European champion Poland took the final two sets to hold off host Japan 3-2 on the opening day of the women's volleyball World Grand Champions Cup on Tuesday.
Poland opened a 5-2 lead in the final set following back-to-back block points and went on to seal its victory 25-19, 18-25, 16-25, 26-24, 15-12 when ace attacker Malgorzata Glinka nailed a powerful kill on its fifth match point.
Glinka had a team-high 21 points while Japan's Kana Oyama led the game at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium with 23 points.
Earlier Tuesday, Sheilla Castro scored a game-high 23 points as World Grand Prix winner Brazil rallied from two sets down to beat Athens Olympic gold-medalist and defending champion China 15-25, 17-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-8.
The United States cruised to a 25-20, 25-22, 25-20 victory over South Korea, with Nancy Metcalf and Therese Crawford combining for 30 points.