Reigning Asian champions Japan completed their run in pool play of the 2021 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy on Sunday with a sweep of Serbia, ahead of their first ever appearance in the semifinals of the competition.
Japan, resting their key players including Ai Kurogo, Sarina Koga, Erika Shinomiya and Mayu Ishikawa, demolished Serbia in comfortable straight sets 25-12, 25-22, 25-15.
Yuki Ishii emerged as top scorer of Japan with 14 points, while Kotona Hayashi added 13.
Jovana Kocic, Sara Lozo and Vanja Savic handed Serbia 7 points apiece on the team’s losing efforts.
Sara Lozo said at the virtual Mixed Zone: “It was our last game and I’m sad, because we lost. I think that this tournament has been a big experience for all the players. We didn’t earn too many wins at this tournament. We are a young team – to many girls this was their debut with the National Team. We struggled a lot with tipping today and with our defence. Japan also had a really good service today, so our reception was on a low level.”
Yuki Ishii of Japan said: “We are very happy to play again in this squad, because some other team members joined the starting six. So we were glad to play again together, especially that we won today. We had a very good service today, so we could control the game and Serbia were not able to play their combinations.”
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