Japan beat Thailand again on Friday as the two volleyball teams moved their battle for a place in the 2017 FIVB World Grand Prix to Sendai.
The Japanese women won 3-1 (25-19, 17-25, 25-18, 25-19) against their Asian rivals as the Pool D1 competition kicked off in Sendai. The hosts collected the maximum three points from the match and the Thai team had none.
The match was not close like the two sides' previous meeting last week in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, when Japan edged Thailand 3-2.
With the victory on Friday, Japan extended the lead in their matchup against Thailand to 10-2.
The Thai team, winless in four matches so far in this year's competition, will take on the 11-time champions Brazil on Saturday and Serbia on Sunday.