France beat Japan 3-0 (37-35, 25-20, 25-18) - duration 1:25
06-Jul, start time: 15:05, end time: 16:30 - Attendance: 5,590 France grabs third consecutive victory over Japan
France emerged victorious on Saturday in Tokyo, grabbing their third consecutive victory over Japan after deploying effective teamwork in Intercontinental Round Two of the FIVB World League. A variety of hard and soft spikes from the side, and formidable blocking at the net gave the visitors a straight set 3-0 victory away in Tokyo The first set saw good spiking action from Japan's Kato and Yamamoto, but France countered with with good spikes and blocks by Capet and Montmeat. In spite of the injury of Kitagawa after his spike in the middle of the set, Japan took a 20-18 lead, only to see France come back to level at 24-24. The set then acquired marathon status and although Japan delivered a number of service errors, both sides traded points until Asakura erred with a spike to put France 36-35 up and then then closed it out ar 37-35. Japan came back strongly and took the lead in the opening stages of the second set before France applied pressure and went ahead 20-17 as a result of the massive block by Montmeat. Frangolacci then finished off the set with a spike right into the back zone of the Japanese court. Tall blocks by Kieffer and Montmeat shut out Japan's center spikes in the third set and acquired an early 8-5 lead for the visitors. France then took advantage of a lack of concentration by japan, peppering them with a range of spikes that left them flatfooted on the court. /mh
