On the third day of the second week of the Nations League, the Japan men's volleyball team played against Brazil and won 3-2 (25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 18-16).
First set starting lineup
Japan
OH: Ai Takahashi, Ishikawa
MB: Onodera, Yamauchi
OP: Miyaura
S: Sekita
L: Yamamoto
Brazil
OH: Onorato, Lucarelli
MB: Otavio, Lucas
OP: Alan
S: Bruno
L: Thales
*Positions: OH = outside hitter, MB = middle blocker, OP = opposite, S = setter, L = libero
The stats for this match areHere
Match Report
In the first set, Japan took a 9-5 lead with two service aces from OH Takahashi Ai, one from S Sekita, and one from MB Yamauchi. Brazil also scored points mainly from OP Alan, but Japan, who consistently took side-outs mainly from spikes from OH Ishikawa and OP Miyaura, reached set point first at 24-20. From there, mistakes piled up and Japan was down to just one point at 24-23, but in the end OH Takahashi Ai scored a spike to win the set 25-23.
In the second set, OH Ishikawa's spikes were successful and Japan took a 9-4 lead from the beginning. After that, Japan continued to score points mainly from OH Ishikawa's spikes and widened the gap to 18-11. Brazil also scored points with quicks from MB Lucas and narrowed the gap to 3 points at 21-18, but in the end, OH Takahashi Ai scored a spike and Japan took the set 25-21.
In the third set, Brazil took a 5-8 lead with a break from OH Onorato's spikes and blocks, and in the middle of the set, S Fernando's service ace and OP Alan's spikes widened the gap to 13-19. Japan replaced most of its members after that, but they were unable to close the gap with Brazil, and in the end, MB Takahashi Kentaro's serve was an error and Brazil took the set 18-25.
In the fourth set, Japan started with OH Ishikawa and Brazil with OH Onorato leading the score with breaks and leading to 12-12. With consecutive blocks from MB Flavio, who had been playing since the third set, Brazil took the lead at 12-15, and with OP Alan's spikes, Brazil maintained the lead at 19-23. Finally, with OH Lucarelli's spike, Brazil won this set at 22-25, and the match went into a tiebreak.
In the fifth set, MB Yamauchi was replaced by MB Kentaro Takahashi from the start. The match was close from the beginning, with Japan scoring mainly through OP Miyaura and OH Takahashi Ai, while Brazil scored mainly through OP Alan and MB Nunes, leading to a score of 11-11. After that, OH Ishikawa's pipe attack and OP Miyaura's service ace put Japan one step ahead at 13-11, and then OP Miyaura's spike put Japan at match point at 14-12. However, mistakes continued from there, and the match went into deuce at 14-14. Nevertheless, in the end, OH Ishikawa's powerful serve created a chance, which OH Takahashi Ai converted to win the set 18-16, and Japan won 3-2 against Brazil.
With this, Japan has maintained its provisional first place position in the VNL qualifying round with a total of 7 wins and 20 points from 7 matches. The top 7 teams, excluding the host country Poland, will advance to the final round.
Japan's next match will be against Argentina on Saturday, June 24th at 8:00 p.m. Japan time.
personal MVP
Japan: L. Yamamoto Tomohiro
Serve receive success rate: 62%
Brazil's Lucarelli calls him a "crazy libero." That craziness was on full display in this match, where he transformed one crisis after another into an opportunity with his stable serve reception, as well as his crazy godlike digs and godlike covers. I don't know how many times I wrote "Yamamoto is awesome" in my notes during this match (lol). When we think of his performance, we tend to focus on his flashy digs, but personally I was impressed by his play at 5-7 in the fourth set, when he received the serve himself and then moved at the last moment to avoid reducing the number of attacking players on his team. He has too much awareness. This is Japan's guardian deity. This is Japan's strength.
Runner-up: OH Ishikawa Yuki (27 points (2 serves), attack effectiveness rate 511 TP 3T, serve reception success rate 50%)
Brazil: S Fernando Kreling
1 point (1 serve)
He was the key player who came in to replace Bruno and changed the game. Especially after he came in, OH Onorato came alive and caused Japan a lot of trouble. His serve is also phenomenal. Bruno is getting old, so I think it would be a good idea to make him the regular setter. By the way, he will be teammates with Ai Takahashi at Monza next season.
Thoughts etc.
A historic victory!!!
Apparently it's been exactly 30 years since 1993 that the Japanese men's team beat Brazil in an official match. That means they hadn't won in almost all my life. And that streak was broken today. What a day.
First of all, our Miyaken, also known as Miyaura, made his first start of the year, including in a friendly match. However, perhaps because he had had few opportunities to start in matches, including the most recent club season, he struggled in the early stages, unlike when he came on as a substitute in the past.
Instead, both outside hitters, Ishikawa and Takahashi, were in top form from the beginning, barely conceding any points until the second set, scoring one after another with great decisiveness against Brazil, and Japan's serve and defense worked well, leading to two consecutive sets for Japan.
The first set was close with a two-point difference, but the second set was a relatively relaxed four-point difference, so there was an atmosphere in the venue that "Maybe Japan will win 3-0."
But it is Brazil after all.
Starting in the third set, more than half of Brazil's players were replaced, and Brazil's serves, blocks, and side outs improved, with Japan almost playing catch-up, and before they knew it, Japan had lost 3rd and 4th sets, going to a full set.
To be honest, at this point it was difficult for me to imagine a positive outcome, having seen Japan come back from 2-0 down in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and the playoff semi-finals in Milan, and the fact that the rules for this tournament meant that there were no court changes even if either team reached eight points, and Japan had to play on the court that had not won the set until the end made it even harder to imagine a victory for Japan.
While I was feeling anxious, the players themselves seemed somehow relaxed despite the tension, and their eyes were brimming with confidence, conviction, and a determination to "do it."
The final set began in this manner.
On the first point, Miyaura's spike was blocked, causing a scream, but from there Miyaura scored two consecutive points with a block and a spike to put Japan ahead.
By the way, with this set I naturally reacted to every play by pumping my fist and raising my voice (laughs).
From there, Ran Takahashi scored consecutive high balls to make it 4-3.
Ran Takahashi is so reliable. He always turns any ball into a point or a rebound.
A series of mistakes from Brazil allowed Japan to take a 7-5 lead, but a quick play from Brazil turned the game around to 9-10...
However, Ran Takahashi quickly got a side out, and then Captain Ishikawa converted a difficult high ball from behind to score!!!!! 11-10!!!
Then Miyaken served at 12-11.
Miyaura's strength is his serve, but his serve has not been in good form so far in this match, with zero aces and seven errors.
but…
ACEEEEE!!! (At this point the author bursts into tears)
The score is 13-11, two points behind! It's a 15-point match, so if we get two more side outs we'll win!
We can win!!
Miyaura's second serve was a mistake, but he immediately scored with a spike that smashed through three blocks to make the score 14-12.
Takahashi Ai's next serve was also a mistake, but if she got a side out next time, she would win.
Sekita hands the ball to Ishikawa....OUT!!! 14-14, tied!
It's crazy. Last year's match against France comes to mind.
Is it going to end just because we came close to winning again?!?!
Anyway, all I can do is pray.
In the next rally, Yamamoto picked up Lucarelli's powerful spike at the last moment and Ishikawa scored!!!
15-14.
Quick from Flavio! 15-15
Miyaken's spike!!! 16-15
Miyaura was truly divine towards the end of the fifth set.
I feel like I've gotten over it somehow.
That's right.
However, Brazil also scored a side-out. 16-16
But after that, Miyaura from the left! 17-16
Miyaken is unstoppable!!!
And then Ishikawa's serve.
He missed his serve in last year's match against France.
Go!
I got in!
It collapsed!
Chance ball!!
Oh wow...
Ran Takahashi has been decided!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I became a witness to history.
I wonder when was the last time I cried while playing volleyball, or maybe it was the first time.
Wow, Japan is so strong.
Even though Real Madrid isn't playing in Brazil this time, they are still Brazil. No matter what anyone says, this is their first big victory in 30 years.
Seriously, this is a chance to win a medal.
I was convinced.
Next up I'll be going to Poland to see them win a medal in the final.
This is probably just the beginning.
However, even though we won, there were still areas for improvement, such as our quick moves hardly going through, so we still need to tighten up.
The next team to face, Argentina, are the same team that beat France, so if we don't prepare properly, we will be in trouble.
But I'm so happy to have been able to witness such a great victory!
It's the best!!!
VNL Week 2 France Tournament Information
Information about the opponents for Week 2 is summarized in the article or video below.
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Photo: FIVB
Photo book "CATCH ××× DREAM" featuring Ryujin Nippon's three players Ishikawa, Takahashi, and Nishida will be released on June 5th! ↓
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