Saori Kimura

Perhaps the best player in Japanese women’s volleyball history, Kimura will be making her third Olympic appearance after helping Japan to fifth-place finishes in Athens in 2004 as an 18-year-old and in Beijing in 2008. She placed third in receiving with a 59.7 percent efficiency rate and fourth in overall scoring with 180 points in the World Cup as Japan finished fourth. Kimura’s biggest asset is versatility, as she plays every position at a high level. She helped Japan to a third-place finish in the 2010 world championships and was named the FIVB World Grand Prix’s best scorer that year. At the club level, she has been a mainstay with the Toray Arrows since 2005 and has helped the squad win two Empress’ Cup titles and four V. Premier League titles.