MATCH INFO

Sapporo, Japan, November 11, 2011 - Press Conference, Serbia vs Japan: In a tough three set match against a strong Japanese team at home, Serbia - who had played in a tough group through the first two rounds - put up a strong performance to take a win in Sapporo. Coach Zoran Terzic is looking ahead to an even greater challenge tomorrow against China.

Serbia coach Zoran Terzic: First of all about today’s game, I’m really happy we continued to play well; we are happy each time we beat Japan, especially in Japan. These are special games for us; a special atmosphere. It’s a very good feeling when we win against Japan. I would like to congratulate our team. I think tomorrow will be a good game against China, more difficult than today. They have played better in the World Cup than in the World Grand Prix. I think we will do everything we can to win tomorrow.

On Ana Bjelica’s 13 points today: I am very sorry that I must say I’m not satisfied with how she played today. There were many mistakes that normal spectators cannot see. She was good in attack, good in service, but there were many problems in her defence and blocking. So I’d like to say she can be a very good player, really, but she must learn a lot.

Serbia player Ana Antonijevic: I would like to congratulate our team. I think we played very good today, especially in the first set. And I hope we will continue with good games and good results.

Japan coach Masayosi Manabe: After the second set, everything was bad. We couldn’t make any play against them.

On Serbia’s speed: Right now the Japanese team doesn’t have enough skill to defend their quick play.

On Araki substitution: As you can see her spiking and blocking wasn’t good, so that’s why she had to come out.

On pre-match preparation: At the meeting before the game, I told the team it was important to try to win a ticket to the Olympics. We practiced service reception, but their serve was strong and we couln’t manage it well.

On Olympic chances: We still have a chance; it’s not zero percent. But especially tomorrow against Korea, it’s a really important game for us. So we’ll do our best tomorrow.

Japan captain Erika Araki: We missed a very important game and we’re very sorry about it. Their height and power was so great and we just couldn’t adapt to it. We need to refresh and do our best tomorrow.

On being ahead by the TTO in the third set: Our chief manager always tells us to get the first eight points. But even after we were first to reach eight in the third set, Serbia had a good rhythm, and the way that we were winning and losing points was really not good.

Japan player Saori Kimura: Today's game was very important for us if we want to make the Olympics. But from the beginning to the end the Serbian team played how they wanted to. We had so many mistakes and we couldn’t play volleyball in our own rhythm. So it turned out to be a very disappointing game.

On being ahead by the TTO in the third: Even though we had the lead at that point, we still couldn’t control the pace. We took points but we were still playing at their pace.

On Serbia’s serve and Japan’s reception: Their service was very strong, but we still managed to receive well enough to get our combinations going. So I think it wasn’t as bad as you think.