Himeji against Ageo and PFU against Gunma in high-level duels this weekend in Japan

With double headers between fifth-placed Victorina Himeji and sixth-placed Saitama Ageo Medics, and between fourth-placed PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku and seventh-placed Gunma Green Wings in the spotlight this coming weekend, their positions in the current standings of the women’s Daido Life SV.League in Japan could be completely rearranged depending on the results. These are just two of the seven match-ups on the program of the 14^th leg, set to take place on Saturday and Sunday, January 24 and 25.

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The games between table neighbors Victorina Himeji and Saitama Ageo Medics will be played at the Victorina Wink Gymnasium, serving off at 14:05 local time (05:05 UTC) on both competition days. Himeji stand on a 16-10 win-loss ratio and 46 points in fifth place, while Ageo are right below them on 14-10 and 39, with two games in hand. When Ageo hosted Himeji for a double header in November, they won the first match in five sets, but lost the second in four.

The Toriyasaimiso BlueCats Arena will be the stage for the two matches between PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku and Gunma Green Wings at 13:05 (04:05) on Saturday and Sunday. PFU are in fourth place on 15-9 and 50, with two games in hand. Gunma stand seventh on 15-11 and 44. So, if the visitors bring home two wins, they will surpass their opponents in the table. Gunma won both matches against PFU in October at home, the first by 3-1 and the second by 3-2.

On both Saturday and Sunday, the competition day will open at 12:05 (03:05) with a game between defending champions Osaka Marvelous and Toray Arrows Shiga at the Asue Arena Osaka. Marvelous are third in the standings on 18-8 and 56. Their visitors trail bottom, in 14^th place on 3-21 and 9, sliding down a 13-game losing streak. These will be the first SV.League meetings between these two clubs this season.

Table leaders NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki will host Astemo Rivale Ibaraki at the Ota City General Gymnasium at 14:05 (05:05) on Saturday and at 13:05 (04:05) on Sunday. NEC top the standings on 22-2 and 61, while Astemo occupy 11^th place on 8-16 and 26. When the squad from Kawasaki visited Astemo in November, they brought home two wins, 3-0 and 3-1.

Second-placed Saga Hisamitsu Springs will also play at home this weekend. At 14:05 (05:05) on both days, they will welcome Denso Airybees Koriyama to the Saga Arena. Saga stand in the runner-up position on 18-6 and 48. Denso are ninth on 12-12 and 36. Hisamitsu Springs swept both road games at Denso in October in straight sets.

Queenseis Kariya will visit Aranmare Yamagata at the Yamagata Prefectural Sports Park Arena. The two games will get underway at 14:05 (05:05) on Saturday and at 13:05 (04:05) on Sunday. Kariya are running eighth on 13-13 and 45, while the home team is second from the bottom, in 13^th place on 3-21 and 10. When Queenseis hosted Aranmare in early November, they shut them out in both matches.

The weekend offers one more exciting clash between teams from the lower half of the table. Okayama Seagulls, who are third from the bottom, in 12^th place on 3-21 and 12, will entertain Kurobe Aqua Fairies, who are just two spots above them, in 10^th place, but on a much better record of 12-12 and 34. 14:05 (05:05) is the starting time for both matches at the Shigeto Arena Okayama. In October, Kurobe produced two home wins over Okayama, 3-1 and 3-0.

Women’s SV.League 2025-2026 14th leg:
Jan 24, 12:05 local (03:05 UTC): Osaka Marvelous v Toray Arrows Shiga
Jan 24, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku v Gunma Green Wings
Jan 24, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Aranmare Yamagata v Queenseis Kariya
Jan 24, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki v Astemo Rivale Ibaraki
Jan 24, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Victorina Himeji v Saitama Ageo Medics
Jan 24, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Okayama Seagulls v Kurobe Aqua Fairies
Jan 24, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Saga Hisamitsu Springs v Denso Airybees Koriyama
Jan 25, 12:05 local (03:05 UTC): Osaka Marvelous v Toray Arrows Shiga
Jan 25, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku v Gunma Green Wings
Jan 25, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Aranmare Yamagata v Queenseis Kariya
Jan 25, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki v Astemo Rivale Ibaraki
Jan 25, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Victorina Himeji v Saitama Ageo Medics
Jan 25, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Okayama Seagulls v Kurobe Aqua Fairies
Jan 25, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Saga Hisamitsu Springs v Denso Airybees Koriyama

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