Japan – team
Both countries used their speed to great effect, Japan’s greater powers of concentration and organisation giving them the edge in a first set in which Risa Shinnabe’s attacking and captain Erika Araki’s serving were to the fore.
The second set also began well for Japan, Yukiko Ebata weighing in with some timely interventions. But unforced errors gradually crept into their game and Korea took control of the set thanks to their unremitting efforts in defence allied to Hee-Jin Kim‘s effective attack.
The third set was a mirror image of the second, this time Korea starting off well in attack through Hee-Jin Kim and Hyo-Jin Yang. But Japan then came back at them, Araki’s blocking and scoring again proving decisive in giving her team a two sets to one lead.
The pressure was on Korea in the fourth set but Maiko Kano, top-scorer in the match with 20 points, made sure that Japan got off to a fast start. Korea rallied thanks to Hee-Jin Kim, their top scorer with 18, and there was only one point in it as the finishing line drew near. But at 23-22 Japan pulled away and for Korea there was no way back.
