[JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Japan Raises Record to 6-2 in the Volleyball Nations League

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Japan continued its strong play in the 2024 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League on Saturday, June 8 with a 3-1 victory over Slovenia in Fukuoka.

Head coach Philippe Blain's squad, ranked fourth in the world, improved to 6-2 in the tournament with a poised performance in its 25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 25-21 decision over world No 6 Slovenia.

Rising star Yuji Nishida paced Japan with 26 points, including 20 kills at the West Japan General Exhibition Center. Dynamic outside hitter Ran Takahashi chipped in with 20 points, including 15 on the attack, and captain Yuki Ishikawa added 12 points. Nishida and Taishi Onodera shared the team lead in blocks (two).

Reflecting on Saturday's match, Ishikawa said there were positive and negative aspects to think about.

"I expected it to be a difficult match, but today my own play was poor and my teammates helped me out," Ishikawa was quoted as saying by Sports Nippon. "[As the captain], I still have a lot to improve on. So I want to improve myself further in the Philippines round, the final and the Olympics."

Japan's Success in the Men's Volleyball Nations League

In Kyushu, it's been a successful week for Japan against top-tier volleyball teams.

Against 17th-ranked Iran, Japan beat its Asian rival 25-23, 25-22, 25-17 on Tuesday, June 4.

A day later, Japan faced 10th-ranked Germany and showed determination and grit in a 25-22, 22-25, 25-27, 25-23, 15-8 victory. In the 2-hour, 26-minute, see-saw clash, Ishikawa and Nishida were Japan's top scorers with 21 points apiece. Not to be overlooked, Takahashi and Onodera had 16 and 15 points, respectively.

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On Friday, June 7, world No 1 Poland outplayed Japan, winning 25-17, 25-15, 25-20.

After Japan's bounce-back victory over Slovenia on Saturday, Takahashi thanked the fans for their enthusiastic support throughout the week.

"Everyone's energy was amazing, and I'm really grateful that we were able to win again today," Takahashi said, according to Sports Nippon.

"It's given me confidence for the Olympics," he added, referring to Japan's final tourney match at home before the Paris Olympics.

He then said, "It feels great to finish with a win in front of you all, and I'm really grateful."

Volleyball Competition: A Look Ahead

In its quest to reach the Men's Volleyball Nations League finals, Japan heads to Manila to play in the final round of the preliminary phase from June 18-23. Upcoming opponents for Blain's squad include world No 12 Canada, 13th-ranked Netherlands, world No 7 France and third-ranked United States.

Depending on the results in the Philippines, Japan's pre-Olympic preparations could also extend to this tournament's finals in Lodz, Poland (June 27-30).

At the Paris Olympics, the 12-team men's volleyball tournament is scheduled for July 27-August 11 at South Paris Arena.

In 2023, Japan captured the bronze medal in the Men's Volleyball Nations League.

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Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.