Japan star Sarina Koga was key to victory for NEC Red Rockets this weekend.
Tokyo, Japan, October 28, 2020 – The big match of the weekend in the Japanese V1 Women’s League was the NEC Red Rockets against defending champions JT Marvelous.
The NEC team were led by Japanese national team player Sarina Koga, while JT were led by American opposite Annie Drews. NEC had their recent foreign signing Neriman Ozsoy on the bench as she regains fitness after arriving in Japan.
In the first two sets, NEC easily held off the Marvelous to take a 2-0 set lead. In the third set, Drews and JT lost a challenge at 24-23 to win the set, and instead fell to 24-all. Eventually a kill by Mizuki Tanaka, however, gave JT the set 28-26, NEC leading 2-1.
The fourth set was close throughout, and NEC blew a match point at 24-23 with a Drews kill to tie at 24. After the Drews kill to tie at 24, she went back to the service and served an untouchable ace for set point at 25-24. However, she missed her next serve to tie at 25. And later a JT service error gave NEC match point again at 29-28, and Koga’s block of Drews sealed the set 30-28 and the match 3-1 for NEC.
Koga was outstanding with 29 points, 26 kills with no hitting errors on 50 swings, 2 blocks and an ace. Drews was the focus for JT’s offence with 27 points, 25 of which were kills.
The Red Rockets followed up their win against JT on Saturday with a three-set sweep of Kurobe Aquafairies on Sunday. Middle blocker Haruyo Shimamura led NEC with 14 points on 13 kills and a block.
Toray Arrows swept Toyota Auto Body Queenseis 3-0 on Sunday to maintain their position at the top of the league. Toray have not let their opponents take a set in three matches this season. Mayu Ishikawa led the Arrows with 20 points, all kills. Italian opposite Indre Sorokaite had 24 points, 22 kills and 2 blocks for the Queenseis.
The Queenseis faced Denso Airybees on Saturday, with the Airybees also sweeping 3-0. American Kathryn Plummer was dominant with 21 points, 19 kills and 2 blocks for the Airybees in the win.
Victorina Himeji got their first win of the season against Saitama Ageo Medics 3-2 on Saturday. Riho Sadakane and Saki Tanaka combined for 40 points, 22 (3 blocks) and 18 (1 block) respectively. Mami Uchiseto had 23 (3 blocks) and Yuri Yoshino 22 (1 block) and tried their best to win the match for Saitama.
Saitama did better on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Hisamitsu Springs. Canadian Shaniah Joseph led the Medics with 16, 15 kills and an ace. Uchiseto had 15 (2 blocks) on her birthday in the Medics’ win.
Hisamitsu did begin the weekend with a 3-0 over Hitachi Rivale. Hisamitsu had both Rika Nomoto and Arisa Inoue contribute 14 points, 13 kills and a block each. Hitachi’s Miwako Osanai had 16 points (1 ace) leading all scorers in the match.
Lastly Okayama Seagulls got their first win of the season over Kurobe 3-0. Shuka Kaneda had 17 kills to lead the Seagulls.
Match Results for October 24, 2020
Denso Airybees 3-0 Toyota Auto Body Queenseis (25-13, 25-20, 25-19)
Victorina Himeji 3-2 Saitama Ageo Medics (18-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-22, 17-15)
NEC Red Rockets 3-1 JT Marvelous (25-18, 25-19, 26-28, 30-28)
Hisamitsu Springs 3-0 Hitachi Rivale (25-22, 25-21, 25-22)
Okayama Seagulls 3-0 Kurobe Aqua Fairies (25-15, 25-17, 25-21)
Match Results for October 25, 2020
Toray Arrows 3-0 Toyota Auto Body Queenseis (25-19, 28-26, 25-17)
Saitama Ageo Medics 3-0 Hisamitsu Springs (25-22, 25-15, 25-19)
NEC Red Rockets 3-0 Kurobe Aqua Fairies (25-20, 25-22, 25-19)
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