Toray Arrows end regular season with perfect record
Entering the final weekend of play in the Japanese V1 Women’s League there were three teams fighting for a final spot in the Final Four, Denso Airybees, Saitama Ageo Medics and Okayama Seagulls.
Denso had two matches to play, while Saitama and Okayama only had one match remaining. Okayama needed a win against Denso on Saturday to stay in contention – a loss would eliminate them and keep Denso in the last playoff spot until Sunday.
Denso took a 2-0 lead and looked like they were on their way to eliminating the Seagulls in three sets on Saturday. A 9-1 run by Okayama to end the third set, however, made the match 2-1.
In the fourth set, Denso held a 16-13 advantage at the second technical time out, but a 7-0 run by Okayama flipped the script and allowed the Seagulls to tie the match at 2-2. In the fifth set, Denso finally confirmed their victory after a 5-0 run ended with a kill by Kathryn Plummer and made it 13-7. The Airybees then coasted to a 15-10 set win to end the match at 3-2. Plummer led all scorers with 32 points (one block) in the win.
On Sunday, Saitama faced NEC Red Rockets in the first match of the day. A loss by the Medics would give Denso the last playoff spot, while a win would force the Airybees to win in the final match of the regular season against the Hisamitsu Springs.
The Red Rockets needed extra points to take the first set against Saitama 26-24. Saitama responded to tie the match at 1-1. In the third set at 3-2 in favour of Saitama, the Medics went on a 5-0 run through Shaniah Joseph (two spikes) and Mami Uchiseto (a spike and a block) to gain a six point lead at 8-2 to eventually take a 2-1 sets lead. With the fourth set being critical to Saitama, at 16-16, a Joseph spike led to a 4-0 run ended with a service ace by Uchiseto to give the Medics a 20-16 lead. The lead would hold for the Medics to win the set 25-21 and the match 3-1. Uchiseto led the Medics in scoring with 18 (one block and two aces) in the win.
Now the ball was in Denso’s court, could they win against Hisamitsu?
It did not start well as the Springs gained a quick lead in the first set and Denso could not keep pace, Hisamitsu 25-16, 1-0.
Denso responded in the second by jumping out in front early and the Springs were chasing the rest of the set, 25-22 Denso, match tied at 1-1.
In the third set at 12-12, three straight spikes by Foluke Akinradewo gave the Springs a gap, which they held, 25-22 Hisamitsu, 2-1 sets lead.
Denso had to fight to stay alive for the playoffs. Hisamitsu had match point at 24-23 in the fourth, and serving. Yurie Nabeya, however, killed to keep the match going. A spike by Mami Yokota and a block by Nabeya forced the match to a fifth set, 26-24 Denso, tied 2-2.
Nabeya was the spark in the fifth set for Denso with five points (one ace) to take the set 15-9, the match 3-2 and the final spot in the Final Four. Plummer led Denso in scoring with 23 (2 blocks and an ace), while Nabeya finished with 16 (a block and 2 aces) in the win.
Match results for February 13, 2021
Hitachi Rivale – Victorina Himeji 3-2 (15-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 15-9)
JT Marvelous – Toyota Auto Body Queenseis 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-21)
Denso Airybees – Okayama Seagulls 3-2 (25-23, 25-17, 15-25, 19-25, 15-10)
Match results for February 14, 2021
Saitama Ageo Medics – NEC Red Rockets 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21)
Toray Arrows – JT Marvelous 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 32-30)
PFU Blue Cats – Hitachi Rivale 3-1 (25-16, 18-25, 25-15, 25-18)
Denso Airybees – Hisamitsu Springs 3-2 (16-25, 25-22, 22-25, 26-24, 15-9)
Final stage schedule for February 20, 2021
Semifinals
Toray Arrows vs Denso Airybees
JT Marvelous vs NEC Red Rockets
5th place semifinals
Saitama Ageo Medics vs Hitachi Rivale
Okayama Seagulls vs Hisamitsu Springs
9th place semifinals
Toyota Auto Body Queenseis vs Victorina Himeji
PFU Blue Cats vs Kurobe Aqua Fairies
Related links of AVC
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: https://twitter.com/avcvolley
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation