Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, May 26, 2017 – Japan’s Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs secured their second win in Group B of the SMM 2017 Asian Women’s Club Samruk Kazyna Volleyball Championship as they won 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 14-25, 25-18) against China’s Tianjin Bohai Bank on Friday.
Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs’ Yuka Imamura topped all scorers with 22 points from 19 attacks, two blocks and an ace, and shared her comments on a tough Chinese squad at the Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace Press Center.
“The Chinese players are very tall and it was difficult to attack when they could deflect, so I tried to adjust the angles of my attacks,” Imamura said.
In the opening set, Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs’ Imamura fired away from the flanks to establish a powerful brand of offence, to match their given acumen for defence. China’s opposite Yu Jinwei delivered with her attacks but Imamura seemed unstoppable. Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs went into the second technical time-out with 16-9.
Tianjin Bohai Bank enlisted middle attacker Wang Jiamin from the bench, and she performed well to score some points. Li Ying likewise delivered the goods, and saved a set point, but momentum was on the Japanese side. Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs took the first set, 25-21.
China’s captain Chen Liyi picked up her offensive rhythm at the second set and helped score for Tianjin Bohai Bank. By this time, China also kept a strong game at the middle with Wang Ning and Zhang Xiaoting.
Japan’s setter Erika Sakae continued to run her plays as Imamura connected from the wing, to help Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs take the second set, 25-22.
Tianjin Bohai Bank amassed a 4-0 lead in the third set as they wielded more speed in their powerful attacks. They tried to match their opponents in speed and defence. Meanwhile, the Japanese side were forced upon with errors in attack, which caused a 16-6 lead for China at the second technical time-out. The Chinese frontline maintained a firm stance at the net, connecting on blocks and quick attacks, to sail towards a 25-14 finish in the third set.
Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs started the fourth set with solid service from captain Risa Ishibashi to zoom to 5-1 lead. Fumika Moriya connected with a block to bring the team to 8-3 at the first technical time-out.
The Chinese side persisted with their attacks but by this time, Japan started to favour precision with off-speed spikes and tip-ins that found unmanned spots in the opponents’ court.
Hikari Kato and Akane Ukishima proved reliable at the flanks to help the Japanese side close the final set at 25-18.
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