Linyi, MINA – For the second consecutive day, the defending VNL Men’s champions, Poland, suffered a five-set upset. After losing to Slovenia on Thursday, they were defeated by Japan in Linyi, China on Friday.
This time, Japan’s star player, Ran Takahashi, was the hero for the victorious team. With this result, Japan lost 9.44 points to Poland in the FIVB World Rankings, and coach Nikola Grbic’s team lost their number one spot to the defending world champions, Italy.
According to Volleyball World, Ran Takahashi scored a match-high 26 points, leading Japan to a 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 22-25, and 17-15) victory over Poland.
Ran scored 24 spike kills with a 62% attack success rate and served two aces, both in the fifth set.
Ran’s contribution was invaluable in the tiebreaker, earning the final two points of the match.
Read Also: SOOP SOOPers vs Expressway Hi-Pass: 1–3; Moma Bassoko and Teammates Remain Undefeated
In a truly spectacular moment during the crucial tiebreaker, Ran pretended to pipe a shot, but instead hit a jump set for opponent Yuji Nishida, who scored.
Japan’s other opponent – Kento Miyaura, who didn’t start the first two sets – scored 16 points, including an ace. Outside hitter Tatsunori Otsuka added another 15 points, all on offense, while middle blocker Akihiro Yamauchi scored three kill blocks to finish with 12 points.
Blocks were the only scoring element in which Poland outperformed Japan in this match.
With a 2-0 win-loss record and 5 points, Japan currently sits in fifth place in the Men’s VNL standings after the conclusion of the third day of competition, while Poland dropped to seventh with a 1-2 record and 5 points. []
Read Also: Pink Spiders vs. Red Sparks: 3-0, A Tense Second Set
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
Mina Indonesia
Mina Arabic
Mina Sport