In the Philippine Round of the third week of the Volleyball Nations League 2024 Men's Tournament, the Japanese national team played against the United States on Sunday, June 23rd (local time) and won 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-19).
Starting members
Japan
OH: Otsuka (2), Kai (17)
MB: Onodera (8), Larry (8)
OP: Miyaura (18)
S: Fukatsu
L: Ogawa
Substitute: OH Tomita (3)
America
OH: Kessel (8), Ewart (8)
MB: Holt (4), Avril (6)
OP: Enshin (14)
S: Mar
L: Shoji
Substitutes: MB Jendrick (2), OP Heins, S Christensen
*Positions: OH = outside hitter, MB = middle blocker, OP = opposite, S = setter, L = libero
※ () indicates score
TOSHIKI'S MVP
OP Kento Miyaura
18 points (5 on serve, 1 on block), attack efficiency rate 131 TP 3T
Although both teams scored 18 points, their attack efficiency rate of 13% throughout the game was honestly a tough number. There were many mistakes and blocks.
However, he led his team with his decisiveness at crucial moments and his powerful serve that made up for his own losses, and captivated the audience.
In this match, OH Kai also performed at an MVP level with his spiking and serving, and it is no exaggeration to say that it was the day for the Paris Volleyball duo.
Match commentary
Both Japan and the United States played with mostly reserve players, and it was a rematch of last year's final qualifying match for the Paris Olympics. They accomplished that revenge brilliantly.
Japan's serves were strong. They had 12 service aces in the three sets (5 from OP Miyaura, 4 from OH Kai, 2 from MB Onodera, and 1 from OH Otsuka).
On the other hand, Japan struggled with attacks, especially from the sides, allowing the United States to score a total of 10 block points, mainly from MB Holt and MB Avril.
However, MB Larry's mid-range attacks were successful, with an attack effectiveness rate of 881 TP3T, and their total defense of serve, block, and dig worked well to suppress the effectiveness of America's attacks.
Both of the Americans in the starting lineup this time were called up at short notice after injuries occurred, so it cannot be denied that there was a sense that they were lacking in players.
In the second and third sets, the United States led until the middle of the game, but Japan came back in both sets. I think that the difference in experience and competitiveness was at work in these cases.
At this rate, even the bench members of Japan will not be able to beat them. Japan has come this far.
I was also personally happy with the performance of the Miyaura-Kai Paris volleyball pair (also known as the Kyushu pair). Miyaura's serve show at the end of the third set was overwhelming. The match was decided with three aces and five consecutive breaks, reminiscent of Nishida's performance against Canada in 2019.
However, there were too many mistakes and blocks made in their attacks, so I hope they can somehow correct this and move on to the final round.
Japan will face Canada in the quarterfinals, who they lost to in the qualifiers, so I'm sure they'll have a tough time.
I think their strengths will be needed again there, so I hope they will perform brilliantly when their turn comes.
The Japanese men's team has somehow become number two in the world rankings, and they've been drawn by lottery for the Paris Olympics with the host country France and number one Poland (meaning they won't be in the same group as those two in the preliminaries). Even though it's just a temporary ranking that changes a lot, it's so amazing that I still can't believe it.
For detailed match stats,Here
Highlight Video
Standings (as of June 23rd)
VNL Qualifier Final Rankings
1. Slovenia 11 wins 28 points ★
2. Poland 10 wins 29 points ★
3. Italy 9 wins 27 points ★
4. Japan 9 wins 25 points ★
5. Canada 8 wins 23 points ★
6. France 8 wins 23 points ★
7. Brazil 6 wins 21 points ★
8. Argentina 6 wins 18 points ★
9. Cuba 5 wins 17 points
10. Serbia 5 wins 17 points
11. Germany 5 wins 15 points
12. USA 5 wins 15 points
13. Netherlands 3 wins 11 points
14. Bulgaria 3 wins 8 points
15. Iran 2 wins 6 points
16. Türkiye 1 win 5 points
*The top 7 teams and the host country (Poland) will advance to the final round (June 27-30)
★…Final round advancement confirmed
World Rankings
1. Poland 424.50 ☆
2. Japan 354.75 ☆
3. Slovenia 354.46 ★
4. Italy 352.33 ★
5. America 325.89 ☆
6. Brazil 318.52 ☆
7. France 317.34 ☆
8. Argentina 298.34 ★
9. Canada 279.67 ☆
10. Serbia 259.97 ★
11. Germany 250.28 ☆
12. Cuba 249.34
13. Netherlands 204.81
20 Egypt 164.05 ★ (Top in Africa)
*At the end of the VNL qualifying round, the top four African countries, excluding the top African team and the team that has already qualified for the Paris Olympics, will qualify for the Paris Olympics.
☆…Host country and countries that have qualified through Olympic qualifiers
★…Qualification for the Paris Olympics confirmed after the VNL qualifying round
Next race information
Quarterfinals: vs Canada
June 27th (Thursday) 24:00~ (Japan time)
Television broadcast
BS-TBS (recorded, 6/28 (Fri) 21:00~)
TBS Nations League special site (you can check the TV broadcast schedule, etc.):https://www.tbs.co.jp/volley-nationsleague/
Online broadcast (LIVE)
①VBTV (English, paid): https://www.volleyballworld.tv/home
②U-NEXT (Japanese, paid)
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Photo: FIVB
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