FUKUOKA –
Japan’s males’s volleyball crew defeated Australia in straight units on September 9 to finish the preliminary spherical of the Asian Championship with three consecutive victories, advancing to the knockout stage as pool winner and shifting inside three wins of securing a spot on the Los Angeles Olympics.
Japan confronted Australia, which had additionally been main the pool, in its remaining preliminary-round match, with Ran Takahashi offering an early spark from the service line.
Takahashi hit consecutive service aces to offer Japan momentum earlier than producing one of many highlights of the match, hanging a shot whereas dealing with away from the Australian block.
Japan took the opening two units to maneuver inside one set of victory.
The crew got here underneath strain within the third set after falling behind, however Yuji Nishida helped flip the match again in Japan’s favor.
Nishida injured his proper knee in Japan’s opening match in opposition to Oman however continued to play within the event whereas carrying a assist brace.
His highly effective spike introduced Japan stage within the third set earlier than Takahashi delivered one other service ace to place the crew forward.
Japan maintained the benefit from there to finish its third straight victory and end first within the pool.
“I’m glad it worked,” Takahashi mentioned of his behind-the-back shot. “Our ultimate goal is to win the championship, earn the ticket to Los Angeles and then win a medal at the Olympics. In the knockout stage, I want us to focus only on winning and go for the championship.”
Japan now wants three extra victories to safe Olympic qualification.
Former Japan worldwide Tatsuya Fukuzawa mentioned serving can be essential to the crew’s prospects as a result of Japan is mostly shorter than lots of its opponents.
“The most important thing is definitely the serve,” Fukuzawa mentioned. “Because we are shorter than other countries, we have to disrupt them with the first serve. That is going to be Japan’s lifeline.”
Asked whether or not Japan may win the event, Fukuzawa mentioned he believed it may.
Nishida mentioned the crew should stay centered regardless of the strain surrounding the ultimate three matches. “I think it is important that we make sure we win the remaining three matches,” he mentioned. “There will be tremendous pressure, but I want us to keep fighting with the belief that we can do it.”
Nishida led each groups with 16 factors in opposition to Australia regardless of dealing with opponents measuring greater than 2 meters tall. The 186-centimeter Nishida recorded a spike success price of about 82%.
Setter Hideomi Fukatsu performed a serious function in supporting Japan’s assault, distributing the ball successfully to forestall Australia’s blockers from settling right into a rhythm and creating favorable attacking alternatives for his hitters.
Takahashi later defined how he executed his spectacular shot along with his again turned towards the block. “It’s really based on my own feel,” he mentioned. “I hit it by imagining the view I had seen before turning my back.”
Japan will start the knockout stage within the quarterfinals on September 11, the place a defeat would finish its marketing campaign and its quick bid to safe qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics.
Source: FNN