Toshiki: How are you feeling now?
Ishikawa: Well, it's frustrating. We lost the set by a difference of one or two points. My spike was also caught (by the opponent's block), so it wasn't a satisfactory performance, but the fact that we were able to compete so well shows that we had the team strength, so we'll use the remaining time to prepare for the Olympics.
Toshiki: Especially from the third set onwards, I think the opponent's blocking pressure increased and we were stopped in many situations.
Ishikawa: No, it wasn't so much that I was under pressure, but rather that I wasn't able to cope well and I was trying to hit the ball too hard, so I think that was more my problem than my opponent's.
Toshiki: So your choice was not good.
Ishikawa: Yes.
Toshiki: After Ishikawa left the court in the middle of the third set, the substitute players worked really hard and came within one step of turning the game around, but what did you think that looked like from outside the court?
Ishikawa: They are really reliable players, and the players on the court felt that no matter who was replaced, they had the ability to catch up with the French team, so I think that experience will be useful for them at the Olympics.
Toshiki: What are your thoughts looking back on this Nations League as a whole?
Ishikawa: The best thing is that we made it to the finals. That was my goal, so I think the best thing is that I achieved it.
Toshiki: There is less than a month left until the Olympics. What elements would you like to focus on in particular?
Ishikawa: When we are losing, such as with block following, our attackers make a lot of mistakes in judgment, which was the case for me as well, so we need to improve that in the remaining period. Also, in this Nations League, which happened even after we got to the final, we were a little slow in conceding aces between the receivers, so we need to fix that relationship and also get our block defense back on track.
Toshiki: I think Otsuka has been in the starting lineup in the diagonal position since the middle of the Philippines round, but what do you think of him?
Ishikawa: I'm not the manager so I don't really want to give any evaluations, but he came in to replace Takahashi and did well, so I think it shows that we can fight well even with him in the team. I think it's a really positive experience for him, so I think it will be a great asset to the team.
Toshiki: Thank you very much.
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