The Japan women's volleyball team can reach a record 12th Olympics with a victory over Italy after breezing past the Dominican Republic in straight sets in the women's final qualifiers on Friday.
Japan will punch its ticket to Rio de Janeiro if it defeats Italy on Saturday in the eight-team group. Japan is fourth, a point behind the Netherlands, South Korea and Italy, and can also qualify if both Thailand and Peru lose against South Korea and the Dutch, respectively.
Japan triumphed 25-22, 25-16, 27-25 at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium to send the Dominicans to their fifth defeat in as many games. The Dominican Republic is last in the eight-team group, having won just one set in the tournament.