Korea beats Japan in Volleyball

By Yoon Chul

Korea finally snapped its five-game losing streak in head-to-head matches against Japan at the Asian Volleyball Confederation’s 2nd Asian Men’s Cup, Sunday.

The former Asian volleyball powerhouse got revenge against its archrival Japan, 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 25-17, 21-25, 17-15) in its first Group B match in Uroumieh, Iran.

With the win, Korea improved its head-to-head record against Japan to 61-44.

Neither squad was able to field its strongest team. Powerful attackers Moon Sung-min and Park Chul-woo failed to join the Korean squad due to injury while Japan went without attackers Yusuke Ishijima and Kunihiro Shimizu as well as setter Daisuke Usami.

Korea made the most of its height advantage, racking up points with blocks and quick hits for a 25-18 win in the first set.

Japan tied things up by taking the second set 25-23.

In the third set, Korea based their play on solid serving, receiving and defense. On offense, head coach Shin Chi-yong called power attacker Kim Yo-hwan to the bench with Choi Hong-suk repeatedly smashing the ball into Japanese territory.

Lee Sun-kyu and Ko Hee-jin pitched in with quick hits for a 25-17 win.

Japan again rallied in the fourth set. While Choi’s spikes still found their mark, Shiro Furuta led the Japanese side with his powerful serve to force Korea into a final set.

In the final set, both teams had trouble pulling away and locked into a deuce at 14-14.

Korea emerged victorious when, a point ahead, a block by Ko and Kim Hak-min dropped into Japanese territory for the decisive point, giving the squad its first victory of the competition.