Japan defeated Belgium in the opening match of Phase 2 of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship 2022. In a Pool E encounter at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam on Tuesday, they mastered a 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-22) victory, their fifth since the start of the tournament.
Italy, on a 5-0 win-loss record, 15 points and a 15-2 set ratio, top the current Pool E standings ahead of Tuesday’s two remaining fixtures: Italy vs. Brazil at 17:15 local time (15:15 GMT) and Netherlands vs. Argentina at 20:15 (18:15). Japan are now second in the pool on 5-1, 15 points and 15-5 in sets, followed by China on 4-1, 12 and 13-3, Brazil on 4-1, 12 and 13-5, and Belgium on 4-2, 12 and 14-7. The Netherlands are in sixth place on 3-2, while Puerto Rico and Argentina are at the bottom of the standings on 2-3 each. The top four teams from each of the two second-phase pools will advance to the quarterfinals.
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Belgian outside hitter Britt Herbots once again showed her scoring prowess against Japan and produced the match high of 30 points, including two blocks. Blocking was the only element at which the Yellow Tigers did better than their opponents, with 12 stuffs against six. Japan showed a great all-around performance, with two players leading their scorers with 16 points each. Opposite Kotona Hayashi scored twice in blocking and 14 times in offence at a 52% success rate in attack, while outside Mayu Ishikawa delivered an ace and 15 kills, including the first and the last points of the match. Middle blocker Airi Miyabe and outside Sarina Koga, who entered the game in the second set, also reached double digits, scoring 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Belgium’s outside hitter and captain Celine Van Gestel took the first serve of the World Championship’s second phase. Ishikawa scored the first point with a swing. The Europeans reacted with four in a row to take an early 4-1 lead. The Asians caught up at 8-8 on a block-out hit by Hayashi, one of her eight points in the set. They even gained a 10-8 advantage after middle Nichika Yamada monster-blocked a pipe shot by Herbots and Arisa Inoue followed up with a pipe shot of her own. Herbots spiked two points in a row to put her team back in the lead at 13-12, however, and Belgium regained control, this time for good. A block by middle Nathalie Lemmens brought in set point at 24-19, and Herbots produced the 25-21 winner with her ninth successful swing of the set.
Kotona Hayashi in attack against the block of Britt Herbots and Nathalie Lemmens
Japan captain Sarina Koga was among the starters for the second set, returning to the court for the first time since her injury in the match against China, and she scored her team’s first point of the set to level the score at 1-1. A seven-point run on Miyabe’s serving turn included aces for 5-1 and 7-1, eventually prompting Belgium to sub in back-up setter Charlotte Krenicky. With Van Gestel leading the offence and the team’s blocking working well (seven stuffs in the set), Belgium fought their way back to within three at 12-9 and at 21-18, but that was as close as Japan would let them approach. Ishikawa tipped the ball between the net and the Belgian blockers for 25-20 to level the match.
Belgium recovered swiftly from an early 4-1 Japanese lead in the third set to tie the score at 4-4, only to allow a series of five consecutive points for 9-4 Japan’s way. Miyabe spearheaded the Japanese offence with her successful swings through the middle to keep her team well in control throughout the set. There was only one ace on either side of the net during this set and it was Ishikawa’s set winner for a 25-16 blowout.
Japan managed a 6-3 edge early into the fourth set, but Belgium battled their way back to equalise at 10-10 on a pipe shot by Herbots. Once again, it was only a momentary balance. Very soon it was a three-point gap again after Koga aced for 15-12. In this set, the captain had already found her good rhythm and led the Japanese offence. Despite Herbots’ 10 points in the set, the Yellow Tigers were never able to close the gap again. In the money time, Miyabe’s block brought in match point at 24-21 and it was once again Ishikawa to close the set and the match with an off-the-block hit for 25-22.
“We couldn’t beat Belgium in the VNL, so we practiced a lot to win this match and I am so happy we beat them today,” said Airi Miyabe after the game.
Japan’s next game is on Wednesday at 14:15 local time (12:15 GMT) against Italy. Also on Wednesday, Belgium will take on Argentina at 20:15 (18:15).
Tuesday’s programme in Pool F at the Atlas Arena in Lodz includes four matches: Canada vs. Thailand 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22), United States vs.Dominican Republic at 17:30 (15:30), Türkiye vs. Germany at 19:00 (17:00) and Serbia vs. Poland at 20:30 (18:30).
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