The Japanese men's volleyball team will compete in the quarterfinals of the final round of the Volleyball Nations League on Thursday, July 31st at 8:00 p.m.
Their opponent is Poland, ranked number one in the world, who they lost to 1-3 in the qualifying round.
In this article, we will introduce the players from both teams, the characteristics of the Polish team, key points for Japan to win, and key players.
Japan
World ranking: 5th
Qualifying Round 4th place (8 wins, 4 losses)
Director: Laurent Tillie (France)
Participating members
2. Onodera Futoshi MB 202cm 1996 Suntory Sunbirds Osaka
4 Kento Miyaura OP 190cm 1999 Wolf Dogs Nagoya
9. Maki Oya S 178cm 1995 Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers
11 Masama Tomita OH 190cm 1997 Osaka Bulleteon
12 Ai Takahashi OH 188cm 2001 Suntory Sunbirds Osaka
13 Tomohiro Ogawa L 176cm 1996 Suntory Sunbirds Osaka
14 Yuki Ishikawa OH 192cm 1995 Perugia (Italy)
15 Yuto Kai OH 200cm 2003 Senshu University
17 Keigo Nishimoto MB 189cm 1998 Hiroshima Thunders
18 Nishiyama Taito OP 193cm 2003 Osaka Bulleteon
20 Tomohiro Yamamoto L 171cm 1994 Osaka Bulleteon
21 Genki Nagatsuyu S 192cm 1996 Hiroshima Thunders
23 Evadedan Rally MB 195cm 2000 Osaka Bulleteon
32 Shunichiro Sato MB 205cm 2000 Wolf Dogs Nagoya
Projected starting lineup
OH: Ishikawa, Takahashi
MB: Onodera, Sato
OP: Miyaura
S: Yongro
L: Ogawa
Average height (excluding libero): 194.83cm
Poland
World ranking: 1st
Qualifying Round 5th place (8 wins, 4 losses)
Director: Nikola Grbić (Serbia)
member
3. Jakub Popiwczak L 180cm
4. Marcin Komenda S 198cm
9. Wilfredo Leon OH 201cm
12 Artur Szalpuk OH 201cm
15 Jakub Kochanowski MB 199cm
16 Kamil Semeniuk OH 195cm
18 Maksymilian Granieczny L 179cm
21 Tomasz Fornal OH 200cm
30. Bartłomiej Bołądź OP 204cm
34 Szymon Jakubiszak MB 208cm
35 Kevin Sasak OP 207cm
72 Mateusz Poręba MB 203cm
73 Jakub Nowak MB 205cm
96 Jan Firlej S 188cm
*Bartosz Kurek and Aleksander Śliwka, who played in the Japanese league, were unable to participate due to injury.
For more detailed member information, click here▼
Projected starting lineup
OH: Leon, Fornal
MB: Kochanowski, Novak
OP: Sasaku
S: Commenter
L: Granieczny
Average height (excluding libero): 201.67cm
Polish team characteristics
1. Powerful serve
Poland's defining feature is their powerful serve.
especiallyOH LeonHis serve is among the best in the world, reaching a maximum speed of 138km/h, making it nearly impossible to react with your feet. He has averaged more than two aces per game so far. Another key feature of the team is the powerful serve of the middle blockers, who are often used as relief servers on other teams, such as Japan.
②Scoring ability of middle blockers
Poland's middle blockers are on average at a high level, and in addition to the above-mentioned serves, they also score points with high blocks and quick plays.MB NovakHis performance is outstanding. Of course, he is one of the world's top middle players.MB KochanowskiAlso be careful.
3. Excessive experience
Most of the Polish national team players have experience winning the domestic league and cup competitions, which are considered to be the best in the world, and some have also won the Russian and Italian leagues. The national team has also achieved many glories, including winning the World Championship, the European Championship, and winning a silver medal at last year's Paris Olympics. The experience of having overcome these difficult situations at crucial moments in the game will give the team even more strength.
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