Contrast of emotions between Japan's Saori Kimura and Argentina's Tanya Acosta as the former advance to the quarterfinals and the latter bow out of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 14, 2016 - Olympic Games rookies Argentina gave Japan a run for their money but the London 2012 bronze medallists clinched the last available quartefinal spot in women's volleyball at Rio 2016 with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 26-24) win.
Japan finish fourth in Pool B and will face USA in the quartefinals on Tuesday.
Argentina blew a huge opportunity to cause a sensation at the Maracanazinho when they led 21-23 in the first set. But experience prevailed as Argentina committed two unforced errors (from the service line by Mimi Sosa and on an attack by Paula Nizetich), Yuki Ishii got a kill for 24-23 and Japan got the set on yet another long attack by Florencia Busquets.
Again in the third set it was unforced errors that gave the match away, as Argentina came back from 24-21 tto tie the score before captain Nizetich sent the ball wide twice.
Led by Yuki Ishii who scored 18 points (all on kills from 38 swings), Japan were only slightly better in numbers overall (except in serving where they dominated with seven aces to one). But they were certainly more efficient when it mattered most in the most crucial moments of the game.
Lucia Fresco was best scorer of Argentina with 16 points (again all from kills).
Argentina finish fifth in Pool A and rank 9th overall at Rio 2016, but bow out with their heads certainly held high.
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