Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, May 17, 2017 – Promising Japan, the only team not losing a set to their respective rivals, breezed past Iran in a one-sided battle 25-13 25-14 25-12 at their second playoff match in the round of the last eight teams in the SMM 2nd Asian Women’s U23 Volleyball Championship at The Mall Nakhon Ratchasima’s MCC Hall on Wednesday.
Japan, fourth place at the previous edition in the Philippines two years ago and the same position at the World Championship in Turkey the same year, proved too strong to the Iranians to produce a straight-set win and maintain their remarkable unbeaten record. With straight three wins, Japan topped Pool F to next take on Pool E fourth-place Hong Kong in the Friday’s quarter-finals.
Misaki Yamauchi led Japan with 13 points including 11 kills from 18 attempts, with Mivako Osanai adding 11 kills and Ayaka Sugi 5 ace serves. Dargazani Tahmineh collected 6 points for Iran.
“Despite the win, I think we made many mistakes in this match. We have to compete in the quarter-finals and to prepare our players for that crucial round, we made the player rotation, giving everyone a chance to play in this match. We will take on Hong Kong in the quarter-finals, but I admit that we have no information about Hong Kong. However, we will do our best. Our target in this tournament remains the same – to be crowned champions,” Japan’s head coach Kiyoshi Abo commented after the match.
Related links of AVC
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/
AVC Twitter: click: https://twitter.com/avcvolley
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation