🇯🇵 JAPAN vs ITALY 🇮🇹 | GOLD MEDAL MATCH | Highlights | Women's VNL 2024

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JAPAN vs ITALY | GOLD MEDAL MATCH | Highlights | Women's VNL 2024. The final of the Volleyball Nations League 2024 was held in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday, June 23rd.

The Japanese women's national team, ranked 6th in the FIVB world rankings (before the start of the match), faced Italy, ranked 1st, and lost 1-3 (17-25, 17-25, 25-21, 20-25). They finished the tournament as runners-up. This is the first time in 10 years since the 2014 World Grand Prix that the Japanese team has won a medal in an international tournament organized by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

In the first set, Miyabe Airi and Wada Yukiko were deployed from the start. Italy's offense and defense were hindered from the beginning, allowing them to fall behind 0-3. Ishikawa Mayu and Koga Sarina tried to fight back with spikes, but Italy's momentum was unstoppable, and Japan used up their second timeout at 4-8. Koga improved her scoring ability, but was unable to score consecutive points against Italy's strong offensive power, and the score gap widened. Yamada Nichika's attacks helped Japan gain pace, and they closed the gap to 14-18, but the game ended with the score at 17-22. In the end, Wada's spike just went over the sideline, and Japan lost the set 17-25.

In the second set, Hayashi Kotona was substituted for Wada at the start. Japan got off to a good start thanks to the efforts of Miyabe and Ishikawa, but Italy gradually took control of the pace. Libero Fukudome Satomi desperately tried to hold the opponent's powerful shots, leading to Koga's spike points, and Japan hung on to Italy at 8-9. Italy fought back with incredible tenacity, and Japan, not to be outdone, sent Kojima Manami and Hayashi to the court, but they lost consecutive points to Italy, who had superior offensive power, and were forced into a disadvantageous position at 9-16. In an attempt to change the flow, Seki Nanami and Inoue Arisa were sent onto the court, but the score difference did not narrow, and Japan lost this set 17-25.

In the third set, Japan, eager to get revenge, started with Inoue and Ayaka Araki from the start. Araki's block point made it 5-6, and Koga's back attack made it 6-7, so the game was evenly matched in the early stages. They repeatedly grabbed rebounds from Italy's high blocks, and Inoue scored spikes from the back line, and with the opponent's mistakes, they successfully turned the game around to 10-9. Koga also showed his presence in receiving, and Inoue scored the ball he raised to make it 15-12. Inoue also scored consecutive points with his serve, making it 18-13, and Japan took the pace in the middle stages. After losing three consecutive points to make it 18-16, Koga and Hayashi held on, and Japan was the first to score 20 points at 20-17. When they reached set point at 24-21, the opponent's spike went off the court, and they took back the set at 25-21.

In the fourth set, Italy attacked from anywhere, and Japan struggled to find a target for blocking. Japan fought back with their strong defense, but they were at a disadvantage at 6-11. With a quick from Araki and a spike from Koga, Japan held on to 10-14, and at the end of the set, Wada's efforts brought Japan within three points at 18-21, but they lost the set 20-25 and became the runner-up.