Japan stay on course in Surabaya as Brazil end Argentina’s run, Italy dethrone China and Bulgaria stun Poland in quarterfinals
The lone team in the tournament without a loss, Japan headlined the semifinal field at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship, with Brazil, Italy and Bulgaria also advancing after Friday’s quarterfinal action at the JAWA POS Arena, Gelora Pancasila and Samator Healthporia Volleyball Hall.
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Japan extended their perfect run with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-20) victory over Türkiye to book their place in the semifinals. Balanced scoring proved decisive for the Asian side, with Sae Omori and Koyumi Fukumura posting 11 points each, while Miina Inoue and Anna Uemura added 10 apiece. Türkiye relied heavily on Defne Bascoylu, who scored 12, and Liza Safronova with 11.
The opening set was tight, with Türkiye starting strong in attack, but Japan’s composure in the closing rallies earned them a narrow 25-23 win. The second frame followed a similar pattern, with Bascoylu keeping Türkiye in the contest before Omori and Fukumura took charge to give Japan another close-set win, 25-21. In the third, Japan varied their offence with quick combinations that dismantled the Turkish block, surging ahead 21-18 before sealing the match at 25-20.
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Earlier in the day, Brazil ended Argentina’s own unbeaten campaign with a commanding 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-14) triumph in a fiery all-South American clash. Brazil’s attack and serve proved too much for their rivals, outscoring them 37-25 in attacks and firing two aces, while also dominating at the net with 14 blocks. Setter Ana Luiza Roberto Arosti anchored the defense with four blocks, supported by Rebeca Borges Viana and Luana Camila Kuskowski with three each. Aline Segato Maestri led the scoring with 13 points, Rebeca followed with 12, while Martina Bednarek was Argentina’s lone double-digit scorer on 10.
The first set saw the teams locked at 18-all before Brazil pulled away with a decisive run to take it 25-19. Maestri and Rebeca kept the pressure on in the second, powering the team to a 25-18 win, and in the third, Brazil’s attack hit full stride as they cruised to 25-14 to complete the sweep.
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Italy then dethroned defending champions China in a rematch of the 2023 final, winning 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-15) to hand the Asians their first defeat of the tournament. Four Italian players reached double figures: Merit Adigwe led with 16, Nicole Piomboni and Teresa Maria Boss added 13 each, and Linda Manfredini chipped in 10. Zhao Zhexi was China’s top scorer with 10.
Italy edged the first set 25-23 in a high-intensity battle where Adigwe’s powerful hitting set the tone. Piomboni and Boss complemented her firepower to keep Italy ahead in the second, capitalizing on a rise in Chinese errors to claim it 25-19. The Europeans were at their most dominant in the third, controlling the net and maintaining a comfortable lead before closing it out 25-15.
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Bulgaria completed the semifinal lineup with a surprise 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18) win over favorites Poland, continuing their late-tournament surge with a third straight victory over a top contender. Iva Dudova led the charge with an outstanding 33 points from 28 attacks, three blocks and two aces, supported by Viktoria Koeva’s 14. Poland had strong contributions from Aleksandra Adamczyk and Julia Hewelt with 19 apiece, and Anna Fiedorowicz with 13, but could not match Bulgaria’s decisive plays in key moments.
Dudova’s early firepower guided Bulgaria to a narrow 25-23 win in the opening set, but Poland hit back in the second to level the match. The third set swung on a few critical rallies, with Bulgaria edging it 25-23, and in the fourth, Dudova and Koeva combined to overpower the Polish defense, sealing the upset with a 25-18 victory.
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The semifinals are set with Brazil facing Italy at 13:00 local time (06:00 GMT) in the first match, followed by Bulgaria meeting Japan at 16:00 (09:00 GMT) in the second.
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In the 9th–16th classification, Czechia beat Korea 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 24-26, 25-20) with 21 points each from Bara Rejmanova and Antonie Kelnarova, plus 17 from Caroline Formankova. Korea’s Shin Eunji scored 17. Czechia took the first two sets, conceded the third, but finished strong in the fourth.
USA swept Puerto Rico 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-16) as Halle Thompson and Henley Anderson each scored nine, overcoming a match-high 22 from Chareika Carrion Gonzalez. The Americans won a tight opener before tightening their defence to close out in straight sets.
Croatia overpowered Serbia 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-18) behind Tonka Bosnjak’s 18, Asja Zolota’s 16 and Antea Peric’s 12, while Thailand defeated hosts Indonesia 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-22) led by Warisara Seetaloed’s 17 and Kwannaphat Nualwan’s 11, holding off a late push in the third set.
In the 17th–20th classification, Canada overcame the Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-23) with Logan King scoring 19, Elodie Lalonde 15 and Claire Carter 13. Virelys Shantal Rivera Soto had 13 for the Dominicans.
Chile beat Vietnam 3-1 (25-17, 25-15, 17-25, 25-20) thanks to Petra Schwartzman Hechenleitner’s 22 points and Dominga Aylwin Debarca’s 21, recovering in the fourth after Vietnam took the third.
In the 21st–24th classification, Tunisia swept Algeria 3-0 (26-24, 25-11, 25-11) with Sinda Ben Hamida scoring 17 and Nermine Ben Hamza 13, while Algeria’s Alida Bennour led all scorers with 23.
Egypt also won in straight sets, defeating Mexico 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-16) behind double-digit outings from Rimaz Elafify and Malak Elbehiry. Aylin Andrea Ravell Iglesias was Mexico’s top scorer.
2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship: full schedule
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