University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Former Gopher Airi Miyabe Makes Japan's Olympic Team
7/1/2024 10:42:00 AM | Volleyball, M Club
Miyabe played for Minnesota from 2019-21
MINNEAPOLIS -- Former Gopher Airi Miyabe (2019-21) was named to Japan's Olympic volleyball team, it was announced today. Miyabe Is one of 12 members of the women's volleyball team that will compete in the Paris Olympics.
Japan won the right to participate in the Olympics after finishing second (to Italy) in the Volleyball Nations League. They have a chance to medal at the Olympics for the first time in 12 years (London Olympics). In the Paris Olympics, 12 teams will be divided into three groups of four teams each, and compete in the preliminary round.
The top two teams from each group and the top two teams from the third-placed teams will advance to the final tournament. The women's preliminary rounds begin on July 27. Japan, ranked seventh in the world, was placed in Group B.
Miyabe, a former outside hitter at Minnesota, plays middle blocker for Japan. She earned her first Olympic team appearance after a standout performance in the Volleyball Nations League. She came off the bench in the tournament's semifinals, tallying 11 points on six kills, four blocks and one ace to help Japan to their first ever VNL final in a 3-2 win over No. 1 ranked Brazil.
As a Gopher, Miyabe was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection from 2019-21. During her time in Minneapolis, the Gophers made a Final Four, an Elite Eight and a Sweet 16. Her best season came in 2021, when she played in 27 matches, averaging 2.97 kills, 0.93 digs and 0.27 blocks per set. She hit .240 on the year and emerged into a starting role late in the season. In the 2021 Sweet 16 match against Baylor, Miyabe stepped up for a career-high 18-kill performance on .324 hitting. She was named to the NCAA Madison Regional All-Tournament Team in addition to being AVCA All-North Region Honorable Mention in 2021.
Prior to Minnesota, Miyabe spent two years at College of Southern Idaho, where she led the team to a 2018 NJCAA championship and a runner-up finish in 2017. She was named the 2018 NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship Tournament MVP, the 2018 NJCAA Division I Player of the Year and the AVCA Two-Year College Player of the Year.
Japan won the right to participate in the Olympics after finishing second (to Italy) in the Volleyball Nations League. They have a chance to medal at the Olympics for the first time in 12 years (London Olympics). In the Paris Olympics, 12 teams will be divided into three groups of four teams each, and compete in the preliminary round.
The top two teams from each group and the top two teams from the third-placed teams will advance to the final tournament. The women's preliminary rounds begin on July 27. Japan, ranked seventh in the world, was placed in Group B.
Miyabe, a former outside hitter at Minnesota, plays middle blocker for Japan. She earned her first Olympic team appearance after a standout performance in the Volleyball Nations League. She came off the bench in the tournament's semifinals, tallying 11 points on six kills, four blocks and one ace to help Japan to their first ever VNL final in a 3-2 win over No. 1 ranked Brazil.
As a Gopher, Miyabe was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection from 2019-21. During her time in Minneapolis, the Gophers made a Final Four, an Elite Eight and a Sweet 16. Her best season came in 2021, when she played in 27 matches, averaging 2.97 kills, 0.93 digs and 0.27 blocks per set. She hit .240 on the year and emerged into a starting role late in the season. In the 2021 Sweet 16 match against Baylor, Miyabe stepped up for a career-high 18-kill performance on .324 hitting. She was named to the NCAA Madison Regional All-Tournament Team in addition to being AVCA All-North Region Honorable Mention in 2021.
Prior to Minnesota, Miyabe spent two years at College of Southern Idaho, where she led the team to a 2018 NJCAA championship and a runner-up finish in 2017. She was named the 2018 NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship Tournament MVP, the 2018 NJCAA Division I Player of the Year and the AVCA Two-Year College Player of the Year.
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