Winless Dominican Republic delivered one of the biggest surprises of the women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2026, beating previously unbeaten Japan in four sets in Pasig City on Saturday to claim their first victory of the season. Earlier in the day, the United States produced another headline result, sweeping reigning VNL champions and reigning world and Olympic champions Italy in straight sets in a rematch of the Paris 2024 final.
The Dominican Republic’s breakthrough mattered on multiple fronts: it ended their own winless start, handed Japan their first defeat of the competition, and reshuffled both the VNL standings and the World Ranking picture referenced in the official update.
Dominican Republic rally past Japan for first win
The Caribbean Queens had to do it the hard way, coming back from a set down to defeat Japan, who were 2024 finalists and last year’s VNL semifinalists. The third set was described as the most competitive stretch of the match, with the lead switching hands repeatedly. Dominican Republic reached set point first, but the set went to overtime, where they saved a couple of Japanese set points before finally taking it to move in front in the match.
Statistically, Dominican Republic built their upset on pressure at the net and from the service line. They finished ahead in kill blocks, 10-6, and edged Japan in aces, 4-3. The Dominicans also benefited from Japan committing more unforced errors, 21-17, a margin that proved costly in a match that swung on tight moments.
Middle blocker Jineiry Martinez was central to the net-defense advantage, contributing four of the team’s 10 kill blocks. She also attacked efficiently, spiking at a 62% success rate, and ended with 14 points overall. Outside hitter Flormarie Heredia led all scorers with 17 points. Dominican Republic also received balanced double-digit support from Yonkaira Pena Isabel (13), Sthefany Gonzalez (11) and 22-year-old opposite Alondra Tapia (11).
Japan, however, still held an edge in total spike kills, 68-60, underlining how narrow the margins were despite the four-set result. Opposite Yukiko Wada matched Heredia’s match-high output with 17 points, while outside Yoshino Sato added 16. Middle Haruyo Shimamura and 21-year-old outside Ayane Kitamado each finished with 14 points.
The win moved Dominican Republic off the bottom of the table. They surpassed Bulgaria and France and rose to 16th place on a 1-6 win-loss record with 4 points. Japan dropped to 6-1 and remained in third place in the VNL standings on 16 points, but the defeat also cost them ground in the World Ranking, where they fell to number six.
USA sweep Italy and climb in VNL and World Ranking
In the day’s other marquee result in Pasig City, the United States completed a straight-sets win over Italy, described as a shutout of the world’s number one team. The result carried immediate consequences in both the VNL table and the World Ranking movement noted in the report.
The Americans climbed to number five in the World Ranking and were identified as one of the two teams that overtook Japan. In the VNL standings, USA moved ahead of Japan into second place, holding a 6-1 record and 17 points.
Offensively, USA were led by opposite Stephanie Samedy, who scored 12 points while the team hit at a 60% success rate. Outside Madison Kubik Banks also contributed 12 points. For Italy, 19-year-old opposite Merit Chinenyenwa Adigwe was the match’s top scorer with 13 points, including four kill blocks and an ace, but it was not enough to prevent the straight-sets defeat.
Together, the two results underscored how quickly VNL momentum can shift: Dominican Republic finally got on the board with a statement win, while USA’s sweep of Italy tightened the race near the top and contributed to notable World Ranking changes.