S. Korea secures 1st place in Pool D in women's volleyball

NAGOYA — South Korea claimed victory in the first Pool D women's volleyball match, defeating Vietnam with a 3-1 score of 25-21, 25-21, 26-28, 25-18, at Park Arena Komaki near Nagoya, Japan. The win placed South Korea atop Pool D with three wins, while Vietnam secured second place with two wins and one loss. Both teams had already earned spots in the quarterfinals.

South Korea will face Kazakhstan, Pool B's runner-up, in the eight-team knockout stage starting Sunday. The South Korean squad demonstrated a significant advantage in attack with 101-88 points and a 9-6 lead from the service line. Although the first set was a closely contested battle, South Korea rebounded from a 19-18 deficit thanks to Kim Da-in's two consecutive service winners, which helped the team regain the lead and exploit some errors from Vietnam, ultimately securing a 25-21 set win.

In the second set, South Korea showcased a dominant offensive performance, overpowering Vietnam with diversified plays, such as a block by middle blocker Na Hyun-soo and an ace by Lee Da-hyeon. The team maintained this momentum throughout the remainder of the match.