2022 FIVB Volleyball Nations League: Yuji Nishida pushes Japan to a five-set victory against Italy

Japan fashioned a come-from-behind victory against Italy, taking an exhilarating 25-20 21-25 24-26 25-19 15-13 victory, in the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, Friday night before a loaded SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Quite possibly of the best teams in the men’s Volleyball Nations League 2022 up to this point, Japan worked hard to add one more victory to their absolute on the third day of the second week of the tournament, in Quezon City, the Philippines.

The Asians began a series of three successive matches against European national teams on the right foot with a hard-battled, five-set (25-20, 21-25, 24-26, 25-19, 15-13) win against continental champions Italy on Friday.

It was Japan’s third consecutive win and they went up to a 5-1 win-loss record (15 points), simply behind France and Poland on set proportion and in front of the USA on match points.

Japan got out ahead in the fifth and last set, however, Italy’s block saw the game at 13-all. Yuji Nishida sent Ryujin Nippon into the match point and afterward, Ran Takahashi denied Yuri Romano for the completion.

Yuji Nishida paced the world’s number 10 crew with 28 points on 22 attacks, five service aces, and a clock.

The Japanese presently ranks third in the standings with five wins in six matches, a similar record got by every one of the four teams that are as of now positioned from first to fourth in the tournament – France, Poland, Japan, and the USA.

The match was a fight between Japanese serving power, which created 14 points for the Asians, and only two for their rivals, and Italian impeding productivity, which delivered 14 points for the Europeans, against only two for their opponents.

Italy assumed early command over the initial set before Japan found its direction into the frame banking on transition attacks. Three successive service aces from Yuji Nishida put the Asian side up to 18-15 preceding, in the long run, sacking the opener on his own cross-court kill, 25-20.

The reigning European champions jumped off to one more strong beginning in the accompanying set with their net defense in the full display and with Japan’s block coverage in disorder. Japan came from 6-13 down to inside one at 17-18, however, hitting mistakes in the essential places of the set gave the adjuster to Italy.

Japan ventured into the driver’s seat to begin the third edge with their positive gatherings transforming into attacks. Italy however had different plans and penetrated through Japan’s safeguard to sack the set benefit at 2-1 in a lengthy edge at 26-24.

In the fourth set, Japan extended a precarious 20-17 margin into a 23-17 lead after consecutive center kills from Akihiro Yamauchi and a service ace from captain Yuki Ishikawa. A mistake on the helpline from Daniele Lavia sent the match into a decider.

Ishikawa finished up with 20 points on 14 attacks and six service aces, while Yamauchi added a hostile choice at the center with 15 markers on 14 attacks and an ace. Ran Takahashi, who began in this match, bucked off an injury scare to include eight points seven attacks, and the match-winning block.

Explosive opposite Yuji Nishida came up enormous for his team, producing a match-high 28 points, with 22 kills, five aces, and one block. He was likewise significant as a basis of points in key moments of the match. In the principal set, the contrary hit from the backcourt to send the ball to the side of the Italian court and score the last point in the 25-20 Japanese victory.

Team captain Yuki Ishikawa likewise had a productive match, leaving the court with 20 points after he counted 14 kills and a match-high six aces. Middle blocker Akihiro Yamauchi was the other Japanese player to arrive at twofold digits in scoring with 15 (14 kills, one ace).

“Serving was really important for us today, but also our blocking and defense,” Ishikawa said after the match. “The crowd was great and pushed us the entire time. We wouldn’t have made it without them and their energy.”

On the Italian side, outside hitters Daniele Lavia and Alessandro Michieletto, who were playing in only their second match in the VNL 2022, drove the way with 22 (18 kills, three blocks, one ace) and 16 (14 kills, two blocks) points respectively.

Japan will confront fellow leaders France (5-1) in one more profoundly expected fight on June 25 at 3 p.m.

Lavia carried Italy on an overall scoring with 22 points on 18 attacks, three blocks, and a service ace. Alessandro Michielletto and Romano both finished with 16 markers with every one of them scoring 14 attacks and two blocks.

Italy, which dropped to 4-2, will take on China (2-5) next on June 26 at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, the Japanese will confront ruling Olympic champions France at 15.00 nearby time (7.00 GMT). On Sunday, they complete their schedule in the second week of the VNL against Slovenia same time.