NEC Red Rockets coach Yakinori Yamada explained that despite his team's great performance, they ran out of firepower against the defending champions Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul
Kobe, Japan, May 12, 2017 –
Akinori Yamada directed NEC Red Rockets put on a valiant effort against defending champions Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship, but the coach explained that their loss was because they ran out of firepower after an excellent run against their rivals.
“We wanted to create difficulty for them through our serve,” Yamada said. “We achieved that and we organised well against their middle attacks. We just ran out of firepower after scoring 20 points. In the third set, they got used to our tactic and passed very well.”
“We competed well in the first and second sets,”
Sarina Koga added. “We need to improve on our end game because we stopped fighting after 20 points.”
NEC Red Rockets captain
Haruyo Shimamura vowed that they will go all-out in their final two matches.
“We were able to contain their middle attacks and blocked well on both sides,” Shimamura said. “We had very good rhythm in the first two sets, but they had good momentum on the third. We will just have to play the last two matches here all out.”
Eczacibasi Istanbul coach
Massimo Barbolini commended the efforts the Japanese, but also praised his players for fighting back in the tournament.
“NEC Red Rockets played good volleyball for two sets,” Barbolini said. “It is always really hard to play against Japanese teams. I’m proud of my players for reacting in the right way after we lost our first match here.”
Eczacibasi will face their rivals VakifBank in the semifinals. The two Instabul-based squads squared off last year in Manila 2016.
“We have to play VakifBank again in the semifinals, but we are ready,” Barbolini said.
“We are so happy to qualify to the semifinals,”
Neslihan Demir said. “We are ready for it.”