TOKYO, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hosts Japan beat China 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-21) of the FIVB Women's World Grand Prix Finals 2014 here on Friday.
Miyu Nagaoka and Saori Kimura led Japan with 16 points each, while China's best scorer was Zeng Chunlei, also with 16 points.
Japan took an advantage on service points with 7-1 against China and also led the block points with 8-6.
The two sides played tight and leveled the score at 4-4. A long spike and a long service by China helped Japan made it at 7-5 and a powerful spike from Japan help the team gained one point at 8-6 at the first technical timeout.
Japan then waged a 5-2 lead, including a service point, and forced China coach Lang Ping to call a timeout.
Japan kept the five-point gap to the second technical timeout at 16-11. Lang Ping called another time out after China straightly losed three points.
China, with a 5-1 hike, chased the score through nice blocks, prompting Japan to call a timeout. Both sides traded rockets thereafter and two spikes by Japan helped them clinch the set at 25-21.
Japan, through its better defense, waged a 5-1 lead at the beginning of the second set, but China closed the gap to 7-5. Japan sent a rocket making it 8-5 at the first technical timeout.
The two sides then traded spikes but excessive errors by China prompted Lang Ping called a timeout at 13-9. Japan maintained the four-point gap to the second technical timeout at 16-12.
Japan then played a 7-3 hike and a spike wide by China gave Japan the first set point. Although China gained two points but Japan then finished the set at 25-17.
The two sides played tight and traded leads in the third set until 12-12. Japan then control the rhythm and won 25-21.
China will play Turkey on Saturday, while the hosts will fight against Belgium.