2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic GamesAug 1, 2016 by FloVolleyball Staff
2016 Olympics Rankings: #5 Japan (Women)
2016 Olympics Rankings: #5 Japan (Women)
The Japan women's volleyball team clocks in at No. 5 in our 2016 Olympics Rankings.
By Bev Oden
The FloVolleyball Olympics Rankings will count down to the start of the indoor volleyball competition in Rio by highlighting one team per gender each day. Today, five days before the first serve, we profile the No. 5-ranked Italy men and Japan women.
COUNTRY: Japan
TOP PLAYERS
Yukiko Ebata, Outside Hitter
Japan's best scorer and best spiker at World Grand Prix
Haruyo Shimamura, Middle Blocker
Japan's third-best scorer and second-best server at World Grand Prix
Riho Ōtake, Middle Blocker
Japan's best blocker and best receiver at World Grand Prix
RISING STAR TO WATCH
Sarina Koga | 20 | Outside Hitter
Second-best scorer at World Grand Prix
SYNOPSIS
Japan has participated in almost every Olympic Games with the exception of 1980 and 2000. Rio will be its 12th appearance, and along the way, the team has earned six medals: the inaugural gold in 1964 and another in 1976, silver in 1968 and 1972, and bronze in Seoul in 1988. A victory over Korea in the 2012 bronze-medal match marked Japan's first Olympic podium appearance in 24 years.
The Japan women claimed their place in Rio as the top-ranked Asian team at the World Olympic Qualifier. They finished third at that tournament with a 5-2 record behind Italy and the Netherlands. But Japan's World Grand Prix results have been less than stellar in recent years. It finished sixth in the 2015 World Grand Prix by making it to the final round, but losing every match against the top teams. This year, it went 3-6 in the preliminary round, and did not make the final.
Only one player on the Japanese team is over six feet tall, and the bulk of the team is under 5-10, so it doesn't match up well with the top teams. Japan remains competitive by controlling the ball and going for good touches on the block. Its hitters excel at seeing the block, hitting around it and strategically placing their attacks.
Japan will beat Cameroon, but that is its only sure win in the pool. Korea bested Japan in the Olympic qualifier, so it should be motivated to avenge that loss. The Korea match will be the telltale sign of whether Japan is on its game in Rio. If it is and it can beat Argentina, it will head to the quarterfinals in good shape. But a loss to Argentina means a draw in the quarterfinals that Japan will not be able to handle. This team will most likely exit the competition in the quarterfinals.
FloVolleyball Women's 2016 Olympics Rankings
12. Cameroon
11. Puerto Rico
8. The Netherlands
6. Serbia
5. Japan
The FloVolleyball Olympics Rankings will count down to the start of the indoor volleyball competition in Rio by highlighting one team per gender each day. Today, five days before the first serve, we profile the No. 5-ranked Italy men and Japan women.
COUNTRY: Japan
TOP PLAYERS
Yukiko Ebata, Outside Hitter
Japan's best scorer and best spiker at World Grand Prix
Haruyo Shimamura, Middle Blocker
Japan's third-best scorer and second-best server at World Grand Prix
Riho Ōtake, Middle Blocker
Japan's best blocker and best receiver at World Grand Prix
RISING STAR TO WATCH
Sarina Koga | 20 | Outside Hitter
Second-best scorer at World Grand Prix
SYNOPSIS
Japan has participated in almost every Olympic Games with the exception of 1980 and 2000. Rio will be its 12th appearance, and along the way, the team has earned six medals: the inaugural gold in 1964 and another in 1976, silver in 1968 and 1972, and bronze in Seoul in 1988. A victory over Korea in the 2012 bronze-medal match marked Japan's first Olympic podium appearance in 24 years.
The Japan women claimed their place in Rio as the top-ranked Asian team at the World Olympic Qualifier. They finished third at that tournament with a 5-2 record behind Italy and the Netherlands. But Japan's World Grand Prix results have been less than stellar in recent years. It finished sixth in the 2015 World Grand Prix by making it to the final round, but losing every match against the top teams. This year, it went 3-6 in the preliminary round, and did not make the final.
Only one player on the Japanese team is over six feet tall, and the bulk of the team is under 5-10, so it doesn't match up well with the top teams. Japan remains competitive by controlling the ball and going for good touches on the block. Its hitters excel at seeing the block, hitting around it and strategically placing their attacks.
PREDICTION
Japan will beat Cameroon, but that is its only sure win in the pool. Korea bested Japan in the Olympic qualifier, so it should be motivated to avenge that loss. The Korea match will be the telltale sign of whether Japan is on its game in Rio. If it is and it can beat Argentina, it will head to the quarterfinals in good shape. But a loss to Argentina means a draw in the quarterfinals that Japan will not be able to handle. This team will most likely exit the competition in the quarterfinals.
FloVolleyball Women's 2016 Olympics Rankings
12. Cameroon
11. Puerto Rico
10. Argentina
9. Korea
8. The Netherlands
7. Italy
6. Serbia
5. Japan
