Japan - V.Premier League 2015-2016

  • About Toray, I think the middle has always been their weakest link since the departure of Erika Araki. Three national team wing spikers i.e. Sakoda, Saori and Takada simply could not lift the team up for a long long season. So Dixon is the best inclusion for the team since forever, at least at the moment, she is doing more than fantastic, adding a lot more variety on offensive game and great block skill too. Hopefully Toray will keep up with this pace and make the final this season.


    I also truly hope Araki will come back to the national team after watching her recent games though i highly doubt Manabe would ever call her again.


    Manabe will call her because she is better than all of the other middles that Japan has. She won two medals with him in 2010 and 2012. The middle is Japanese greatest weakness right now. They have a great offense (it may take them 12 chances, after digging everything), but the blocking is what kills them. At the World Cup, they finished 5th, but they averaged 1.69 blocks per set (68 blocks/40.13 sets played (48 points per set)), which was 10th out of 12 teams. Even with block rebounds Japan was 7th at 6.28 rebounds per set (252 rebounds/40.13 sets played). When put together Japan was 8th at 7.97 block touches per set (blocks+rebounds/sets played).


    The teams that finished in front of Japan
    China 3.39 blocks (2nd), 7.39 rebounds (2nd), 10.78 block touches (2nd)
    Russia 3.50 blocks (1st), 6.59 rebounds (6th), 10.09 block touches (4th)
    Serbia 3.27 blocks (4th), 7.28 rebounds (3th), 10.55 block touches (3rd)
    USA 3.15 blocks (5th), 7.76 rebounds (1st), 10.91 block touches (1st)


    So Japan is about 1.5 blocks behind the USA, only 0.3 rebounds behind Russia and 2.1 block touches behind Russia. That could work out to 2 points a set, and you need to win by 2 points right?


  • OMG, such an insightful piece of information, thanks so much for sharing this, Brahmin :obey: .


    Im fully aware of the fact the middle is the weakest link rite now for Japan, not only in domestic leagues but also in national team as well. Watching all the so-called best MBs in V-leagues at the moment like Iwasaka, Itoh, Ono, Hiramatsu etc is such a pain coz none of them excel in what they do. Shimamura and Ohtake are good but still need more experiences to reach the level of former national team MB such as Araki, Inoue, Otomo.


    My point is that Manabe always seems to have a questionable choice regarding the MB. Like in 011, 2 main MBs i.e Otomo and Inoue could not play for national team due to injury. And out of various available choices for a good MBs back then, he chose to stick with Iwasaka and call up Kazuyo Mori of Okayama. While Iwasaka had a decent performance, Kazuyo Mori totally do nothing at all. Besides, Araki was already back to duty in 2014-2015 season and performed incredible as ever. Yet, she did not make the final list of 2015 national team. Shimamura was also a last minutes choice for national team, i think, but at least she managed to have a decent performance.

  • brahmin, thank you for always uploading the results !
    Because of the entrance exam, I had to study so I couldn't follow the V-league games for a month.


    Here's the personal stats for top 25 players.




    thanks for sharing this~ :rose:

  • My personal thought is that it has something to do with her having a child. Keep in mind Ai Otomo was out of the NT for a good 4 years after giving birth to her daughter. Maybe Araki declined the offer in lieu of spending more time with her child, but as this coming year is Olympics, she may make a return to the team early.

  • My personal thought is that it has something to do with her having a child. Keep in mind Ai Otomo was out of the NT for a good 4 years after giving birth to her daughter. Maybe Araki declined the offer in lieu of spending more time with her child, but as this coming year is Olympics, she may make a return to the team early.


    Normally Japanese society does not look kindly on working mom's. With the Japanese league, many of the players also work with the company (yes they do, having watched Ebata's video on youtube about her work at Hitachi after the 2010 World Championships). So with Araki being pregnant, she kind of was forced to "retire". By doing so she became a free agent player and signed with Ageo. She probably saw what Ai Tomo went through in 2010 and said that it is possible to be a mom and play in the Olympics. Her husband was a rugby player (overseas for a time) and so he knows the motivation for her to go to the Olympics.


    I can't see how she doesn't get chosen into the national team. She also is a leader, which right now is very different when looking at Saori Kimura. I love Saori and I see a lot of myself (introverted and quirky) in her, but Saori is not going to tell the team, "Get me the ball, I'll carry us to the championship." Araki has that ability. Saori during the World Cup could not and would not say anything against her teammates. She really liked them, but it is a really young team right now and she did not want to disturb their growth (even with loses). She's like a mother hen from watching the videos.


    Araki in the middle will relieve some of the pressure on the outside hitters, plus the blocking will help as well.

  • Matchday 10, November 28, 2015
    NEC Red Rockets 3-1 Okayama Seagulls (23-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-21)
    Sarina Koga (NEC) 19 (1a), Haruyo Shimamura (NEC) 16 (3b), Risa Shiragaki (NEC) 16 (1b), Akari Oumi (NEC) 11 (2a), Kana Ohno (NEC) (1b, 1a), Kaname Yamaguchi (NEC) 5 (1b)
    Moe Sasaki (Okayama) 15, Natsuko Izumi (Okayama) 12 (1a), Shuka Kaneda (Okayama) 10, Mai Yamaguchi (Okayama) 9, Akiko Kohno (Okayama) 7 (2b, 1a), Haruka Miyashita (Okayama) 5 (1b)


    Hitachi Rivale 3-2 Ageo Medics (25-19, 22-25, 25-16, 22-25, 15-8)
    Hisae Watanabe (Hitachi) 25 (1b, 1a), Lauren Paolini (Hitachi) 22 (6b, 2a), Mami Uchiseto (Hitachi) 16 (2b), Nanami Inoue (Hitachi) 12 (3b, 2a), Moemi Tohi (Hitachi) 12 (3b, 1a)
    Kelly Murphy (Ageo) 20 (1a), Erika Araki (Ageo) 13 (2b, 1a), Shiho Kondoh (Ageo) 12 (1b, 1a), Shiho Yoshimura (Ageo) 10 (1b), Ayaka “Jackie” Matsumoto (Ageo) 10 (3b)


    Denso Airybees 3-1 Toyota Auto Body Queenseis (20-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-16)
    Mia Jerkov (Denso) 25 (4b, 1a), Mizuho Ishida (Denso) 15 (1b, 1a), Riho Ohtake (Denso) 8 (1b), Yurie Nabeya (Denso) 7 (2b, 1a), Risa Ishii (Denso) 5 (1b, 1a)
    Polina Rahimova (Toyota) 29 (1a), Saori Takahashi (Toyota) 20 (1b, 1a), Miyuki Hiramatsu (Toyota) 5 (1b)


    Toray Arrows 1-3 Hisamitsu Springs (23-25, 25-21, 21-25, 17-25)
    Tetori Dixon (Toray) 18 (2b), Saori Kimura (Toray) 16 (3b, 1a), Saori Sakoda (Toray) 12 (1b)
    Kaho Ohno (Toray) 5 (2b), Nozomi Itoh (Toray) 5 (1b, 1a)
    Risa Shinnabe (Hisamitsu) 21 (4b), Miyu Nagaoka (Hisamitsu) 19 (3b, 1a), Yuki Ishii (Hisamitsu) 18 (1b, 1a), Yumi Mizuta (Hisamitsu) 9 (4b), Nana Iwasaka (Hisamitsu) 6 (4b), Chizuru Kotoh (Hisamitsu) 1 (1a)


    Standings
    Rank, Team, Match Points, Match Wins, Sets Won-Sets Lost
    1. Toray Arrows, 23, 8, 26-10
    2. Hisamitsu Springs 19, 6, 24-20
    3. NEC Red Rockets 18, 5, 21-20
    4. Hitachi Rivale 17, 7, 23-18
    5. Okayama Seagulls 14, 5, 19-21
    6. Denso Airybees 12, 5, 18-23
    ----- Advance to Final 6-----
    7. Ageo Medics 10, 3, 17-24
    8. Toyota Auto Body Queenseis 7, 1, 15-27

  • Matchday 11, November 29, 2015
    NEC Red Rockets 3-1 Hitachi Rivale (25-21, 25-27, 25-22, 25-17)
    Risa Shiragaki (NEC) 18 (1b, 1a), Sarina Koga (NEC) 15 (3b, 1a), Haruyo Shimamura (NEC) 15 (1a), Akari Oumi (NEC) 13 (1b, 1a), Kana Ohno (NEC) 9 (5b, 1a), Kaname Yamaguchi (NEC) 5 (1a)
    Lauren Paolini (Hitachi) 22 (1b, 2a), Mami Uchiseto (Hitachi) 14 (1a), Hisae Watanabe (Hitachi) 9 (2b), Nanami Inoue (Hitachi) 8 (1b), Mirei Sasaki (Hitachi) 6 (1b), Miya Satoh (Hitachi) 5 (4a)


    Ageo Medics 2-3 Okayama Seagulls (16-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-16, 13-15)
    Kelly Murphy (Ageo) 33 (2b, 2a), Erika Araki (Ageo) 16 (10b, 1a), Yuki Araki (Ageo) 11 (1a), Shiho Yoshimura (Ageo) 10, Shiho Kondoh (Ageo) 5, Ayaka “Jackie” Matsumoto (Ageo) 3 (2b)
    Aki Kawabata (Okayama) 18 (1b, 4a), Mai Yamaguchi (Okayama) 16 (2b), Moe Sasaki (Okayama) 15 (2b), Kanako Konno (Okayama) 11 (2b, 4a), Natsuko Izumi (Okayama) 9, Aimi Kawashima (Okayama) 6 (2b), Yuko Asazu (Okayama) 5 (1a), Haruka Miyashita (Okayama) 1 (1a)


    Toyota Auto Body Queenseis 3-2 Toray Arrows (25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 20-25, 15-8)
    Polina Rahimova (Toyota) 32 (1b, 5a), Saori Takahashi (Toyota) 16 (4b, 2a), Mari Yamada (Toyota) 12 (3b, 2a), Miyuki Hiramatsu (Toyota) 11 (5b), Tomomi Etoh (Toyota) 9
    Saori Kimura (Toray) 19 (1a), Saori Sakoda (Toray) 19 (1b), Tetori Dixon (Toray) 17 (5b), Nozomi Itoh (Toray) 9 (1b), Saki Minemura (Toray) 7 (2b), Wakaba Sugihara (Toray) 2 (2a)


    Hisamitsu Springs 3-0 Denso Airybees (25-19, 25-17, 25-21)
    Miyu Nagaoka (Hisamitsu) 18 (3b), Risa Shinnabe (Hisamitsu) 16 (3b, 1a), Yuki Ishii (Hisamitsu) 13 (2b), Nana Iwasaka (Hisamitsu) 9 (2b, 1a), Yumi Mizuta (Hisamitsu) 5 (1b), Chizuru Kotoh (Hisamitsu) 3 (1b, 2a)
    Riho Ohtake (Denso) 14 (5b), Yurie Nabeya (Denso) 9 (2b), Mizuho Ishida (Denso) 8 (1b), Mia Jerkov (Denso) 7 (1a), Risa Ishii (Denso) 6 (2b)


    Standings
    Rank, Team, Match Points, Match Wins, Sets Won-Sets Lost
    1. Toray Arrows, 24, 8, 28-13
    2. Hisamitsu Springs 22, 7, 27-20
    3. NEC Red Rockets 21, 6, 24-21
    4. Hitachi Rivale 17, 7, 24-21
    5. Okayama Seagulls 16, 6, 22-23
    6. Denso Airybees 12, 5, 18-26
    ----- Advance to Final 6-----
    7. Ageo Medics 11, 3, 19-27
    8. Toyota Auto Body Queenseis 9, 2, 18-29




  • [quote='brahmin','index.php?page=Thread&postID=304012#post304012']Araki in the middle will relieve some of the pressure on the outside hitters, plus the blocking will help as well.


    Watch the marvelous and flawless volleyball she has played in recent matches (10 blocks at last Sunday match, i was like awww seriously :obey: !!!!), i truly deeply do look forward to her participation at OG 2016 with Japan. Araki, like Brahmin previously mentioned, also has the great leader kind of aura that Saori does not process at all, unfortunately. I read somewhere before, Saori had already wanted to retire from national team after OG 2012 and enjoy her year at Turkey to the fullest. Yet, Manabe kept coming over and insisting on her comebank as a team cantain!! She refused at first but later was convinced when Manabe brought up the topic how great and hardworking Takeshita and Araki were as a national team captain :box: .Thing must have been totally different if she remained firmly on her initial decision :rolleyes: .


    Back to the topic, Hitsamitsu seems to be on the way back to their usual form, even Nana Iwasaka managed to play some decent volleyball last weekend, good sign :D.

  • :what: :what: :what: Saori was planning to retire after London? I didn't know that.


    But yes, there definitely is a lot of leadership coming from Araki that Kimura lacks. Even when she was off the court, Araki was an effective captain and helped motivate her team. I really hope she comes back.


    By the way, is there a reason that Iwasaka is not called back to the NT? Is it Mannabe's choice or her own? Also Ageo has a tall MB "Jackie" Matsumoto at 188cm, I have never seen her play myself but does she look promising for the NT? I really hope the team does not lose all of its taller players because lack of block really hurts them recently and the defense cannot keep up.

  • As far as I know they just don't want to cooperate with each other :whistle: didn't Iwasaka turn down last invitation ?(


    I also hope that Araki will come back :roll: it's a big pity that Japan lacks decent MBs nowadays... just remind times of Yanagimoto when he had even 5 :!: MBs in 12 roster: Araki, Sugiyama, Omura, Araki and Shoji... even few years later it still looked decent with Otomo and Inoue ^^ and now? only Yamaguchi, Shimamura and Otake are ok, Hirai retired as other older ones, Iwasaka doesn't want to be there and others are just weak :call:

    Gold medal - World League 2013 Prediction Game
    Bronze medal - World League 2012 Prediction Game

  • Matchday 12, December 5, 2015
    Denso Airybees 2-3 Toray Arrows (17-25, 15-25, 25-20, 25-22, 8-15)
    Mia Jerkov (Denso) 22, Riho Ohtake (Denso) 15 (1b), Yurie Nabeya (Denso) 15 (1b), Risa Ishii (Denso) 6 (3b), Nanaka Sakamoto (Denso) 6
    Saori Sakoda (Toray) 26, Saori Kimura (Toray) 19 (2b, 1a), Arisa Takada (Toray) 17 (1b), Tetori Dixon (Toray) 11 (1b), Asuka Nomura (Toray) 5 (2b, 1a)


    Okayama Seagulls 1-3 Hitachi Rivale (23-25, 11-25, 25-21, 17-25)
    Moe Sasaki (Okayama) 11, Aimi Kawashima (Okayama) 7 (1b, 1a), Kanako Konno (Okayama) 6 (2b), Yuko Asazu (Okayama) 6, Haruka Miyashita (Okayama) 5 (1b, 2a), Shuka Kaneda (Okayama) 5 (1b), Aki Kawabata (Okayama) 5, Mai Yamaguchi (Okayama) 4, Natsuko Izumi (Okayama) 4 (1b)
    Hisae Watanabe (Hitachi) 26 (3b), Lauren Paolini (Hitachi) 21 (1b), Mami Uchiseto (Hitachi) 14 (1b, 1a), Nanami Inoue (Hitachi) 13 (1b), Moemi Tohi (Hitachi) 7 (4b), Miya Satoh (Hitachi) 3 (2b, 1a)


    Ageo Medics 1-3 Hisamitsu Springs (17-25, 25-22, 22-25, 23-25)
    Kelly Murphy (Ageo) 30 (4b, 3a), Yuki Araki (Ageo) 15 (1a), Ayaka “Jackie” Matsumoto (Ageo) 6 (1b, 2a), Shiho Yoshimura (Ageo) 6, Erika Araki (Ageo) 4 (2b)
    Miyu Nagaoka (Hisamitsu) 24 (1a), Risa Shinnabe (Hisamitsu) 18 (3b, 1a), Yuki Ishii (Hisamitsu) 15 (2b, 1a), Nana Iwasaka (Hisamitsu) 12 (6b), Yumi Mizuta (Hisamitsu) 7 (1a)


    NEC Red Rockets 2-3 Toyota Auto Body Queenseis (25-13, 25-20, 20-25, 22-25, 11-15)
    Risa Shiragaki (NEC) 22 (5b, 1a), Haruyo Shimamura (NEC) 17 (3b, 2a), Sarina Koga (NEC) 13 (2b, 1a), Akari Oumi (NEC) 11, Kana Ohno (NEC) 9 (1b), Kaname Yamaguchi (NEC) 4 (2b)
    Polina Rahimova (Toyota) 47 (1b, 4a), Saori Takahashi (Toyota) 17 (1b, 2a), Miyuki Hiramatsu (Toyota) 5 (2b)


    Standings
    Rank, Team, Match Points, Match Wins, Sets Won-Sets Lost
    1. Toray Arrows, 26, 9, 31-15
    2. Hisamitsu Springs 25, 8, 30-21
    3. NEC Red Rockets 22, 6, 26-24
    4. Hitachi Rivale 20, 8, 27-22
    5. Okayama Seagulls 16, 6, 23-26
    6. Denso Airybees 13, 5, 20-29
    ----- Advance to Final 6-----
    7. Toyota Auto Body Queenseis 11, 3, 21-31 *higher sets ratio than Ageo
    8. Ageo Medics 11, 3, 20-30

  • Today I watched all games so I post today's result :D


    Matchday 13, December 6, 2015


    Denso Airybees 3-2 Okayama Seagulls (25-21, 14-25, 25-18, 10-25, 15-12)


    Denso: Mia Jerkov 25, Riho Otake 18 (4 blocks), Yurie Nabeya 9 (1 block, 2 aces)
    Okayama: Shuka Kaneda 15 (1 ace), Aki Kawabata 14 (1 ace), Natsuko Izumi 11 (1 block, 1 ace)


    Mizuho Ishida(OH/Denso) was absent last 2 games but I don't know the reason. Nanaka Sakamoto replaced her.


    NEC Red Rockets 2-3 Ageo Medics (25-16, 25-27, 25-23, 20-25, 7-15)


    NEC: Haruyo Shimamura 21 (4 blocks, 1 ace), Risa Shiragaki 18 (2 aces), Sarina Koga 15 (1 block)
    Ageo: Kelly Murphy 36(1 block), Yuki Araki 15 (1 block), Erika Araki 12 (2 blocks, 3 aces)


    Kelly :thumbsup: 35/78 (14/33 from back) is really good. Other players should help her more on attack.
    Akari Ohmi (OH/NEC) twisted her ankle during 1st set and Ayana Oyama replaced her.
    Without Ohmi, NEC's recepiton is really nightmare. Koga's reception isn't good recently.


    Toyota Autobody Queenseis 0-3 Hisamitsu Springs (17-25, 23-25, 22-25)


    Toyota:Polina Rahimova 35(50% on attack, 2 aces), Miyuki Hiramatsu 9 (2 blocks), Saori Takahashi 7 (1 ace)
    Hisamitsu: Miyu Nagaoka 16 (1 ace, 1 block), Yuki Ishii 13 (2 aces), Nana Iwasaka 10 (4 blocks), Risa Shinnabe 10 (1 ace)


    Stable game by Hisamitsu, every players did their jobs well. Iwasaka is good on block recently.
    Toyota Autobody should go to Korean league. I don't like "Only Polina Strategy" :thumbdown:
    Rahimova spikes 31/62 and other players only 18/43.


    Hitachi Rivale 3-0 Toray Arrows (25-23, 25-19, 25-17)


    Hitachi: Lauren Paolini 23(57% on attack, 2 blocks), Hisae Watanabe 13 (1 block, 1 ace), Mami Uchiseto 12 (1 ace)
    Toray: Saori Kimura 11, Saori Sakoda 11, Arisa Takada 8, Tetori Dixon 6


    Toray is getting worse day by day :down:
    IMO Toray's problems are
    1. No one can score when Dixon is on bench, biggest problem.
    2. Compared with Hitachi, setters cannot make good sets for Dixon.
    3. Misato Kimura -One of the worst libero of this league. (Do you know she is young sister of Saori Kimura ?)
    4. 3 wing spikes are definetly tired but there is no good substitution.


    On the other hand, Paolini plays 3rd season for Hitachi so Miya Sato(S/Hitachi) understands how to use her efficiently.



    28, 9, 33-21 Hisamitsu
    26, 9, 31-18 Toray
    23, 9, 30-22 Hitachi
    23, 6, 28-27 NEC
    17, 6, 25-29 Okayama
    15, 6, 23-31 Denso
    13, 4, 23-32 Ageo
    11, 3, 21-34 Toyota Autobody

  • Yes, Misato is Saori's younger sister :)

    Gold Medal - Prediction Game - Men's - Olympic Games 2012
    Gold Medal - Prediction Game - Men's - European Championship 2015
    Silver Medal
    - Prediction Game - Women's - Olympic Games 2012

    がんばれ 日本!

  • Toray has had problem with setter since the retirement of Nakamichi. I think whole of Japanese NT has issue with finding a consistent setter as all of them have up/downs.

  • Toray Arrows lost every an important piece of the puzzle lately: Kimura in 2012, Araki in 2013, Hamaguchi in 2014, Nakamichi in 2015. Obviously they need time to find their new soul as a team. Saori is back, they found a new dominant MB to replace Araki, they have to fix the setter and libero position now.

  • NEC Red Rockets 2-3 Ageo Medics (25-16, 25-27, 25-23, 20-25, 7-15)


    NEC: Haruyo Shimamura 21 (4 blocks, 1 ace), Risa Shiragaki 18 (2 aces), Sarina Koga 15 (1 block)
    Ageo: Kelly Murphy 36(1 block), Yuki Araki 15 (1 block), Erika Araki 12 (2 blocks, 3 aces)


    Kelly :thumbsup: 35/78 (14/33 from back) is really good. Other players should help her more on attack.
    Akari Ohmi (OH/NEC) twisted her ankle during 1st set and Ayana Oyama replaced her.
    Without Ohmi, NEC's recepiton is really nightmare. Koga's reception isn't good recently.


    Just whilst i was wondering why Oumi only played the first set with 100% on attacking (2/2). Hope she's gonna recover soon. Have you heard any update about Yanagita? I havent seen her for ages. Is she still under treatment for her injury???


    Toray Arrows lost every an important piece of the puzzle lately: Kimura in 2012, Araki in 2013, Hamaguchi in 2014, Nakamichi in 2015. Obviously they need time to find their new soul as a team. Saori is back, they found a new dominant MB to replace Araki, they have to fix the setter and libero position now.


    Nakamichi is an assistance coach for Toray from this season, rite? Anyway, I do think they should somehow give their bench players more chances to be on court. They've got some really good and promising youngsters like Horikawa (WS), Shirai (the best setter in the recent U20-WCH), Sugihara Wakaba (WS) and Yuki Mori (MB) but those are rarely seen on any Toray's match.



    I think whole of Japanese NT has issue with finding a consistent setter as all of them have up/downs.


    Exactly, we should blame Takeshita for that :whistle: . She was too good to be true and managed to be on top form for so freaking long, thus all the coaches refused to replace her with anyone else even though there were tons of other great setters in her era :obey: . IMO, JVA's target is getting a gold medal in Tokyo 2020, thats why they let Miyashita, Koga, Miyabe, Inoue etc to play for national team as soon as they could to gain experience. So up until Miyashita becomes master in her setting, we probably gotta endure her inconsistency for another while.


  • Just whilst i was wondering why Oumi only played the first set with 100% on attacking (2/2). Hope she's gonna recover soon. Have you heard any update about Yanagita? I havent seen her for ages. Is she still under treatment for her injury???


    Thanks for comment !!
    No, I haven't heard about Yanagita. I'm worried about her too ;(



    Nakamichi is an assistance coach for Toray from this season, rite? Anyway, I do think they should somehow give their bench players more chances to be on court. They've got some really good and promising youngsters like Horikawa (WS), Shirai (the best setter in the recent U20-WCH), Sugihara Wakaba (WS) and Yuki Mori (MB) but those are rarely seen on any Toray's match.


    That's right.
    She struggled Achilles tendonitis on both legs after 2012 OG, and in the last season, it was difficult even to warm up with pain. So she ended her volleyball career.


    I also want to see Horikawa more.
    The problem is that Sakoda always plays non-receiving OH and Takada plays receiving OPP, that's why it's difficult to substitute to use Horikawa.


    About Mori, I haven't seen she was in 14 members so she doesn't reach that level I think.
    Probably, Asuka Nomura and Kaho Ohno(twin sister of Kana Ohno, 2015 NT member) are better.

  • Toray cant score when Dixon is on the bench? As you can see, Dixon herself has not been scoring only got 6 this match. :wavy:


    And Saori Kimura is their best score every match, followed by Sakoda.


    Kimura is just a bit tired by now, but is all good, they are "safe" for the playoffs. Which means,Kimura needs to "save" her best for later :teach: :cheesy: :cheesy:

  • Matchday 14, December 12, 2015


    Toray Arrows 3-0 NEC Red Rockets (25-18, 25-11, 25-16)
    Saori Kimura (Toray) 17 (4b, 3a), Saori Sakoda (Toray) 15 (2b), Tetori Dixon (Toray) 11 (3b, 1a), Nozomi Itoh (Toray) 9 (2b), Wakaba Sugihara (Toray) 3 (3a)
    Sarina Koga (NEC) 7 (1a), Haruyo Shimamura (NEC) 5


    Hitachi Rivale 2-3 Toyota Auto Body Queenseis (24-26, 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 9-15)
    Lauren Paolini (Hitachi) 33 (5a), Hisae Watanabe (Hitachi) 17, Nanami Inoue (Hitachi) 13, Mami Uchiseto (Hitachi) 9, Moemi Tohi (Hitachi) 8 (1b), Miya Satoh (Hitachi) 4 (4a)
    Polina Rahimova (Toyota) 58 (3b, 3a), Miyuki Hiramatsu (Toyota) 11 (3b), Saki Takeda (Toyota) 10 (1b), Tomomi Etoh (Toyota) 6 (2a)


    Polina breaks a world record with 58 points. Hitachi only had 1 block the whole match!


    Ageo Medics 3-0 Denso Airybees (25-21, 25-16, 25-21)
    Kelly Murphy (Ageo) 22 (2b, 3a), Shiho Kondoh (Ageo) 14 (1b), Erika Araki (Ageo) 12 (6b), Yuki Araki (Ageo) 10 (1a), Nozomi Tsuchida (Ageo) 2 (2a)
    Mia Jerkov (Denso) 12 (1b, 1a), Yurie Nabeya (Denso) 12, Riho Ohtake (Denso) 10 (3b), Nanaka Sakamoto (Denso) 5 (1b, 1a)


    Hisamitsu Springs 3-2 Okayama Seagulls (27-25, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-9)
    Miyu Nagaoka (Hisamitsu) 32 (1b), Risa Shinnabe (Hisamitsu) 19 (1b, 1a), Yuki Ishii (Hisamitsu) 19 (2b), Nana Iwasaka (Hisamitsu) 13 (4b, 1a), Yumi Mizuta (Hisamitsu) 11 (1b)
    Aki Kawabata (Okayama) 28 (3b), Akiko Kohno (Okayama) 14 (5b), Aimi Kawashima (Okayama) 11 (2b), Shuka Kaneda (Okayama) 9 (1a), Yuko Asazu (Okayama) 7 (1a), Haruka Miyashita (Okayama) 4 (1b, 1a)


    Standings
    Rank, Team, Match Points, Match Wins, Sets Won-Sets Lost
    1. Hisamitsu Springs 30, 10, 36-23
    2. Toray Arrows, 29, 10, 34-18
    3. Hitachi Rivale 24, 9, 32-25
    4. NEC Red Rockets 23, 6, 28-30
    5. Okayama Seagulls 18, 6, 27-32
    6. Ageo Medics 16, 5, 26-32
    ----- Advance to Final 6-----
    7. Denso Airybees 15, 6, 23-34
    8. Toyota Auto Body Queenseis 13, 4, 24-36