Osaka, JAPAN, July 27 (fivb.ch) - Yugoslavia struggled to recover their rhythm after their long flight to Japan.
Yugoslavia was helped to gain 11 points with Japan's poor serving in the second set. Although they were not in
good shape with lingering influence of jetlag, they won the set with the score of 25-21.
Beginning to regain their rhythm, Yugoslavia showed their power in attacking and blocking in the head-to-head
game in the third set. Japan made fewer errors in serving than the previous set, but they made them in crucial
scenes.
Japanese players seemed to be awakened and enthralled 5,200 spectators in Osaka Chuo Gym with explosive
power in attacking of Kato and Yamamoto in the fourth set. Kato clinched the fourth set with his strong spike.
Japan, lacking tenacity, failed to maintain the momentum gained in the fourth set. They were not able to stop
spikes hit by Miljkovic and successively lost five points and finished the fifth set with the unfavorable score of
15-10.
