Japan survives Netherlands for 10th straight win in VNL

Japan preserved its immaculate record after eking out a 25-19, 26-24, 23-25, 25-17 win against The Netherlands in the Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2023 on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The top Asian team improved to 10-0 while the Dutch squad fell to 5-6 to be in danger of getting eliminated.

Japan hit a snag after star spiker Ran Takahashi left the game late in the second set and only returned late in Set 3, just in time when the Netherlands was staging a comeback.

Wouter Ter Maat brought the Dutch team to 22-19 lead before a service error from Yuki Ishikawa gave them a 23-21 lead. Takahashi was able to unleash a kill for a 23-24 deficit but Maarten Van Garderen caught the line on his cross court attack as Netherlands stayed alive, 25-23.

It was all Japan in the fourth frame with Ishikawa powering a 4-0 rampage for a 19-10 spread en route to the win.

Ishikawa once again led the team with 17 points on 14 attacks, two blocks, and one ace while middle blocker Akihiro Yamauchi and Kento Miyaura chipped in 13 and 12 markers apiece.

Japan will immediately return to action on Saturday against Italy at 7 p.m. while Netherlands will wrap up its Manila leg campaign on Sunday against Slovenia.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News