Japan retains Asian youth volley crown

Defending champion Japan defused China, 27-25, 25-17, 25-19, to retain the Asian Youth Girls’ volleyball championship at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City over the weekend.

The Japanese, who lost to the taller Chinese squad in five grueling sets in the classification round, kept their poise throughout the contest then overpowered the Chinese in the last two sets to complete the victory, their fourth crown.

“We made some adjustment after we lost to China in the classification match,” said Japanese coach Ogawa Yoshiki. “Our good digging and fast set plays were practically the key in our victory.”

The Chinese squad, composed mostly of six-footers, blew a 24-21 lead in the first set as the Japanese, led by Shiori Murata and Mai Kuroki, refused to give up and forced a 24-all tie.

After both teams exchanged errors for another tiebreak, 25-all, Murata, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), delivered back-to-back crisp kills to lift the Japanese to the win.