The Dominican Republic topped Japan 3-1 in the women's volleyball tournament on Monday, ending the host team's chances of progressing to the quarterfinals.
The loss was Japan's fourth in five games in Tokyo and means they miss the quarterfinals at the Olympics for the first time since they failed to qualify for the 2000 Games in Sydney. It was the first time women were eliminated in the preliminary round since the 1996 Atlanta Games.
The two-time Olympic champions and six-time medalists only won one set against the Dominicans, the third, going down 25-10, 25-23, 19-25, 25-19 in 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Four Dominicans scored in double figures, with Prisilla Rivera Brens doing the most damage with 17 points.
Sarina Koga fought a lonely battle for Japan, logging 22 points, with only one of her teammates, Ai Kurogo, reaching double-figures.
Japan's only win of the tournament came against Kenya. They lost in straight games against Serbia, Brazil and went down 3-2 to South Korea.
