With a second straight loss, Japan is in danger of a formidable opponent in the VNL 2022 quarter-finals

After losing to the Netherlands, Japan lost the top spot in the VNL 2022 rankings. If they want to avoid a formidable opponent in the quarter-finals, head coach Masayoshi Masayoshi's army will have to struggle to win the remaining three games and expect Brazil and the United States to stumble.

However, the Japanese team still did not launch the strongest lineup when they put Koga Sarina on the bench. Turkey were also without No. 1 scorer Ebrar Karakurt, but they were in an overwhelming position thanks to excellent defence, cancelling out many of the scoring situations for the Japanese batsmen. The Asian side were at a disadvantage for much of the opening set and ended up losing 20-25 with a score from Handbaladin.

Going into the second set, things got worse for Japan as they did not have leaders like Koga Salina who could cut, while Turkey continued to play at a steady pace, especially with defenders following the Japanese batsmen. Unable to find a way to improve the situation, Japan lost more quickly in the second set with a score of 15-25.

With the return of Uchiseto Mami and Ishikawa Mayu, Japan baffled Turkey with a high-speed attack in the third set. The world No 5 team itself had a few minutes of negligence, setting the stage for Japan to pull back an innings. They pulled a set back after an inaccurate Step 1 support from owner Saliha Sahin.

The fourth set was very interesting, and both teams competed fiercely for every point. However, Japan was unable to maintain its high-speed offensive momentum against Turkish defenders. South East Europe scored a decisive 25-22 after Japan hit the ball.

Victory 3-1 (25-20, 25-15, 18-25, 25-22) helps Turkey write her name in the middle of VNL 2022. Meanwhile, Japan has failed a number two-second continuity that will lose the third position in the Italian recruiting manual and most likely likely to confront a very powerful opponent at the end.

After a series of sublimation matches, the team of the land of the rising sun is gradually exposing weaknesses, most notably the dependence on Sarina Koga. Without the captain, Japan not only lost the key scoring tree but also defended less effectively. This will make it very difficult for them in the quarter-finals, where they will most likely face China or Italy.