The Japan women’s volleyball team clinched a spot in the quarterfinals at the Rio Olympics, beating Argentina 3-0 in their Group A finale on Sunday.
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United States’ Brittney Griner (15) knocks the ball away from Japan’s Asami Yoshida (12) during a women’s quarterfinal round basketball game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016.
United States’ Karsta Lowe, right, celebrates with teammate Kim Hill during a women’s quarterfinal volleyball match at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016.
“When you are playing against a great defensive team like Japan, it takes 4 or 5 swings sometimes for us to put the ball down”.
The Japanese players posed for a team picture with the USA after the blowout – the second straight opponent to get a postgame memento with the Americans.
The top-ranked team in the world moved to 6-0 in Rio and drew one step closer to its first gold medal ever.
The unbeaten US (6-0) won 25-16, 25-23, 25-22 and has dropped just five sets all tournament.
“Our approach is the same every time, so that didn’t even really feel like an Olympic quarterfinal match”, Kiraly said.
“We can definitely beat them this time”, wing spiker Kimberly Hill, one of the tallest USA players at 193 cm (6 feet 4 inches), told Reuters.
Japan challenged United States of America in the second set, as Ishii and Nagaoka stepped up on their game, but Larson and Hill benefitted from Glass’ brilliant setting as they led the U.S. offence. “I was proud of the team we were able to get it out in three sets”.
Needing a victory, Japan entered Sunday’s match coming off straight-set losses to Brazil and Russian Federation.
The Americans, who will play the victor of France-Canada in the semifinals Thursday, apparently even impressed Japan.
With an overall record of 64-3, Olympic losses are rare for the USA but Japan could lay claim to one of them.
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“We played extremely strong in attack and service, causing the Russian receivers a lot of problems”, said Serbian coach Zoran Terzic. The Dutch are back in their first Olympics in 20 years and went 4-1 in group play behind the Americans.
