Astemo and NEC exchange wins in tough five-set battles

In the highest level cash of the 10^th leg in the women’s Daido Life SV.League in Japan, Astemo Rivale Ibaraki and NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki put up two five-set battles and exchanged victories. So did PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku and Okayama Seagulls, while Saitama Ageo Medics and Victorina Himeji suffered upsets at home at the hands of Toray Arrows Shiga and Queenseis Kariya, respectively, as the leg’s seven double headers unfolded on Saturday and Sunday.

• Watch Japan's SV.League on VBTV.

On Saturday, Astemo Rivale Ibaraki came back from two sets down against their visitors NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki to celebrate a 3-2 (15-25, 12-25, 25-23, 29-27, 15-13) victory. Their outside hitter Kurumi Takama was the best scorer of the match with 25 points, including two aces and a kill block.

“I'm proud of the players, who didn't give up and made a comeback from two sets down,” said Astemo’s head coach Kodai Nakaya. “The performances of Takama, who started for the first time, and Mimika Namaizawa, who came in as a substitute, brought momentum to the team. There are still many areas that can be improved and we would like to continue growing.”

On the following day, the defending champions got back at their hosts with a 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13) win. Outside Yoshino Sato was their best scorer with 24 points, including three blocks and an ace, while Kurumi Takama once again topped the match charts, this time with 32 points, including two aces and a kill block, for Astemo.

“I am very happy that we were able to end this year's last match with a victory,” commented NEC’s head coach Takayuki Kaneko. “We struggled with Astemo's speedy serve again, but from the second set onwards, our players showed their aggressive spirit on the court and we were able to win the match. What we learned over these two days was an important experience that will lead to the future, so we will clarify our issues and face them together to become stronger.”

NEC and Astemo kept their places in the current standings – fourth on a 12-6 win-loss ratio and 39 points, and sixth on 11-7 and 30, respectively.

With a 22-point match high, opposite Reina Kawasaki led PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku to a narrow 3-2 (18-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-21, 16-14) home win over Okayama Seagulls on Saturday. On Sunday, however, Okayama returned the favour and celebrated a 3-2 (21-25, 25-18, 26-24, 18-25, 15-10) victory, with captain Syuka Kaneda leading her team with 24 points. This helped Seagulls climb one spot up the standings, to 11^th place on 5-11 and 17, while PFU stayed in ninth, now on 8-12 and 23.

In the first match of their home double-header with Toray Arrows Shiga, third-placed Saitama Ageo Medics suffered a surprising 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 15-25, 34-32, 15-12) defeat. Toray’s Italian opposite Sylvia Nwakalor hammered out a 35-point match high, including two blocks. On Sunday, Ageo redeemed themselves with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-17) victory, with outsides Ai Kurogo and captain Yuka Sato leading the way with 19 points apiece. Ageo stand on 13-5 and 40, while Toray are in eighth place on 11-9 and 30.

Recent Empress’s Cup winners Victorina Himeji were also stunned at home in their first match against Queenseis Kariya. The visitors celebrated a 3-1 (19-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-21) win, with Belgian opposite Kaja Grobelna on fire in attack with a 23-point contribution. On Sunday, Himeji took revenge with a 3-0 (25-15, 29-27, 25-20) shutout, with Thai outside Chatchu-On Moksri delivering a match-high 25 points, including two aces. On 12-6 and 32, Himeji are running fifth in the standings, while Kariya occupy the 10^th place on 7-11 and 22.

Table leaders Osaka Marvelous faced few issues at home against second-to-last Aranmare Yamagata and mastered two speedy sweeps – 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-15) on Saturday with a 16-point match high from Belgian opposite Lise Van Hecke, and 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-21) on Sunday, led by captain Mizuki Tanaka, also with 16 points – to improve to 15-3 and 45 on top of the standings. Aranmare are 13^th on 2-18 and 8.

Similarly, second-placed Denso Airybees Koriyama took the full six points from their visit to bottom-of-the-table Gunma Green Wings, but dropped one set in the second game. After producing a 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-19) straight-setter on Saturday, with a 20-point match high, including four blocks, from Brazilian opposite Rosamaria Montibeller, on Sunday Denso claimed a 3-1 (25-17, 25-15, 18-25, 25-18) win. Again with 20 points, including four blocks, this time outside Saki Ishikura was the best scorer of the match. Denso improved to 16-4 and 48, while Gunma are still winless on 0-16 and 1.

Saga Hisamitsu Springs also took home six points from their visit to Kurobe Aqua Fairies to improve to 12-8 and 38 in seventh place and push the opponents down to 12^th on 6-14 and 17. A clean 3-0 (25-19, 28-26, 25-16) sweep of the first match was inspired by Hungarian outside Greta Szakmary with a 23-point match high, including five blocks. Another outside hitter, Ayane Kitamado, led Saga to a 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20) victory in the second match with 22 points to her name.

SV.League action will resume in 2025 with another seven double headers on January 4 and 5.

Women’s SV.League 2024-2025 11th leg:
Jan 04, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Saitama Ageo Medics v Okayama Seagulls
Jan 04, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Kurobe Aqua Fairies v Victorina Himeji
Jan 04, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Osaka Marvelous v Gunma Green Wings
Jan 04, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Aranmare Yamagata v Denso Airybees Koriyama
Jan 04, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Toray Arrows Shiga v Astemo Rivale Ibaraki
Jan 04, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Saga Hisamitsu Springs v PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku
Jan 04, 15:35 local (06:35 UTC): NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki v Queenseis Kariya
Jan 05, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Saitama Ageo Medics v Okayama Seagulls
Jan 05, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Kurobe Aqua Fairies v Victorina Himeji
Jan 05, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Osaka Marvelous v Gunma Green Wings
Jan 05, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Aranmare Yamagata v Denso Airybees Koriyama
Jan 05, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki v Queenseis Kariya
Jan 05, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Toray Arrows Shiga v Astemo Rivale Ibaraki
Jan 05, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Saga Hisamitsu Springs v PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku

Quick links:
Japanese SV.League - women
VBTV
Volleyball World Facebook
Volleyball World X
Volleyball World Instagram
Volleyball World YouTube
Subscribe to Volleyball World's Newsletter