Yūko Sano Explained

Yuko Sano
Fullname:	Yuko Sano
Nickname:	Ryo
Birth Date:	July 26, 1979
Birth Place:	Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan
Spike:	270 cm
Block:	260 cm
Height:	159 cm
Weight:	53 kg^[1]
Position:	Libero
Currentclub:	officially retired
Last Jersy Number:	06
Medaltemplates-Expand:	yes
Medaltemplates-Title:	Medal record

is a retired volleyball player from Japan. She was part of the Japanese team that won the bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.^[2]

She played as a libero for the Women's National Team at the 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan. There the team ended up in third place, and qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Afterwards Sano was named Best Digger and Best Receiver at the event.

Career

Sano played at the 2013 Club World Championship with Voléro Zürich and she was selected Best Libero.^[3] Her team lost the bronze medal to Guangdong Evergrande.^[4]

Clubs

• Kitasaga High School
• Unitika (1998–2000)
• Toray Arrows (2000–2003)
• RC Cannes (2004–2006)
• Hisamitsu Springs (2006–2010)
• Igtisadchi Baku (2010-2012)
• Galatasaray Daikin (2012-2013)
• Voléro Zürich (2013-2014)
• Denso Airybees (2013-2014)

Awards

Individuals

• 2003 9th V.League : Best Libero award, Servereceive award.
• 2006 Women's CEV Champions League : Best Libero award.
• 2007 2006-07 V.Premier League : Best Libero award.
• 2007 Asian Club Championship "Best Receiver"
• 2007 14th Asian Women's Volleyball Championship : Best Receiver award
• 2007 Volleyball World Cup : Best Receiver award, Best Digger award.
• 2008 2007-08 V.Premier League : Best Libero award, Servereceive award
• 2008 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best Libero"
• 2008 Olympic Qualifier "Best Digger"
• 2008 Olympic Qualifier "Best Receiver"
• 2009 2008-09 V.Premier League : Best Libero award, Servereceive award, Excellent Player award
• 2011 World Cup "Best Digger"^[5]
• 2012-13 CEV Champions League "Best Receiver"
• 2013 FIVB Women's Club World Championship "Best Libero"
• 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best Libero"
• 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix "Most Valuable Player"

Team

• 2006-07 V.Premier League - Champion, with Hisamitsu Springs.
• 2007 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship - Champion, with Hisamitsu Springs.
• 2007 Asian Club Championship - Bronze Medal with Hisamitsu Springs
• 2007-08 Empress's Cup - Runner-Up, with Hisamitsu Springs.
• 2008-09 V.Premier League - Runner-Up, with Hisamitsu Springs.
• 2009 Empress's Cup - Champion, with Hisamitsu Springs.
• 2009 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship - Runner-Up, with Hisamitsu Springs.
• 2012 Turkish Volleyball Super Cup - Runner-Up, with Galatasaray Daikin
• 2012-2013 Turkish Women's Volleyball Cup - Bronze Medal with Galatasaray Daikin

National team

Senior Team

• 2007 Asian Championship - Gold medal
• 2009 Asian Championship - Bronze medal
• 2010 World Championship - Bronze medal
• 2011 Asian Championship - Silver medal
• 2012 Olympics - Bronze medal
• 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix - Silver medal

External links

• FIVB Biography

Notes and References

1. Web site: Japanese Medalists in London 2012 Olympics. joc.or.jp. Japanese Olympic Committee. 17 January 2014.
2. Web site: London 2012 - Women's Volleyball. 15 November 2014. www.olympic.org. IOC.
3. Web site: Vakifbank Istanbul fly to first Women's Club World Champs title, China claim bronze. Zurich, Switzerland. FIVB. 2013-10-13. 2013-10-13.
4. Web site: Guangdong beat Zurich 3-1 to claim Women's Club World Champs bronze. Zurich, Switzerland. FIVB. 2013-10-13. 2013-10-13.
5. Web site: Best Digger. FIVB. 2011-11-18.