Robinson in top form as V. League resumes

Tokyo Olympic champion Kelsey Robinson was the top scorer of the weekend in the Japanese V. League as the tournament resumed after a two-week break. The American outside hitter produced 58 points and helped Toyota Auto Body Queenseis win a pair of matches that lifted the team away from the bottom of the standings.

One of the Best Outside Hitters of the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup, the 29-year-old American led Queenseis to a pair of 3-1 victories over Victorina Himeji over the weekend. On Saturday, Robinson tallied 28 points (all in kills) as her team won 25-18, 22-25, 25-13, 28-26. One day later, she improved her production to 30 points (28 kills, one block, one ace) as Queenseis triumphed 25-23, 25-27, 25-23, 25-23.

Queenseis now have 13 points (four wins, 18 losses) and have left the bottom spot of the standings to the Kurobe Acqua Fairies, who have seven points (three wins, 14 losses).

Two of Robinson’s teammates in the historic campaign that earned the United States national team the Olympic gold medal six months ago in Japan also had productive weekends in the V. League, but had to settle for their teams winning just one of their two matches.

Star opposite Annie Drews, who plays for back-to-back defending champions JT Marvelous, produced 29 points (27 kills, two blocks) on Saturday, but saw her team fall to Denso Airybess 3-2 (25-27, 23-25, 26-24, 25-7, 13-15) in just their second upset of the season. On Sunday, the 28-year-old Drews tallied 14 (13 kills, one ace) and helped her team cruise to a 25-22, 25-23, 25-14 sweep. JT Marvelous remain at the top of the standings with 48 points (16 wins, two losses).

Veteran middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo followed a different path with her 23 points (22 kills, one block) playing a big factor in Hisamitsu Springs’ 3-0 (25-23, 31-29, 31-29) victory over the Okayama Seagulls on Saturday, but her 17 points (14 kills, three blocks) were not enough to avoid a 3-1 (19-25, 25-20, 27-29, 21-25) setback on Sunday. The seven-time national champions currently rank fifth in the league, with 34 points (11 wins, six losses).

Ten more matches are scheduled to take place in the Japanese V. League next weekend.