Kenya no match for Japan
Kenya on Wednesday lost its fourth match in as many games at the FIVB Women’s World Cup going down 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-12) to hosts Japan at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo.
Mercy Moim was yet again the top scorer with 13 points. Saori Kimura of Japan scored 12 points. The Asian powerhouse also outscored Kenya on the offence with 39 spikes and 10 aces, and on defence with six blocks, 34 digs and 31 receptions.
“Our service and reception were especially good tonight. We won in straight sets and I’m very happy. We have been working on our serves. We tried to hit the ball just over the net,” Japan coach Masayoshi Manabe said after the match.
PLAYED WELL
Japan outsmarted Kenya using their quick and well-placed spikes to open the match with an 8-2 lead. The Japanese side also kept Kenya at bay with their watertight defence as they ended the set with a 25-15 score.
“Japan played very well tonight. We made many errors in reception and it’s tough playing when you are not receiving well,” Kenya coach David Lung’aho said.
In the second set Japan were ahead 16-9 at the second technical timeout. Kenya then had a brilliant run that helped them narrow the scores to 24-20 before Japan funneled their final attack in the centre of the Kenyan court to wrap the set 25-20.
In the final set Japan limited the Kenyan offense to end the match with an easy 25-12 score.