Japan sees off Vietnam in Pool F - 16th Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship
The Japanese team opened the classification round of the 16th Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship with a 3-0 win over Vietnam on Sunday, September 18. The National Taiwan University Gymnasium in Chinese Taipei hosted the action-packed thriller
which ended in 60 minutes with the final score of 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, and 27-25). It was the fourth straight win for Japan in the tournament. The Japanese finished the first round with a perfect record of 3-0 and bagged eight points. In the next run, they kept
up the good work and went off to a winning start in the second round opener and seem destined for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Sakoda Saori of Japan was named the top-scorer in the match. She showed up on centre court for a short time but clipped 12 points with a display of exceptional spikes. Captain Araki Erika registered 11 points, while Ebata Yukiko and Kanoh Maiko followed
her up with nine points apiece. There was only one player on the Vietnam team who went into double digits. Nguyen Thi Xuan supported Vietnam with 10 valuable points, while the rest of the squad remained uninspired.
Japan quickly came out of the gates to built an 8-5 lead over Vietnam at the first technical break in the opening set. The opponents added three points and tried to chase the score but the Japanese promptly took the score to the next level at 15-8. Brilliant
digs, successful blocks, and convincing cross court shots enabled Japan to rule the game. Vietnam failed to penetrate the powerful Japanese spikes and suffered the loss of the first set with 13-point margin at 12-25.
The second set was played on similar terms as Japan went up with a 8-4 lead. During the first technical timeout, the Vietnamese players discussed their flaws and formulised a new plan. They paid more attention on blocking and digging. However, the Japanese
team further stretched the gap of points. Araki Erika and Ebata Yukiko added quick points and made it quite difficult for Vietnam to return in the game. Vietnam’s performance was comparatively better in the second set but still it was not enough to scare Japan.
They failed to break through the strong Japanese defence and saw the second set slip from their hands at 19-25.
In the third set, Vietnam put in all its efforts as they tried to make up for their previous teo failed sets. The team used every possible remedy to save the third set as they exhibited their strong will and led the score by 8-7 at the first technical timeout.
The spirit of Vietnam could not help them for long and Japan bounced back in the game. Japanese covered the deficit and left Vietnam behind at 15-11. They maintained their lead before Vietnam tied the score at 21-all. It was the most crucial stage of the match
as both teams competed with excellent spikes and desperately defended every volley. Unable to stop their resilient rivals, Vietnam failed to prove its endeavours in the third set and received a 25-27 defeat. Japan made a clean sweep and enjoyed 3-0 win over
Vietnam.
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