Japan pounded out a 3-1 victory over France in the first game of a pool D match-up at the 2003 World League Men's Volleyball on Friday.
Japan won its first game of the meet against last year's third-place finishers at the World Championships to improve to 1-2 at the intercontinental tournament. The Japanese team battered its opponents on serve and took advantage of misfires from the Frenchmen to win the first and second sets 25-15, 26-24, respectively.
The team served up eight straight winners in the first set. After dropping the third set 25-22, the Japanese squad rebounded at relentless pace to win the fourth set 25-21.