VNL: Yuki Ishikawa drops 33 as Japan completes epic comeback vs. France

Ryujin Nippon strikes again. 

Crowd favorite Japan national men's volleyball team crawled back from a two-set deficit to overcome France, 17-25, 19-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-10, and cop back-to-back wins in the 2024 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

Carrying the load for the Japanese is team captain and grizzled outside spiker Yuki Ishikawa, who poured in a game-high 33 points anchored on 31 attacks, a block, and an ace to help Japan improve to 8-3 while France slipped to 7-4. 

Ishikawa proved unstoppable in the endgame, burying back-to-back attacks that sent them to a 13-8 advantage before his cross court kill from the opposite side finished it off for Japan in front of 11,879 spectators. 

However, it wasn't just a one-man show for the world no. 4 with Kento Miyaura stepping up especially in the fifth frame, where he unleashed an ace and a kill to bring that had them doubling up on the French crew at 10-5. 

The lefty opposite hitter tallied 19 markers built on 16 attacks, two aces, and one block while middle blockers Akihiro Yamauchi and Kentaro Takahasi each chipped in six points. 

The win was a huge boost for Japan ahead of its all-important clash with Team USA on Sunday. 

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News