Japan Announces 29 Player Women's National Team Roster for 2018

On March 19th, the Japanese Volleyball Association (JVA) announced the Women’s National Team roster for the 2018 season. The roster is very Hisamitsu Springs centered with nine players off the V.League Champions. Amazingly the only spot where the Springs do not have a player is at setter. One big question is Miyu Nagaoka who did not play all season for the Springs while recovering from an injury from 2017’s V.League playoffs. She is the best opposite that Japan has, but Mari Horikawa is exact replica as she is left handed and plays opposite. Even with that said, many of the Hisamitsu outside hitters are interchangable to the opposite position.

The biggest surprises off the team are libero Arisa Sato, who has been on the team since 2013 and setter Misaki Tanaka. Tanaka’s team finished second in the V.League this season, but head coach Kumi Nakata brought back setter Kanami Tashiro, who was part of the national team in 2016.

This big roster is built for the 2018 World Championships to be held in Japan in September and October. Nakata has already told the press that in order to make the Third Round, Japan cannot lose a match in the First Round of the tournament. Nakata will need to shrink the roster before the tournament, but the Volleyball Nations League will allow her to do that.

Setters