UNIT 3 MAGAZINE SUMMATIVE

JAPAN-VOLLEYBALL STARS MAGAZINE MAY 2023
Ishikawa Yuki & Nishida Yuji
BACK!
VNL is
THE
Ishikawa · Nishida ·Fuji
IMPERFECT
trio

About the
AUTHOR
Sofía Elizabeth Castro Vega
“I am a 10th grade student with a big pation for sports. I’ve
trained multiple sports including swiming, ballet, taekwondo,
track & field, gymnastics, basketball, and volleyball. From all those
sports, I can say that volleyball is one of the most fun, entertaining
and exciting sports out there.”
“I started training volleyball 4 months ago and I already had the
experience of winnin 3 out of 4 leagues. The freindships I’ve created
in this small amount of time thanks to volleyball are astonishing.
With that being said, I hope that the ones that read this magazine
can be motivated to give this wonderfull sport an oportunity”

INDEX
EVERYTHING!
Everything you need to know about the
Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2023
4
VNL
The Volleyball Nations League has released the
schedule!
9
TOP 2
The Top 2 male players in the history
of volleyball
11
THE IMPERFECT TRIO
Nishida Yuji, Ishikawa Yuki, and Naonobu Fujii
14
“RYUJIN NIPPON”
The Japanese Dragon God team.
16

JUNE 6 - 11
2023
NAGOYA
JAPAN
COMPETING TEAMS
Japan France Serbia Bulgaria Slovenia China Iran

Iran
TOP 10 TEAMS (#10 MEN)
As of 11 September 2022, Team Melli is considered as the second team
i n A s ia, as i t ra n k s 1 0 th i n th e F I V B Wo r l d R a n k i n gs . Ira n has b e e n a
dominant force in Group 1 of the World League. Defeating Italy and Cuba in
these games, Iran introduced itself as a formidable contender.
In 2014 World League, Iran’s national team reached fourth place in Group
1. In these games, Iran had already defeated Brazil, Italy and Poland. Iran
has also competed in the World Championship four times, with their best
result being 6th place. Iran defeated Japan to win the gold medal at the Asian
Games Korea in 2014. Consecutively, in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia,
Iran cruised past Japan and South Korea to win the gold medal.
Slovenia
TOP 10 TEAMS (#9 MEN)
As of May 2023, Slovenia is ranked 9th in the FIVB World Rankings.
In Oc to b e r 2 0 1 5, Sl o ve n ia wo n i t s f i r st m e da l at th e 2 0 1 5 Eu ro p e a n
Volleyball Championships after losing in the final against France. In May 2017,
Sl o ve n ia q u a l i f i e d fo r th e 2 0 18 e d i ti o n o f th e F I V B Vo l l e y b a l l Me n’s Wo r l d
Championship, their first ever World Championship appearance.
At the 2019 European Championship, Slovenia was one of the four co-hosts
of the tournament.The team reached the final again, where they lost 3–1 to
Serbia, clinching their second silver medal in four years.Two years later, at the
2021 European Championship, Slovenia once again reached the final. After
defeating hosts Poland in the semifinals, they lost the final 3–2 to Italy to claim
their third silver medal.
4

Argentina
TOP 10 TEAMS (#8 MEN)
Th e A rg e nti na te a m ma d e th e i r i nte rnati o na l d e b u t at th e S o u th A m e ri c a n
Championship in Rio de Janeiro in 1951, claiming fourth place. They competed in
their first World Championship 1960 in the same city, where they finished 11th. The
team’s best achievements are the bronze medal at the 1982 World Championship,
the bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics and two gold medals at the 1995
and 2015 Pan American Games.
In recent years, though without achieving any medal, the team finished 4th at the
2000 and 5th at the 2004, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. However, they achieved
another milestone of achievement when they won another Bronze medal at the
Volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics. At continental level, overshadowed by
volleyball power Brazil, Argentina won the gold medal at the 1964 South American
Men’s Volleyball Championship, twelve silvers and seven bronzes.
Japan
TOP 10 TEAMS (#7 MEN)
Th e i r n i c kna m e is “R Y UJ I N N I PP O N ”, m e a n i n g “Ja p a n e s e Dra g o n G o d ” i n
Japanese. Japan won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games, followed by
silver at Mexico 1968 and a gold at Munich 1972. The years after this have been less
successful. Japan missed three successive Olympic Games before returning at
Beijing 2008, where they failed to win a match. Japan then failed to qualify for the
London 2012 Olympic Games and also missed Rio 2016 after finishing seventh at the
World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo.
They also failed to qualify for the 2014 FIVB World Championship the first edition
they had missed in 54 years. They had previously won FIVB World Championship
bronze medals in 1970 and 1974. Japan silver medalists at the 1969 and 1977 World
Cup. Japan has been less successful in the World League era. The team has won the
Asian Championships nine times and the Asian Games eight times. In August 2021,
at 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan team advanced to the Quarterfinals
round and eventually finished at seventh place, the highest rank since 29 years.
5

U.S.A.
TOP 10 TEAMS (#6 MEN)
The team has won five Olympic medals, including three gold. They competed in the
inaugural volleyball Olympic tournament in 1964.The US returned to the elite in the
1980s, winning the FIVB World Championship in 1986 in Paris, as well as four golds
at the Pan American Games and eight at the NORCECA Championships.
They have finished fourth five times, most recently in 2007. They won the event in
1985, and in 2011 they finished in sixth place. The team was a bronze medal at the
World Championships in 1994. Of the 14 times the United States have qualified for
this competition, they have finished in the top 10 on eight occasions.
The US team won its first Olympic gold medal in 20 years when they defeated Brazil
3-1 to take gold at Beijing 2008. In September 2015 U.S. national team took part in
2015 World Cup.
Russia
TOP 10 TEAMS (#5 MEN)
The USSR Volleyball Federation joined the FIVB in 1948,0 and the following year they
sent a team to compete in the first World Championship.
In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International
Volleyball Federation suspended all Russian national teams, clubs, and officials, as
well as beach and snow volleyball athletes, from all events, and stripped Russia of
the right to host the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in August 2022,
and has relocated 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Nations League games that were to be
in Russia in August and September. The European Volleyball Confederation (CEV)
also banned all Russian national teams, clubs, and officials from participating in
European competition, and suspended all members of Russia from their respective
functions in CEV organs.
6

Brazil
TOP 10 TEAMS (#4 MEN)
Brazil has three gold medals at the Olympic Games, won three times the World
Championship and nine times the World League. The team is often referred to as
volleyball’s “Dream Team” due to its success under coach Bernardo Rezende.
In 2002, Brazil finished second in the World League after losing against Russia. But
in that same season, they conquered the World Championship for the first time ever.
In an exciting final match Brazil won the World League gold medal for the third time,
beating its opponent 3–2 in Madrid. After that, the team was defeated by Venezuela
in the semifinal of the Pan American Games and ended up with the bronze in the
competition. The Brazilian squad beat Venezuela by 3–0 in the South American
Championship final only one month later. That year ended with Brazil conquering the
last title it had not won yet: the World Cup, in Japan. In August, the Brazilian men’s
team won the second Olympic gold medal of its history, which happened in Athens
in 2004. This team was considered by many the best and most consistent men’s
volleyball team of all time.
France
TOP 10 TEAMS (#3 MEN)
It was the reigning European Champion in 2015 and is ranked 2nd (as of 25th July
2022) in the FIVB world ranking.
In 2006 they finished second to Brazil but had their share of disappointment in
subsequent seasons. In 2009 they narrowly missed making the Final Six, falling at
the last hurdle to Slovenia. They suffered another setback in 2010 when they again
missed the finals and finished 12th.
France competed at the Olympic Games for the fourth time in Rio 2016, finishing
ninth. Five years later, they unexpectedly won gold after defeating Russia in Tokyo
2020. In 2015, France won the European Championship and World League (also in
2017).
7

Italy
TOP 10 TEAMS (#2 MEN)
It is o n e o f th e m o st su c c e s s f u l nati o na l te a ms i n th e h isto r y o f vo l l e y b a l l ,
having won four World Championships (1990, 1994, 1998 and 2022), seven European
Championships, one World Cup (1995) and eight World League (1990, 1991, 1992,
1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2000). The team also won a silver medal at the World Cup
in 1989. Starting at the 1990 World Championships and the 1990 Goodwill Games,
the Italian National team swept the world volleyball events for five years. They won
a gold medal in the World Championships in 1990 and 1994, the World League in
1990, 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995, 1991, the Mediterranean Games, and the 1993 Grand
Champions Cup. They won a silver medal at the Olympic Games.
Julio Velasco (coach since 1989) left the Italian National Men’s Team in 1996. Velasco
in 1989-1996 created Golden Team with Players such as Zorzi, Andrea Gardini, Giani,
Bernardi, Gravina, Bracci, Tofoli, Lucchetta, Papi, Pasinato and Meoni.
Poland
TOP 10 TEAMS (#1 MEN)
Poland is one of the world’s strongest teams, they are ranked first in the FIVB world
ranking as of 11 September 2022.
Poland achieved some of its best results in the 1970s, with gold medals at 1974
World Championship and the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics. They also won five
consecutive silver medals at the European Championship, between 1975 and 1983.
In 2006 polish team won silver medal at World Championship. In final they lost
against Brazil.
On 3 September 2009, Poland played its first match in preliminary round Pool A
of the European Championship 2009 held in Turkey. Polish players beat France in
opening match 3–1. Then won with Germany (3–1) and hosts – Turkey (3–0). Poland
took first place in Pool A and went to play-off round, where in Pool F beat European
Champion 2007 – Spain (3–2) and won two another meetings with Slovakia (3–2)
and Greece (3–0).
8

9

10
10

“Giba was dia
leukemia when
6-month
NAME
Gilberto Godoy Filho
BIRTHDATE
December 23, 1976
AGE
46 years-old
HEIGHT
1.92 m
POSITION
Wing Spiker
COUNTRY
Brazil
NICKNAME
Giba
ACTIVE YEARS
1995-2014
Gilberto Godoy Filho is one of the best volleyball in the history.
He led Brazil to the 2004 Olympic Games gold medal in which he was selected most valuable player. He would
later go on to win Olympic silver medals in 2008 and 2012. He and Brazil captured gold medals in three
consecutive FIVB World Championships in 2002, 2008 and 2010. Giba led Brazil to four medals at the FIVB
World Cup, including gold in 2003 and 2007, and bronze in 1995 and 2011. From 1999 to 2011, Brazil had an
incredible run in the FIVB World League with 11 medals in a 12-year span that included eight golds, two silvers
and two bronzes.
During one remarkable stretch after losing the 2002 World League title, Giba and Brazil stood on the
top podium step after winning 11 straight international competitions including the 2004 Olympic Games,
two World Championships, two World Cups, five World Leagues and one World Grand Champions Cup.
11

NAME
Mir Saeid Marouf Lakrani
BIRTHDATE
October 20, 1985
AGE
37 years-old
HEIGHT
1.89 m
POSITION
Setter
COUNTRY
Iran
NICKNAME
Magic Beard
ACTIVE YEARS
2003-
gnosed with
he was merely
s-old.”
He was named best setter at the 2014 World League and 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic qualifying tournaments,
as well as most valuable player at the 2013 Asian Championship. He participated in the Rio 2016 and
Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He was voted Iranian Sportsmen of the year for (2015–16) of the Iranian calendar by
an Iranian. In school, he participated in other sports, including Cross country running, Basketball and Handball.
He started his career in his hometown volleyball club Urmia Moqavemat he has also played for Sanam Tehran,
Shahrdari Urmia, Matin Varamin, Esteghlal Gonbad, Saipa Tehran, Damash Gilan, Kalleh Mazandaran.
Marouf, along with popular athletes such as Ali Daei, Hamid Sourian and Behdad Salimi, acted as a
helper in the fight to eradicate poverty and hunger in the World Food Programme.
12

THE
Ishikawa · Nishida ·Fuji
IMPERFECT
trio
Naonobu Fujii was a prominent Japanese volleyball player, born in 1992, whose
career was full of sporting achievements, successes, and a remarkable friendship
with Nishida Yuji, outside spiker, and Ishiwaka Yuki, setter.
In 2010, at the age of 18, Fujii was called up to join the Japanese national volleyball
team, beginning a career that would lead him to become one of the most
important and recognized players not only in his country, but also of all the world.
The death of Naonobu Fujii on March 10, 2023, at the age of 31, was mourned by
the entire world sports community. His legacy as a volleyball player and coach will
remain in the memory of those who knew him, and he will always be an example of
dedication, work and passion for the sport.
13

The Japan men’s national volleyball team represents Japan in international volleyball competitions
and friendly matches, governed by the Japan Volleyball Association. His nickname is “RYUJIN NI-
PPON”, which means “Japanese Dragon God” or “Dragon God of Japan” in Japanese.
14