Sae Omori led Japan to a decisive 3-1 comeback victory against Brazil, securing first place in Pool D on the final day of preliminary play at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women's U21 World Championship. The 19-point performance from the Japanese attacker helped her team overcome a slow start and join Argentina, China, and Poland as pool winners heading into the knockout stage.
Helena Wenk Hoengen delivered a match-high 26 points for Brazil, powering her squad to take the opening set 26-24 with sharp hitting. However, Japan responded forcefully, implementing quicker transitions and tightening their defense to capture the next three sets 25-17, 25-22, 25-22.
Japan's success wasn't a one-woman show. Koyumi Fukumura, Anna Uemura, and Ichiyo Ito all contributed double-digit scoring performances alongside Omori's team-leading output. This balanced attack proved too much for the Brazilian defense to handle after the first set.
Interestingly, all four pool winners showed dominant performances throughout the preliminary stage. Argentina closed Pool A with an unblemished record after sweeping Indonesia, while China completed a perfect 5-0 run to claim Pool B. Poland topped Pool C ahead of Italy on points.
The volleyball action doesn't stop here. The Round of 16 begins next, with all four pool leaders looking to maintain their momentum. Can Japan continue their impressive form after this comeback victory? The knockout stage will certainly test their championship mettle.
