PHILSPORTS Arena, Pasig City – At the AVC Cup for Women quarterfinals on Thursday , China and Japan advanced as top seeds after sweeping their respective groups. Iran, Australia, and others left behind by the sweep.

Wang Yifan scored 25 points as China, the defending pool A winner, defeated Iran by scores of 24-26, 25-19, 25-10, and 25-13. 

Along with the Chinese captain, Wang Wenhan and Zhuang Yushan each scored 13 and 12 points. Ten markers were added by Hu Mingyuan. On Saturday, China will play Australia, which has never won a match.

Chinese coach Kuang Qi through interpreter and opposite spiker Li Xuemeng, mentions, “We didn’t think about our numbers putting in our pool. It’s a big achievement of winning this game (against the Iranians) but the tougher games are behind this game. We have the quarterfinals and probably we are gonna make it to the semifinal or the final which we should really focus on.  We are gonna prepare for it.”

Iran, who won its first game before losing three straight, will have to wait to see the outcome of the Philippines-South Korea match, which is still going on at the time of publication. 

With a victory, the Philippines (1-2) would earn the third spot in Pool A and a match against Thailand in the quarterfinals, while Iran will face Japan. 

Elahe Shadehsari, who had previously lost four sets to the Philippines, led the Iranians with 13 points. 

Japan, meanwhile, easily defeated Australia by scores of 25-4, 25-11, and 25-15 to sweep Pool B in three games.

Yuki Nishikawa scored 18 points on the strength of 13 spikes, three service aces, two blocks, and Mizuki Tanaka scored 16 points on the strength of six aces to set up a matchup against the No. 4 seed in Pool A on Saturday.

Japan team’s Nishikawa, through an interpreter says, ““We had a little time to prepare for this competition with this team.  But we did pretty great and I’m so happy about it.”

Japan’s opponent will depend on the final group stage game between the Philippines (1-2) and winless South Korea (0-3).

No one from Australia scored in double figures with Khiani Garton-Dodd finishing with seven points as the Volleyroos ended up winless in three games to face unbeaten China in the knockout round.

China’s last score cards

Scores per set are as follows:

First set 24 – 26

Second set 25 – 19

Third set 25 – 10

Final set 25 – 13

*Props to Yifan who proves to be the formidable athlete the following teams will face

Japan’s last score cards

Scores per set are as follows:

First set 25 – 4

Second set 25 – 1c

Final set 25 – 15

* Props to Nishikawa who proves to be the formidable athlete as well, as both may bid for MVP spot of AVC Cup 2022