London, Great Britain, August 5, 2012 – Japan beat Great Britain (25-19, 25-14, and 25-12) as the fifth and final round of women's volleyball preliminary matches took place at Earls Court on Sunday. Japan finish third in the group and progress to the quarterfinals and their opponents will be determined by a drawing of lots upon the conclusion of tonight’s final match. Great Britain are eliminated, but can be proud of their win over Algeria in the competition.
World No.5 ranked Japan were expected to overpower world No.69 Great Britain, and they started strongly in the first set with Erika Araki and Yukiko Ebata grounding spikes. Great Britain’s outstanding player was once again Lynne Beattie, but she could not keep Japan in check, and the Asian side won the set 25-19.
With Japan moving beautifully thanks to the judgment of libero Yuko Sano and setting of Yoshie Takeshita, they also dominated the host nation in the second set. Risa Shinnabe and Saori Kimura won spikes, and Great Britain were delivered a blow when Janine Sandell, who had scored five points, went off injured. Japan won 25-14.
The third set was level at 10-10, but Japan finished the job, with Kimura and Ebata too good for the Great Britain defense. They took the third set 25-12.
