Following a dramatic 3-2 victory over Australia, Japan has booked their ticket to the men’s world championships to be held in Italy and Bulgaria. Here the team from Japan celebrate their achievement.
Following a thrilling 3-2 victory over Australia, Japan has qualified for next years Men’s Volleyball World Championships.
Australia stays alive in the pursuit of a World Championship berth, and plays a must win match against Chinese Taipei on Sunday afternoon. The winner will join Japan.
Chinese Taipei stayed in the hunt for a berth following a 3-0 win over a lacklustre Thailand.
Chinese Taipei’s Liu Hung-Min wipes off the Thai block in the second set
With Yuki Ishikawa leading the way, Japan claims a 25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 25-22, 15-13 victory over the Volleyroos. Ishikawa was brilliant, scoring 32 points for Japan, including many unplayable serves or powerful spikes.
With Lincoln Williams at the line to serve at 13-14 Australia was still in reach, Williams blasted his serve deep into court only to see the Japanese libero Satoshi Ide dig brilliantly. The set then went to Masahiro Yang who blasted cross court to seal victory.
Apart from a one-sided third set, this match was tightly contested, as has been the case in recent meetings between the two countries who are ranked at 14 for Japan, and 15 for Australia.
In an interview after the match Australian captain Nathan Roberts summed it up “That’s international volleyball, all the difference was was one or two points in the end, and they took more advantage of that then us,” Roberts said.
Lincoln Williams during the warmup
Lincoln Williams during the warmup
Australian setter Harrison Peacock during the warmup
Backup setter for Australia, Arshdeep Dosanjh
Japanese libero Satoshi Ide warming up
Shuzo Yamada
No. 14 for Japan Yuki Ishikawa
16 Kentaro Takahashi
Japanese libero Satoshi Ide warming up
Japan players during the warmup
Travis Passier during the warmup
Japan Volleyball National Team coach
Yuta Yoneyama during the warm up
The crowd is ready for the start of play between Australian and Japan
The crowd trying to catch a volleyball thrown out to them by the Australian players before the start of the game
Japanese supporters
Nathan Roberts jump serving in the first set
The Volleyroos libero Luke Perry receives serve for Australia
Masahiro Yanagi receives serve for Japan
Nathan Roberts ready for a serve
Japanese supporters
Coach Mark Lebedew looks on
Paul Sanderson spiking against Japan
Ide, Yanagi and Ishikawa celebrate Japan winning a big point
Paul Sanderson and Beau Graham block Masahiro Yanagi
An enthusiatic crowds at the AIS Arena for the Australia v Japan volleyball match
Satoshi Ide receives serve for Japan
Luke Smith after being hit by a solid serve from Japan’s Yuki Ishikawa
No. 1 Issei Otake and no. 14 Yuki Ishikawa
Harrison Peacock sets to Nehemiah for a quick attack as Yuki Ishikawa readies himself to block
Star Japanese player no. 14 Yuki Ishikawa hits off Harrison Peacock’s head.
Luke Perry falls short as he dives for the ball
Paul Sanderson takes on a triple block from Japan
The Volleyroos look on as Japan’s no. 15 Haku Ri dives for the ball
Japan’s head coach Yuichi Nakagaichi makes a point to the referee
Luke Perry receives serve
A onesie couple watch the Australia v Japan match
Nathan Robert receives the serve
No. 3 Nathan Robert does the ‘chainsaw’ celebration late in the fourth set
Australia block to win the fourth set
Australia’s no. 4, Paul Sanderson flexes some muscles as he celebrates the fourth set win by Australia
The Volleyroos celebrate a block on set point in the fourth set
The home crowd celebrates as the Volleyroos won the fourth set 25-22 to take the match to a decider.
Australian setter, no. 7 Harry Peacock takes on his opposite number and gets a solo block.
The Volleyroos celebrate a block from no. 7 Harrison Peacock early in the fifth set
Mote jump serving for Australia in the fifth set
Paul Sanderson blasts the ball past the Japanese block and finds the back of the court for another point to Australia early in the fifth set.
At 4-5 down, Japan’s Masahiro spikes into the tape to give Australia a chance to dig.
With Australia up 5-4, Beau Graham dives to retrieve the ball, but comes up short to see Japan tie the score at 5-5.
Paul Sanderson tips over the Japanese block
Lincoln Williams jump serves in the fifth set.
Australia’s Nathan Roberts hits off the block to win a point for the Volleyroos
In the background the linesman raises his flag to call out a Masahiro Yanagi jump serve. That miss took the Volleyroos to 9-11.
Japan’s no. 8 Masahiro Yanagi leaves a Harrison Peacock jump floater, only to see it land in.
The Volleyroos celebrate an ace from no. 7 Harrison Peacock. He served a jump floater straight down the line which was left by Japan. The point took Australia to within one of Japan at 10-11.
Luke Perry and Paul Sanderson prepare to receive serve
At 10-11 down for the Volleyroos, Luke Perry has the ball bounce off his chest into an empty space on court. Lincoln Williams (no. 18) slipped at a crucial time.
The Volleyroos celebrate a point late in the fifth set
Yuki Ishikawa digs a serve from Sam Walker before being set the ball which he blasted past the block from around the three metre line. His winner brought up match point for Japan
Passionate Japanese fans cheering for their team late in the fifth set
Satoshi Ide digs a hot Lincoln Williams jump serve on match point.
The Australian block is not quite in position as Japan attacks
The agony of defeat as Australia go down 15-13 in the fifth set against Japan
Japan celebrates their 15-13 fifth set win
The Japanese players celebrate their win over the Volleyroos of Australia
Japanese fans celebrate the 3-2 win for Japan over Australia
Japanese fans are delighted by the 3-2 win for Japan over Australia
The Volleyroos thank the fans following their dramatic loss to Japan
Australia’s Luke Smith after the match against Australia
Thomas Hodges after the loss to Japan
Luke Perry high fives fans after the loss to Japan
Lincoln Williams high fives fans after the 3-2 loss to Japan
An Australian volleyball player signing a ball for a fan
Japan’s head coach Yuichi Nakagaichi is interviewed following his team’s 3-2 win over the Volleyroos.
Following a dramatic 3-2 victory over Australia, Japan has booked their ticket to the men’s world championships to be held in Italy and Bulgaria
Japan no. 1 Issei Otake signing autographs following the 3-2 victory over Australia.
Australian head coach, Mark Lebedew
Japan no. 1 Issei Otake signs a fans volleyball following the 3-2 victory over Australia.
Japan no. 1 Issei Otake takes some time to chat with fans following the 3-2 victory over Australia.
No. 14 for Japan, Yuki Ishikawa with a fans volleyball that he autographed
Japan’s captain, no. 2 Hideomi Fukatsu and no. 14 Yuki Ishikawa at a press conference following their win to clinch a spot at the world championships
Japan’s no. 7 Takashi Dekita at the post match press conference.
Japan’s no. 14 Yuki Ishikawa during a press conference at the AIS Arena in Canberra. Japan had defeated Australia 3-2 to claim a world championships berth.
Japan’s captain, no. 2 Hideomi Fukatsu during a press conference following their win to clinch a spot at the world championships
Japanese team members during a press conference on 15 July
