Nagoya, Japan, November 9, 2006: Japan recorded their first victory in the second round by beating Turkey 3-1 in Pool E on Thursday night.
After losing to Cuba the previous evening, seventh-ranked Japan held off 15th-ranked Turkey 30-28, 22-25, 25-21, 25-17 at Nagoya Rainbow Hall.
The victory improved Japan's overall win-loss record to 3-2 in the second round, and dropped World Championship rookies Turkey to 1-4.
Turkey reached the first TTO ahead by one point, 8-7. Natalia Hanikoglu had already demonstrated her spiking prowess from the right, left and down the middle, and southpaw spiker Neslihan Darnel had scored with a powerful blast down the right side and then with a rocket serve.
Japan's serve reception was hesitant early on, but Sachiko Sugiyama showed her craft at the net with a slashing spike down the middle. Japan called a TO down 10-7, but Ozlem Ozcelik moved the Turks further in front with a confident winner at the net.
Mari Ochiai, starting in place of Shuka Oyama, lifted Japan's spirits with a block on the dangerous Darnel and then a clean winner, and Japan reached the second technical break ahead by two, 16-14.
Sugiyama was flying now, and a blistering jump serve from Miyuki Takahashi led to another point, forcing the Turks to take their second TO trailing by five, 19-14.
A gripping end to the first set was worth the admission price alone. Japan missed three set points and Turkey three before some brilliant defence by libero Kaoru Sugayama and a delicate winner from Takahashi gave Japan their fourth set point at 29-28. The cool head of setter Yoshie Takeshita proved vital this time, and she fed Kimura for a magnificent leap and spike that was greeted with a roar that shook the Rainbow Hall to its foundations.
Sugiyama was enjoying her best match of the World Championships, proving elusive for the Turkish markers with her well-timed runs and swift spikes, and Japan led 8-5 at the first technical break.
Hanikoglu brought Turkey back into it with a block on Araki and a left-wing winner, and Ozcelik thundered through Japan's defence for another Turkish point.
Aysun Ozbek continued to cause problems for Japan with her runs around setter Elif Agca, and more clean winners from Hanikoglu and Ozcelik took Turkey to the second TTO with the narrowest of leads, 16-15.
Turkey always held the advantage down the stretch, and finally won the second set 25-22 when Araki spiked wide after some incredible defence by libero Sugayama against a wave of Turkish attacks.
The Turks came up with a series of crisp winners early in the third set through Eda Erdem at the net and Esra Gumus on the left, and Japan coach Shoichi Yanagimoto responded by replacing Ochiai with Oyama when leading 5-4. Oyama was soon sprinting from the end line and soaring down the middle to crack home a well-worked spike.
With fiery left-hander Darnel blazing away out wide and Erdem prowling the net, Japan needed a TO trailing 13-11. The Turks, cheered on by a small but noisy drum-beating, flag-waving band of supporters, pulled level 16-16.
Araki and Ozbek were having a fiery duel at the net as the teams traded points, before two Takahashi points from left and right pushed Japan ahead 23-21. The Japan block did the rest, 25-21 and 2-1 to the hosts.
Sugiyama was reading the Turkish attack like a book, and a trademark spike running round the right flank carried Japan to the first TTO ahead 8-4. When Araki plundered another point at the net for a 10-5 advantage, Turkey called a TO. The gap extended to seven at the second technical break, and a fired-up Japan had victory in sight against a tiring Turkish team.
The Turks still could not pick off the dainty runs and flashing spikes of Sugiyama, and Kimura attacked with invention to keep the points flowing. Takahashi brought up match point at 24-17, and the block won the day again, 25-17 and 3-1 Japan.
