Team Japan in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL). –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Japan escaped a feisty Netherlands side to stay unscathed in ten games in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), 25-19, 26-24, 23-25, 25-17, at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.
With what looked like an impending sweep for Ryujin Nippon, the Dutch retaliated in the third set and force Japan to switch up its game in the final frame.
“It was a very interesting game. The third set was a bit [of a] different situation. In the third set, we lost so in the next set, we had to change our minds,” said Yuji Nishida.
“Good thing we played to adjust [and get] this win.”
Japan was doing almost everything right, including their steady performance in the second set.
Already at set point, 24-19, the Japanese let the Dutch score five unanswered points, before an error by the Netherlands’ Nimir Abdel-Aziz opened the door for Japan. Yuki Ishikawa took the chance and ended the extended set at 26-24.
Japan’s Yuki Ishikawa in the VNL Manila Leg game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
After losing the third set, however, a more aggressive Ryujin Nippon showed up in the fourth frame.
Holding a slim 10-8 advantage, Ryujin Nippon went on a game-deciding 9-2 run capped off by a Nishida kill to take a pivotal 19-10 advantage, a lead they would ride until the final buzzer.
Ishikawa top scored for Japan with 12 points as they improved to an undefeated 10-0 record.
The Netherlands, which dropped to a 5-6 card, relied on Wouter Ter Maat as the sole double-digit scorer with 14.