Himeji host trending Astemo in SV.League’s Games of the Week

Another full set of seven double headers, or a total of 14 matches, in the women’s Daido Life SV.League of Japan are coming up on Saturday and Sunday, November 23 and 24.

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The double header between Victorina Himeji and Astemo Rivale Ibaraki is probably the most anticipated match-up this weekend. The clashes between neighbours in the current standings with the same win-loss ratios look promising, especially after Astemo handed Denso Airybees Koriyama two defeats last weekend and brought them down from the first place in the table. Nominated as Games of the Week, these matches at the ZIP Arena Okayama will open both competition days at 11:35 local time (02:35 UTC).

Hosts Himeji, with Airi Miyabe, Arisa Inoue and Thai standout Chatchu-On Moksri on the squad, are in fifth place on a 7-3 win-loss ratio and 17 points. Their opponents, highlighted by American athletes Mackenzie May and Brionne Butler, are just above them in the standings, in fourth place on 7-3 and 19. Historically, the two clubs have met 12 times and Astemo have won nine of those encounters.

Saitama Ageo Medics, who emerged as the new leaders in the standings after last weekend’s action, will now try to defend their position as they travel to PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku. On both competition days, the matches at the Toriyasaimiso BlueCats Arena are set to start at 13:05 (04:05). Serbian striker Sara Lozo and her teammates top the table on 8-2 and 23, while the squad around Thai star middle blocker Thatdao Nuekjang returned home from last week’s trip to defending champions NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki with two losses and in ninth place on 6-6 and 17.

Ageo are on a seven-match winning streak against PFU, with BlueCats’ only win over this opponent dating back to over three years ago, October 2021. The overall head-to-head record stands at 14-1 Medics’ way.

Hoping to regain their pole position in the table, Denso Airybees Koriyama return home for a double header against Saga Hisamitsu Springs. Before the two matches at the Azuma General Gymnasium, both starting at 13:05 (04:05), Denso are in second place on 9-3 and 28, while Saga are seventh on 7-5 and 21.

Third-placed Osaka Marvelous will travel to 12^th-placed Kurobe Aqua Fairies for two games at the Himi Fureai Sports Center. Saturday’s fixture is scheduled at 16:05 (07:05), while the starting time on Sunday is 13:05 (04:05). Osaka stand on 7-3 and 22, while Kurobe are on 3-9 and 8.

Reigning champs NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki, who are also preparing for next month’s appearance at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship, are in sixth place on 6-4 and 20. On Saturday and Sunday at 14:05 (05:05), they will visit bottom-placed Gunma Green Wings at the Kiryu Gas Sports Center. The hosts are still struggling to earn their first win of the season and are trailing in 14^th place on 0-8 and 1.

Both competition days will be closed with a match between Okayama Seagulls and Toray Arrows Shiga, starting at 16:05 (07:05) at the ZIP Arena Okayama. The hosts are in 10^th place on 3-5 and 11, while the visitors are eighth on 6-6 and 17.

The scuffling near the lower end of the table will be highlighted this weekend by a head-to-head clash between Aranmare Yamagata and Queenseis Kariya at the Tsurushin Arena Komagihara on Saturday at 14:05 (15:05) and on Sunday at 13:05 (04:05). Hosts Aranmare are second from the bottom, in 13^th place on 2-10 and 8, while their visitors from Kariya are just above them, in 12^th place on 3-9 and 8.

Women’s SV.League 2024-2025 7th leg:
Nov 23, 11:35 local (02:35 UTC): Victorina Himeji v Astemo Rivale Ibaraki
Nov 23, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Denso Airybees Koriyama v Saga Hisamitsu Springs
Nov 23, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku v Saitama Ageo Medics
Nov 23, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Aranmare Yamagata v Queenseis Kariya
Nov 23, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Gunma Green Wings v NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki
Nov 23, 16:05 local (07:05 UTC): Kurobe Aqua Fairies v Osaka Marvelous
Nov 23, 16:05 local (07:05 UTC): Okayama Seagulls v Toray Arrows Shiga
Nov 24, 11:35 local (02:35 UTC): Victorina Himeji v Astemo Rivale Ibaraki
Nov 24, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Denso Airybees Koriyama v Saga Hisamitsu Springs
Nov 24, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku v Saitama Ageo Medics
Nov 24, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Aranmare Yamagata v Queenseis Kariya
Nov 24, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Kurobe Aqua Fairies v Osaka Marvelous
Nov 24, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Gunma Green Wings v NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki
Nov 24, 16:05 local (07:05 UTC): Okayama Seagulls v Toray Arrows Shiga

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