Struggling Saitama succumbed to Hisamitsu in straight sets, 22-25, 23-25, 21-25, Saturday in the 2021-22 Japan V.League Division 1 women’s tournament at the Panasonic Arena in Osaka.
Jaja Santiago fired seven points, including a service ace, in the losing cause.
This was the first game the 6-foot-5 Filipina failed to register a block this season. She currently has the sixth-most blocks in the tournament alongside two others.
Opposite spiker Miyu Nakagawa and middle blocker Asuka Hamamatsu shared the offensive cudgels for Hisamitsu with 12 points apiece. Meanwhile, Riho Otake patrolled the net with four block kills to end with 10 points.
The Springs move atop the standings behind a 6-1 win-loss record.
The league’s 10th best scorer in Arisa Inoue only played in the first set for Hisamitsu, making two points.
The local trio of Mami Uchiseto, Yuka Sato, and Kyoko Aoyagi once again led the Ageo Medics with nine points apiece.
Brazilian import Lorenne Teixeira only played the first two sets, finishing with six points.
Saitama has now lost four of its last five matches, dropping to 3-4 at seventh place.
Ageo Medics will try to return to the win column tomorrow as they face the Springs anew at 12:00 NN.
