MATCH INFO

Tokyo, Japan, November 18, 2011 - In a Friday night match that the USA needed to win to take the World Cup title over Italy, Japan was hoping to play spoilers after China has quashed their top three hopes in the day’s matinee contest. And indeed that’s what they did, shocking the USA in straight sets (29-27, 25-23, 25-18).

Leading Japan on the day was Yukiko Ebata with 21points, and she was supported by Saori Kimura who posted 16 clutch points for the home side. And as she did on the previous day versus Germany, Yuko Sano way a key defending one of the world’s best attacks. For the USA, Foluke Akinradewo led with 11 points, and Logan Tom posted 10. Their leading scorer Destinee Hooker was limited to judt nine tallies.

Japan pleased their hometown fans by taking the first three points, but the Americans quieted them just as fast by taking seven of the next eight including a spike and block on Mai Yamaguchi to help go ahead 7-4. But Yamaguchi was attacking well for Japan, as was Ebata on the opposite side, the latter driving a hard spike to tie at 13-13. The USA’s leading scorer in the tournament, Hooker, was a non-factor until late when three drives put the USA ahead 22-21. A Jordan Larson spike gave the USA set point, 24-22, but Japan miraculously fought off three set points by going to Saori again and again out wide (she had four points late). Heather Bown served wide giving Japan the chance they needed, and Ebata stepped up, thrilling the hometown fans stealing the first set with a drive.

The teams were just as close to start the second, with no team leading by more than two until Hooker put a spectacular stuff on Saori to go up 8-6. For an encore she put another on Yamaguchi, but Ebata countered with five mid set, helping Japan take a two point lead of their own, 16-14, at the second TTO. It was good defense that helped them extend, as a Yamaguchi and Sano kept a ball alive long enough for Saori to spike it home, going ahead by three. Sano followed with a miraculous get that led to a USA error stretching their lead to four, and that was enough of a cushion to survive the second, 25-23, and two sets to zero.

With the loss of the second set, Italy’s first place finish was confirmed. But the USA kept battling regardless, with the powerful Tayyiba Haneef-Park attacking well of the bench, keeping them within one of Japan with a hard drive at 7-6. But Nana Iwasaka would get in her way, as her block on Haneef-Park looked like it nearly took her arm off. But her arm proved to be in perfect working order as she followed with an ace helping Japan on its way to a 17-12 lead. From there a stubborn Iwasaki block on Tom, followed by more Saori attacking let Japan close, 25-18, three sets zero.