On 16 May 2019, Japan Women opened a new chapter in their Montreux Volley Masters campaign with a composed 3-1 victory over Germany Women. The match, played at the legendary multi-sport complex in Montreux, Switzerland, saw Japan overcome a determined German side through superior ball control, explosive first-tempo attacks, and the kind of relentless floor defense that has become a hallmark of the Asian powerhouse.

Match Overview

Japan entered the tournament with a young but technically gifted squad, using the Montreux Masters as a key testing ground ahead of the Volleyball Nations League and the Olympic qualification campaign. Germany, meanwhile, arrived with plenty of attacking power and a well-organized block system. The four-set result (3-1) largely reflected Japan’s ability to frustrate the Germans and convert their own transition chances.

How the Match Was Won

The pattern of the match quickly became clear: Germany could score with powerful wing hits, but Japan kept every rally alive, extending points and forcing the German defensive line into errors. Japan’s system, often operating in third-tempo and fourth-tempo situations, created consistent mismatches against the slower German back-court. Germany responded well in the second set, raising their service pressure and exploiting the wings for a spell, but Japan’s side-out percentage improved dramatically as the match wore on.

The decisive moments arrived in the third and fourth sets, when Japan’s middle blockers began to record crucial stuff blocks, and the Japanese serve pattern — alternating float serves to the seams — disrupted the German reception. With every loose ball recovered by Japan’s libero and a superb display of floor coverage, the Germans struggled to string together consecutive points.

Key Performers

• Sarina Koga carried a heavy scoring burden on the outside and produced a series of huge side-out kills.
• Arisa Inoue offered a strong complementary option, especially in transition, where her range and court vision stood out.
• Louisa Lippmann was the bright spot for Germany, regularly punishing the Japanese from the right side and providing the majority of her team’s attacking firepower.

Looking Ahead

Victory gave Japan a winning start in the round-robin phase of the Montreux Volley Masters, building momentum and confidence against a top European side. For Germany, the defeat provided valuable lessons in side-out consistency and blocking discipline. With the result, Japan reaffirmed the growing depth of their national program and underlined that their speed-based volleyball, when paired with defensive solidity, remains one of the most difficult systems to face at international level.