On Friday, April 18th local time, Milan, where Tatsunori Otsuka plays, played against Padova in the third round of the Italian Superlegga 5th place qualifying match, and Milan won 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-15). Tatsunori Otsuka, who started in the match, contributed to the victory with a high performance of 8 points (attack 7 (effectiveness rate 641 TP3T), block 1) and serve receive success rate of 731 TP3T. He was awarded MVP by the audience vote.
More details about the match are listed in the article below.
We spoke with Otsuka after the match.
T: Thank you for your hard work. Before we look back on today's game, how did you feel about the playoff quarterfinals where you were unfortunately defeated?
Otsuka: Yes, Civitanova is a very strong team, and we lost as a team (after winning the first match). However, the content of the match was bad in the second match, but in the third and fourth matches, we were really defeated by two points. I think there were some points that we could have improved on, or done well, by two points per set. There were many balls that we could have scored points on if we had devised something, rather than points that we couldn't do anything about, so in that sense it was a really frustrating loss. However, as an individual, I have had more opportunities to stand on the court, especially since this playoff, and I was really used to start in the most important part of the season, especially the third match. I am really grateful for that, and I really wanted to live up to it, but the regret of losing was huge.
T: What was it about you that led to you being selected as a starter in the playoffs?
Otsuka: I wonder. But ever since I returned from injury, the coach kept telling me to make my spikes and serves stronger and more powerful, so I felt that I wouldn't be able to stand on the court unless I could do that. Otherwise, I thought I would end up only playing in the last three rotations, so I really listened to the coach, the staff, and my teammates and got their advice. I think I've improved a lot since then and I can play with confidence, so I think I was finally able to stand on the court because they recognized that.
T: After a disappointing loss in the quarterfinals of the playoffs, you are now in the fifth place match. How do you feel looking back on the three fifth place matches, including today's match?
Otsuka: It is very difficult to maintain motivation as a team. I don't think there was a game in Japan where we didn't have a chance to win, so in that sense it is very difficult to be motivated, but right now, by getting 5th place, Milan will be able to qualify for the CEV Challenge Cup next year, so my biggest motivation is to work hard so that this team can qualify. Also, I don't want to waste a single game. I've come all the way here (Italy), so I'm thinking about improving myself first no matter what the situation is, and I think that working hard here will lead to the national team and the next season, so I'm really using that as motivation to work hard.
T: Speaking of the national team, the members of this year's Japan national team were announced the other day, and you were also selected. Please tell us about your enthusiasm for this year's national team activities.
Otsuka: First of all, I don't think it's a given that I'm selected. I'm grateful to have been selected and to have been truly evaluated, so I'm really grateful for that. Now that I've been selected, I want to play with a real sense of responsibility as a representative of Japanese volleyball, just like every year. Right now, I'm thinking about the upcoming 5th place match, so I haven't really thought about what I'm going to do as a representative. But whether I'm here or in Japan, I think it's the same thing, that I'm going to improve myself every day through practice, so I think it's just a different place, but what I'm going to do is the same.
Photo: Powervolleymilano, TOSHIKI
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