Yukiko Wada and Mayu Ishikawa came through in the clutch as Japan edged the Netherlands in five sets to make the FIVB Women's World Championship semifinals for the first time in 15 years.
Yukiko Wada and Mayu Ishikawa put up sterling performances as Japan outlasted the Netherlands, 20-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12, in the FIVB Women’s World Championship quarterfinals on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
The 23-year-old Wada was all over the court, drilling in 27 points including four aces as the world no. 4 Japanese marched to the semifinals, where they will face the winner between Team USA and Turkey.
That match is slated Saturday, Sept. 6 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ishikawa delivered 25 points and logged two blocks for Japan, which was initially in danger of getting the boot in the competition after the Dutch took a 2-1 lead.
But the Japanese were able to regain their form and forced a decider in the face of a relentless attack and towering defense of the Netherlands.
Wada and Ishikawa then brought the team home, combining for 11 of the team’s output in the fifth set for the rousing victory that sent Japan to its first semis since 2010.
Sato Yoshino had 13 points, all on attacks, while Miyabe Airi and Haruyo Shimamura added 10 and nine points, respectively.
Meanwhile, five hitters finished in double figures for the Netherlands but they simply didn’t have enough firepower down the stretch to overcome Japan.
Elles Dambrink paced Netherlands with 19 points, while Eline Timmerman matched her tournament-best six blocks on her way to 18 points.
As outstanding as they were in the first four sets, Dambrink and Timmerman had no answer against Japan’s duo of Wada and Ishikawa.
Marrit Jasper scored 13 points, and Nila Daaldrop and Britte Stuut chipped in 12 apiece for the Dutch.