On April 17th, the Japanese Volleyball Association held a press conference to announce their 18-player women’s roster for the 2018 Volleyball Nations League. Women’s national team coach Kumi Nakada, said that the Japanese women will compete in three competitions this year, the Volleyball Nations League, the Asian Games in August and then the FIVB Women’s World Championship in September-October.
In announcing her roster for the Volleyball Nations League, Nakada is trying to give younger players chances to play with veteran players. The Japanese team will focus on the World Championships this year out their three competitions. However, Nakada will be coaching the team through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and she is trying to use veterans and the younger players together to help prepare the team for future competitions. It does mean at this time that some of the stars that we have been used to, Erika Araki, Miyu Nagaoka and Yurie Nabeya will be rested and ready for the World Championships. Nagaoka has missed the entire 2017-2018 V.League season due an injury at the end of the 2016-2017 V.League Final 3 playoffs and it is still concerning that she is not playing in matches.
The roster is very Hisamitsu Springs focused with five players from the V.League champions. Nakada was the head coach of the Springs before being named the national team coach. Many of the players were her players during her time with Hisamitsu.
Japanese Women’s Roster for the Volleyball Nations League by Position
- Setters
- Miya Sato, Hitachi Rivale
- Kanami Tashiro, Toray Arrows
- Koyomi Tominaga, Ageo Medics
- Outside Hitters and Opposites
- Middle Blockers
- Liberos
- Kotoe Inoue, JT Marvelous
- Mana Toe, Hisamitsu Springs
- Akane Yamagishi, Ageo Medics
Does anybody know what’s going on with Haruka Miyashita and why she’s not in that roster?
Miyashita is on the wide roster for the Japanese women’s team. However, it is the coach’s decision to put her in the 14-player roster.