In the first match of the second half of the Italian men's volleyball league Serie A, Milan, where Ishikawa Yuki plays and is in 7th place in the league, played against 8th place away on Saturday, December 17th local time and lost 1-3 (21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 20-25).
Yuki Ishikawa started in this match and scored 15 points, second highest on the team.
Match report here ↓
After the match, Yuki Ishikawa gave us a comment.
--How do you feel looking back on today's game?
Ishikawa: Other than the fourth set, the scores were pretty close, with side outs continuing the whole time, but we were able to easily score points thanks to their defense and blocks. On our blocks, we easily hit the middle blocker and got shut down, and we also had loose balls on defense, so I think that was the difference.
-The game was close until the third set, so what do you think was the reason you were suddenly overtaken at the start of the fourth set?
Ishikawa: We couldn't withstand the opponent's blocks and defense until the third set, but (after that, even more than before) we lost concentration a little and started hitting the middle blocker too easily, which I think was the result of the start of the fourth set, so that's something we need to work on, and I feel that unless we can improve our technique in dealing with high balls and find a way to turn the situation around, it will be difficult to win from now on.
-How was today for you personally, Ishikawa?
Ishikawa: I lost two service aces in the first set, so I need to fix that, and I think my serve in the first and second sets is still something I need to work on. As for the third and fourth sets, I was able to make the necessary corrections, and I was serving well in the final stages, so I think my challenge is to continue that from the first half.
-What was your intention behind changing your serving position in the third set?
Ishikawa: Our team has been told to change the position of the serve quite a bit, so we don't want the opponent to get used to it. So we're moving around a lot. We haven't changed the target, but we're moving around a lot.
-You continued to serve powerfully at 18-23 in the fourth set and managed to break. What do you think about when serving?
Ishikawa: I focus on things like what to do, where to toss the ball, the timing of when to hit it, and when to relax.
-Just like last time, you switched the OH positions midway through the match.
Ishikawa: (First today) I'm the far player (number 5, next to the opposite) and Milad is the near player (number 2, next to the setter), and if it doesn't work out, we change positions quite often. Even in practice, I sometimes play near and sometimes far, so it's decided which position I'll play on the day of the game, so I just adapt to the situation.
-Is there one that you find easier to play?
Ishikawa: I've always played near the goal for the national team, so I feel more comfortable there, but Milad has also always played near the goal for the national team, so (who plays where) depends on how we're feeling that day or that week.
-You mentioned earlier that the team has an issue with handling high balls, but I think you are world-class when it comes to handling high sets, especially rebounding. How do you decide how to handle a high ball?
Ishikawa: If the toss is good, I try to hit it as much as possible. To be honest, I don't think about going for the rebound from the start. I do think about going for the rebound when the toss isn't very good or I don't have a good run-up, but my opponents already know that I'm going for the rebound, so they look at the data and study things like jumping lightly or not jumping very much, so even in those situations, I try to think about hitting it harder.
- Christmas is almost here, is the team operating as usual?
Ishikawa: Yes, that's right. There is a match coming up. First of all, I think the most important thing is to practice and do what needs to be done in preparation for the match.
-thank you very much.
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