MATCH INFO

Osaka, Japan, June 24, 2012 - Japan and Korea met in World Grand Prix action on Sunday, both looking for a change in fortunes, each with loses on the previous day. But cheered on by an enthusiastic hometown crowd in Osaka, Japan took the match — though not without difficulties — 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 27-25).

With Yukiko Ebata given a day off, Japan were led by their pair of Saoris, Saori Sakoda with 20 points and Saori Kimura with 15. Korea were led by the duo of Han Song-Yi and Kim Hee-Jin with 15 each. Kim Yeon-Koung was rested again on Sunday.

Han Song-Yi started off well with an ace for Korea to edge out 4-2, leading most of the way early, until strong attacking from Sakoda helped push Japan ahead 10-9. They would not give up the lead from there, although Korea’s Han Yoo-Mi fought hard with three scores late to close to 21-20. But a spike from Japan’s captain Araki gave Japan set point, and a floating tip to the sidelines from Saori took the first set 25-22 for the home team.

Japan brought that momentum into the third, as spectacular digging by libero Yuka Sano and a pair of blocks by Ai Otomo gave them an 8-2 advantage. Saori Sakoda brought her high-flying antics mid-set with three explosive soaring attacks, staying in front 13-9. Korea’s Han Yoo-Mi tried to spark a comeback with a couple of scores, but Sano kept providing miracle digs to keep Japan energized, a Yamaguchi ace putting them up 18-12. Saori Kimura pitched in a trio of spikes late to and Araki eventually finished with a spike, 25-20, two sets to zero.

Korea looked to rebound in the third, as Kim Hee-Jin served up an ace to edge ahead two, and then when a Araki spike sailed long they had a 9-6 lead. But Japan would tie 12-12, incredibly thanks to five straight points from Sakoda alone, capped by an ace. But Korea showed poise jumping back ahead on an ace by Jung Dae-Young to make it 18-15. Japan’s Araki and Sakoda both pitched in a pair of spikes to edge back ahead 20-19, but Kim Hee-Jin helped Korea back to to grab a set point 24-23. But Saori Kimura fought off that and another with spikes, and then brought another attack to give Japan a set point of their own. They closed on an errant spike for Korea, 27-25, three sets to zero.