{{short description|Japanese former volleyball player}} {{BLP sources|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox volleyball player | name = Yukiko Ebata | fullname = Yukiko Ebata | nickname = Eba | image = Yukiko Ebata.jpg | image_size = 150px | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|11|7|mf=y}} | birth_place = Akita, Akita, Japan | spike = {{convert|305|cm|abbr=on}} | block = {{convert|298|cm|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|176|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Japanese Medalists in London 2012 Olympics|url=http://www.joc.or.jp/english/londonolympics/medalists.html|work=joc.or.jp|publisher=Japanese Olympic Committee|access-date=17 January 2014}}</ref> | weight = {{convert|68|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | position = Wing Spiker | currentclub = Retired | currentnumber= | nationalyears= 2010–2016 | nationalteam = {{vbw|Japan}} | medaltemplates-title = Medal record | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's Volleyball}} {{MedalCountry | {{JPN}} }} center|80px {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{MedalBronze|2012 London|Team}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championship}} {{MedalBronze| 2010 Japan |Team}} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Championship}} {{MedalSilver| 2011 Taipei|}} }}
'''Yukiko Ebata''' (江畑 幸子 ''Ebata Yukiko'', born November 7, 1989) is a retired Japanese volleyball player who played for the PFU BlueCats and was a member of the Japan women's national volleyball team. She was a member of Japan's bronze medal-winning 2012 Olympic volleyball team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/eb/yukiko-ebata-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417213107/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/eb/yukiko-ebata-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-17|title=Yukiko Ebata Bio, Stats, and Results|website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-28}}</ref>
== Biography == Ebata is from Tsuchizaki-Minato, Akita-shi, Akita prefecture. Her parents are volleyball players, she started playing volleyball when she is in her 3rd year in elementary school. She also has an older brother who also played volleyball.
When she entered college, she was offered a scholarship by the director of the Holy Spiritual Women's Junior College, in return for playing volleyball for the school. Ebata has said that this was a major turning point for her. She was then attached to the Holy Spiritual Women's Junior College, she was active in the Spring High Valley and Inter – high as captain.{{Clarify|reason=|date=October 2018}}
=== Personal life === In August 2022, she married Shun Takahashi who is the coach of the women's volleyball team Victorina Himeji.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ロンドン五輪銅メダリストの江畑幸子さんが結婚。ヴィクトリーナ姫路のコーチ・高橋駿さんと |url=https://vbm.link/639392/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=バレーボールマガジン |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-19 |title=元・女子日本代表の江畑幸子さんが結婚を報告 {{!}} 月バレ.com【月刊バレーボール】 |url=https://www.getsuvolley.com/221019_ebata_omedetou |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=月バレ.com【月刊バレーボール】 {{!}} 月刊バレーボールが運営するバレー情報サイト |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=結婚発表の江畑幸子さんへ「おめでとう」竹下佳江さん、木村沙織さん、迫田さおりさん、新鍋理沙さんらが祝福 |url=https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nsp/item/n/1003159/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=西日本スポーツ |language=ja}}</ref>
== Career == In 2008, she was recruited by the Hitachi Rivale professional women's volleyball club team as one of their active wing spikers in 2009–10. In 2010, she was registered as one of the representatives of Japan women's national volleyball team at the 2010 World Grand Prix making her the youngest player in the team.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} In addition, during the World Championship in October–November of the same year, she scored 24 points for Japan in their second match of the qualifying round against Turkey on November 7, which is also her birthday. The team went on to win the bronze medal, her performance made a big contribution for the team.
In June 2011, at the 2011 Montreux Volley Masters, she contributed greatly to her first win with the team against Turkey, due to her great performance, she won the Best Spiker award in the said tournament. Meanwhile, in the 2011 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup, she contributed to Japan's victory as an ace and at her young age, she leads Japan to a 4th-place finish.
In March 2012, she contributed to the victory of Hitachi Rivale in the V. Challenge League, eventually winning the MVP award. In the same year, she participated in the 2012 London Olympic games alongside the Japanese women's volleyball team. She showed great success in her hitting throughout the games and particularly in the quarter-finals against China where she scored her all-time highest with 33 points. Ebata helped earn the team a place in the semi-finals after a 5 set win over China. Japan eventually lost the semi-finals against Brazil, however, went on to take the bronze medal match sweeping all 3 sets over South Korea. The Japanese women's volleyball team had earned their first Olympic medal in 28 years since the Los Angeles 1984 bronze medal win.
In February 2013, she was appointed as the brand ambassadress of the local regional bank of Akita.
On July 24, 2014, Hitachi Rivale announced the transfer of Ebata to RC Cannes women's professional volleyball club team. The transfer date happened on September 1, 2014.
On June 1, 2015, PFU BlueCats of the V Challenge League announced the joining of Ebata on the club. She is currently playing on the team.
She announced her retirement after Season 2020/21.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-29 |title=PFUの江畑幸子が引退会見を実施「限界まで挑戦できた」 {{!}} 月バレ.com【月刊バレーボール】 |url=https://www.getsuvolley.com/0329-pfu-ebata |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=月バレ.com【月刊バレーボール】 {{!}} 月刊バレーボールが運営するバレー情報サイト |language=ja}}</ref>
==Playing style== As a wing spiker, she mainly plays on the opposite side. She is known for her powerful spike, she is good at processing blocks out and distributing the ball properly. Her signature move is her backrow attack.
She said that before attacking a ball, you must first better to decide of such a place in the court of the opposing team where the scene of the reception collapsed for you to have a more successful attack.{{Clarify|reason=|date=October 2018}}
Yukiko also said that she doesn't like participating in the practice of her team during the service reception and defense so she is often exempt.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}
== Clubs == * {{flagicon|JPN}} Seirei High School * {{flagicon|JPN}} Hitachi Rivale (2008–2014) * {{flagicon|FRA}} RC Cannes (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rccannes.com/le-racing-fait-signer-une-japonaise/|title=Le Racing fait signer une Japonaise !|author=RC Cannes|access-date=2014-07-24|archive-date=2014-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201200437/http://rccannes.com/le-racing-fait-signer-une-japonaise/|url-status=dead}}</ref> *{{flagicon|JPN}} PFU BlueCats (2015–2021)
== National team == * {{flagicon|JPN}} National team (2010–2016) ** 2010 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship – '''Bronze Medal''' ** Volleyball at the 2012 Summer Olympics – '''Bronze Medal''' ** 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship – '''7th place'''
==Awards==
=== Individuals=== *2011 Montreux Volley Masters – Best spiker <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.volleymasters.ch/statistic.php?cmd%3Dzoom%26nr%3D2%26year%3D2011 |title=Montreux Volley Masters |access-date=July 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614194951/http://www.volleymasters.ch/statistic.php?cmd=zoom&nr=2&year=2011 |archive-date=June 14, 2011 }}</ref> * 2012 バレーボール2011/12Vプレミアリーグ – Most Valuable Player (MVP)
===Team=== *2010 2009–10 V.Challenge League – 16px Champion, with Hitachi Rivale. *2011 2010–11 V.Challenge League – 16px Runner-up, with Hitachi Rivale. *2015 2015–16 V.Challenge League l – 16px Runner-up, with PFU Bluecats. *2016 2016–17 V.Challenge League l – 16px Runner-up, with PFU Bluecats.
=== National team === *2010 World Championship – Image:Med 3.png Bronze medal *2011 Montreux Volley Masters – 16px Champion *2011 Asian Championship – Image:Med 2.png Silver medal *2012 Olympics – Image:Med 3.png Bronze medal *2013 Asian Championship – Image:Med 2.png Silver medal *2013 Women's World Grand Champions Cup – Image:Med 3.png Bronze medal *2014 FIVB World Grand Prix – Image:Med 2.png Silver medal *2015 Montreux Volley Masters – 16px Runner-Up
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Yukiko Ebata}} * [http://www.fivb.org/EN/volleyball/competitions/WorldGrandPrix/2011/Players.asp?Tourn=WGP2011&Team=JPN&No=132056 FIVB biography] * [http://www.vleague.or.jp/team_player_detail/id=16143 V.League biography] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120215011856/http://www.hitachi-automotive.co.jp/rivale/senshu/player/2148349_46128.html Hitachi Rivale profile]
{{Japan squad 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship}} {{Japan women volleyball team 2012 Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ebata, Yukiko}} Category:Living people Category:1989 births Category:Volleyball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Japan Category:Olympic medalists in volleyball Category:Japanese women's volleyball players Category:Olympic volleyball players for Japan Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Sportspeople from Akita (city) Category:Volleyball players from Akita (city) Category:21st-century Japanese sportswomen