
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.
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.

The crowd trying to catch a volleyball thrown out to them by the Australian players before the start of the game

Australia’s no. 4, Paul Sanderson flexes some muscles as he celebrates the fourth set win by Australia

The home crowd celebrates as the Volleyroos won the fourth set 25-22 to take the match to a decider.

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.

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.

In the background the linesman raises his flag to call out a Masahiro Yanagi jump serve. That miss took the Volleyroos to 9-11.

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.

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.

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

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’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. 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.