National team of Japan
The first set of the match started and continued with both sides traded runs but Turkey were 8-7 and 16-14 ahead at the TTOs. As Japan evened the score at 17-17 and went ahead at 21-18, Turkey’s Head Coach Massimo Barbolini used his chance to take a time-out. But it didn’t help Turkey to win the first set and Japan won the set 25-21.
Turkey started the first set with a 4-0 lead but Japan caught Turkey at 6-6 and surged ahead at 10-6. With the good services of Turkey’s Sonsirma Gozde and spikes of Darnel Neslihan, Turkey tied the score at 13-13. After Turkey balanced the score, both teams played well and traded runs until at 28-28. Afterwards, Japan won the set 30-28.
Turkey opened the third set with 8-5 lead and extended it to 16-11. Turkey were successful at blocking and gained points with Ozsoy Neriman, Darnel Neslihan and Cansu Busra, which made Turkey won the third set 25-18.
Japan had a 8-6 lead in the beginning of the fourth set and extended it to 18-13 by making good attacks and defence. Turkey tried to narrow the difference but it didn’t help for the hosts. Japan won the last set 25-18, and the match 3-1.
Japan’s Saori Kimura and Yukiko Ebata were the game’s top scorers with 17 points, while Gozde Sonsirma and Neslihan Darnel earned 16 points for Turkey.
To read more articles from this competition click on World Grand Prix 2013.
