun Moon contributed 15 points, including three aces. Three other Korean players – middle blockers Dahyeon Lee (who made four kill blocks) and Hoyoung Jung, along with 22-year-old outside hitter Yunju Jeong – each finished with 13 points.
Korean middle blocker Dahyeon Lee reflected on the outcome, stating, “In today’s game with Bulgaria, we were really looking for the result and I am really sad that we didn’t get a win. On the other hand, we did very badly in the first and the second sets, but we continued the game to the fifth set and at least we got one point. Let’s see tomorrow, but this one point can help us stay in the VNL. There is no other game left, so we will put in our 200% per cent of power tomorrow.”
The VNL action for the day continued in Chiba with Japan entertaining Poland in a significant match, before moving on to Apeldoorn, Netherlands, and then Arlington, USA.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick