That's the most bizarre thing ever. They did better when Kojima was main libero they almost beat Brazil in the QF then they flopped last season and lost again to Brazil
Stevanovic rattled Kojima. Her entire body froze midgame. I think it was Fukudome who ended up finishing the game but that parts fuzzy. Nishimura is the new Shinnabe but she has yet to prove she's main libero material in the NT
Display MoreWing Spikers:
Sarina Koga, Kotona Hayashi, Mayu Ishikawa, Arisa Inoue, Yukiko Wada, Hawi Okumu Oba, Mizuki Tanaka, Miwako Osanai, Ai Kurogo, Yoshino Sato
Middle Blockers:
Nichika Yamada, Airi Miyabe, Aya Watanabe, Ayaka Araki, Shion Hirayama, Hiroyo Yamanaka
Setters:
Nanami Seki, Tamaki Matsui, Tsukasa Nakawaga, Koyomi Iwasaki
Liberos:
Minami Nishimura, Satomi Fukudome, Manami Kojima, Akane Yamagishi
Which one of these wing spikers are oh and which ones are opps? Or can they all receive and attack both sides?
Which one of these wing spikers are oh and which ones are opps? Or can they all receive and attack both sides?
All are OHs except Hayashi but she has the best reception among all the spikers. I'm not too familiar with Yoshino Sato since she's a college player and the last time I saw her all she made were errors
All are OHs except Hayashi but she has the best reception among all the spikers. I'm not too familiar with Yoshino Sato since she's a college player and the last time I saw her all she made were errors
Hayashi is OH too you can put her in any position tbh even setter
Which one of these wing spikers are oh and which ones are opps? Or can they all receive and attack both sides?
They are all OHs, but that's just how they do it in Japan in almost all teams 
If based on the positions they played in the league this season...
OPP: Wada, Kurogo
If based on the positions they played in their most recent (seniors) National Team appearance...
OPP: Hayashi, Wada, Kurogo, Sato
but all 4 of these players also sometimes play OH in their club or NT. Hayashi is a starting OH of her team but is also the starting Opp of Japan NT.
I still think Airi should've transitioned to OP instead but she's already comfortable as MB
They have just only VNL and OG in their NT schedule. I think 24 member in the roster will be a ready to use to continue the Manabe's strategy since the beginning. Like they aiming for Paris. all newbie and young blood should come again next year.
Display More4 slots left technically with..
5th Italy6th China
——————
9th Japan
10th Netherlands
11th Canada
12th Germany
13th Thailand
Italy and China will get the first 2 given the gap in points then last 2 spots up for grabs among the 9th to 13th team.
Did Canada make the biggest leap? I don't know their players well except for Van Ryk and the one who played in Ageo before but who knows if it's still the same squad. They weren't a threat before but they are now given Japan's current ranking
Did Canada make the biggest leap? I don't know their players well except for Van Ryk and the one who played in Ageo before but who knows if it's still the same squad. They weren't a threat before but they are now given Japan's current ranking
They had some big upsets last year. They won over Serbia and Brazil in the VNL, then won over China and Netherlands in the OQT, among other wins. At least those are the ones with the bigger points iirc.
is mayu back in japan yet? or will she return together with her brother?
Jaja Santiago and Melissa Valdes are both invited in the Japan NT training camp. I believe would mean they are not officially part of the NT this year but invited in the training? Maybe like Jaja, Melissa isn't eligible yet.
https://www.jva.or.jp/topics/20240308-1/
EDIT: This is a post by her husband (Japanese Coach Taka Minowa)
Display MoreJaja Santiago and Melissa Valdes are both invited in the Japan NT training camp. I believe would mean they are not officially part of the NT this year but invited in the training? Maybe like Jaja, Melissa isn't eligible yet.
https://www.jva.or.jp/topics/20240308-1/
EDIT: This is a post by her husband (Japanese Coach Taka Minowa)
I've read somewhere that her nationality is still Philippines. Given that she needs 2 years more after citizenship approval, i think they are more like training materials for Japan NT more than anything.
I've read somewhere that her nationality is still Philippines. Given that she needs 2 years more after citizenship approval, i think they are more like training materials for Japan NT more than anything.
Yes, I'm pretty sure Jaja did not get citizenship yet, even before Coach Taka clarified it. That would make the news in the Philippines for sure
My question on citizenship is more for Melissa since I've seen posts asking why she is not in the NT. So there, they are both not eligible yet.
Yes, I'm pretty sure Jaja did not get citizenship yet, even before Coach Taka clarified it. That would make the news in the Philippines for sure
My question on citizenship is more for Melissa since I've seen posts asking why she is not in the NT. So there, they are both not eligible yet.
I felt i've been hearing about Melissa for a long time. if the process takes sooo long.. they'll probably never make it to NT by the time they're approved. Haha
Yes, I'm pretty sure Jaja did not get citizenship yet, even before Coach Taka clarified it. That would make the news in the Philippines for sure
My question on citizenship is more for Melissa since I've seen posts asking why she is not in the NT. So there, they are both not eligible yet.
It would be a wise decision for Valdes to leave PFU first and foremost but since their coach was the one who said that they'll help her goal to make the NT she might not actually be able to go elsewhere. Also, Nikkan and Number magazine have both listed her as a possible option so JVA already knows what to do with her since both publications get their sources directly from the federation unlike Sportiva
Getting way ahead here but fast forward to "Path to LA 2028" should the women's team do worse than Nakada (if they even reach that point) and maybe Koga retires and only Ishikawa and Hayashi are left as aces by that time their new coach will need to resort to more aggressive options and not leftovers like kurogo
I'm talking Kitamado possibly Kasai and whoever manages to save Toray. Valdes can enter by then which is better for someone like her since that'll be a longer process than both Tokyo and Paris
Getting way ahead here but fast forward to "Path to LA 2028" should the women's team do worse than Nakada (if they even reach that point) and maybe Koga retires and only Ishikawa and Hayashi are left as aces by that time their new coach will need to resort to more aggressive options and not leftovers like kurogo
I'm talking Kitamado possibly Kasai and whoever manages to save Toray. Valdes can enter by then which is better for someone like her since that'll be a longer process than both Tokyo and Paris
Road to Tokyo took 5 years they had an extra year due to the pandemic but with injuries happening left and right forcing Shinnabe to retire and eventually Miya Sato there was so much cramming by 2019. Nakada was forced to make ishii sub due to Saga's declining seasons but had also made the grave mistake in overestimating Kurogo thinking she could lead the offense/carry the team in any way so it really went nowhere.
So to me personally putting Kurogo in the roster in time for Paris is a bad omen
Niida>>>>>
Nonaka>>
On another note, it was smart of Seki to make this deal and escape to Italy regardless of the results of the Olympics. And of course Mayu will keep growing there as well.
Road to Tokyo took 5 years they had an extra year due to the pandemic but with injuries happening left and right forcing Shinnabe to retire and eventually Miya Sato there was so much cramming by 2019. Nakada was forced to make ishii sub due to Saga's declining seasons but had also made the grave mistake in overestimating Kurogo thinking she could lead the offense/carry the team in any way so it really went nowhere.
So to me personally putting Kurogo in the roster in time for Paris is a bad omen
I'm connecting it to Valdes if she officially joined the NT this year then it would be another chaotic last option as oppose to her joining the NT post-Paris is what I mean
