Iwasaki's fake spike jump set is really catching the German MBs. It can be wonky but it sure is helping with blockers. Love her distribution too. This group is also less tense in court compared to recent Japan teams, I guess having a very old players is helping putting off pressure for Koga and Ishikawa (who really did great this time) to lead.
Real spiking (fake spiking) is her specialty
https://x.com/volleyballworld/status/1006930082110177286
Manabe is so useless
Hayashi 
nothing like getting hit with reality check on their third match and koga not even getting 10 points in.
anyway next will be against brazil.
nothing like getting hit with reality check on their third match and koga not even getting 10 points in.
anyway next will be against brazil.
It's their 4th match and last in round 1.
Hayashi is great but there needs to be an opp that focuses on firepower and leave the rest to Mayu and Koga
It's their 4th match and last in round 1.
Hayashi is great but there needs to be an opp that focuses on firepower and leave the rest to Mayu and Koga
Wada is there but as usual Manabe just wants to glare and watch his starters get fucking bodied
Was not really expecting them to win BUT this was a bit underwhelming.
Koga, (and subsequently Inoue) were so bothered by the block. Watanabe still seems to be on another wavelength than most of the team at times but played a better as the game went on. Iwasaki's setting is ok BUT the POL really overpowered and out-defended them. This game really showed also how important Wada in the lineup. She's pretty much second/third option here BUT she delivers when needed. Inoue's defense and ultimate reaction to the block is very unimpressive. Kurugo's inclusion is still a mystery for me.
On the other hand, POL really has risen as a contender BUT the errors does pile on their side. Stysiak is still their main gunner AND they will live or die with her.
PS: I still stand that Lavarini overreacted against the dump and one hand lift/dig lol. It is already defensive/offensive standard nowadays. That lit a fire on Stysiak though lol.
Japan never had to fear Stysiak and admittedly I don't know much about this Polish team but apparently neither did Manabe tf 
I don't know if I wanna rewatch it since I didn't bother finishing the 3rd set out of frustration but this also kinda confirms my suspicions about Koga when left unregulated
It's their 4th match and last in round 1.
Hayashi is great but there needs to be an opp that focuses on firepower and leave the rest to Mayu and Koga
It’s interesting .... I was watching a tournament final in Vietnam happening the same time as Japan - Poland. There Melissa Valdes helped PFU Bluecats to victory. I thought an opp with such reach and power could maybe be an asset to the NT. 
Japan never had to fear Stysiak and admittedly I don't know much about this Polish team but apparently neither did Manabe tf
No for real because they were about to shut down the first set and with Poland making mistakes you would think they have that in the bag,
Manabe probably focused so much on Turkey and neutralizing Vargas he didn't even bother checking up on Poland. This loss was too weird like not even 1 set won oh man they got swept
It’s interesting .... I was watching a tournament final in Vietnam happening the same time as Japan - Poland. There Melissa Valdes helped PFU Bluecats to victory. I thought an opp with such reach and power could maybe be an asset to the NT.
Where can I watch that btw? is there a replay somewhere?
Where can I watch that btw? is there a replay somewhere?
Try here.. https://www.facebook.com/BinhD…videos/25584330611182548/
It wasn’t easy for PFU... I shouldn’t be saying this but LP Bank has a player (no.10) who looks like a man and plays like one 
No for real because they were about to shut down the first set and with Poland making mistakes you would think they have that in the bag,
Manabe probably focused so much on Turkey and neutralizing Vargas he didn't even bother checking up on Poland. This loss was too weird like not even 1 set won oh man they got swept
Poland is Japan's Netherlands this season and without Smarzek joining them yet what more when she enters
Manabe gave Kurogo her 15mins of fame in the next round he should drop her yamagishi and araki and come up with a better substitution system or not qualify and let Canada have a go at it instead
Poland is Japan's Netherlands this season and without Smarzek joining them yet what more when she enters
I really thought Poland's #11 was Carol's wife
I really thought Poland's #11 was Carol's wife
nahhhh what 
it's Martyna Łukasik
I really thought Poland's #11 was Carol's wife
I have always seen similarities between Buijs and Lukasik, I'm glad I'm not the only one
Is Airi supposed to be sub-opp ? If I remember correctly she's registered as OH on VBW's website so I was confused if she switched again. I still can't tell whether she's doing anything for this team. Better than Kurogo but still... I know Manabe keeps her for translating purposes but if she had to be a starter instead of Watanabe I think she can be better at pushing momentum but again there's no consistency so it's hard to tell with her
Manabe did nothing to help them. Kojima was the one coaching lol
Hayashi and Koga need to subbed especially Hayashi. When their opponents shift to a full block tactic. Koga's diagonal might be the weakest and easiest to roof.
The lack of a powerful opposite gives them a disadvantage when Koga is lagging leaving Hayashi and Mayu exhausted.
I wouldn't change Watanabe for Airi.
Iwasaki needs to stop dumping because she has poor spatial awareness of the opponents near the net (ironically). Use the middles instead of dumping.
Display MoreManabe did nothing to help them. Kojima was the one coaching lol
Hayashi and Koga need to subbed especially Hayashi. When their opponents shift to a full block tactic. Koga's diagonal might be the weakest and easiest to roof.
The lack of a powerful opposite gives them a disadvantage when Koga is lagging leaving Hayashi and Mayu exhausted.
I wouldn't change Watanabe for Airi.
Iwasaki needs to stop dumping because she has poor spatial awareness of the opponents near the net (ironically). Use the middles instead of dumping.
Regarding Kojima, I had no idea she was very vocal. I was trying to figure out who the squeaky auntie voice belonged to and it was her all along. Her and Fukudome make a good tag team and that should also be the case for Koga with another OH. But who else among the other OHs has good offense and defense? I just don't see Inoue making sense there either. They lack that too aside from an offensive OPP.
