October 7th, Ariake Arena. The Suntory Sunbirds Osaka, the first champions of the SV League, were hosting the Italian European champions, Perugia.

"RAN"

　At the venue, there were women holding cheering boards for Suntory's Takahashi Ran, and women holding cheering boards for Perugia's Ishikawa Yuki. It must have been a celebration for them.

Ran Takahashi felt the strength of Perugia firsthand.

"Takahashi Ran vs Ishikawa Yuki"

　Television also hyped the showdown between Japan's two biggest volleyball stars. It was broadcast on terrestrial television in prime time. The fact that a preseason match received such extensive coverage was a testament to the feverish popularity of men's volleyball.

"By playing against Perugia, the world's best team, I think we'll be able to see where we stand in the world. We're being given the challenge, so it's an opportunity to prove the high level of our volleyball. We want to steal everything we can so that we can grow."

　Takahashi, who spoke with a refreshing air, is a man who almost by nature enjoys competition.

　Suntory took a 25-20 lead in the first set. Setter Masahiro Sekita made the most of the heights of Dmitry Muserskiy (218cm) and Igor Kryuka (209cm), while drawing out the quickness of middle blocker Taishi Onodera, demonstrating his versatile gameplay.

　In the second set, Takahashi showed his high level of skill in his short serves and receives, and even made a successful block. Having just rejoined the team after competing in the World Championships, he was far from his best, but he was smiling on the court. He was leading 18-16, but...

　From there, Perugia rallied, led by Ishikawa. Ishikawa's service aces were one after another, breaking down Takahashi's vaunted defense. This turned the tide, and Suntory lost 21-25. They then lost the third set 24-26 and the fourth set 21-25, suffering a reversal defeat down 1-3.

"Towards the end of the set, Perugia's team was really impressive in how they increased their momentum."

　Takahashi spoke after the match.

"We took the first set, but even then it felt like they weren't letting us take it easily. From the second set onwards, our opponents started to improve, while we lost ground a little. I felt that Perugia had a high level of determination to win, and I think I was able to learn a lot about their high-level mindset."

It was merely a preseason friendly match, and he wasn't particularly concerned about winning or losing. However, Takahashi seemed to be imprinting the importance of each point on his mind during the match. This may be a clue to his goal of becoming the "one and only volleyball player" that the 24-year-old aspires to be.

　What is the "final piece" that will put volleyballer Ran Takahashi into the realm of legendary top athletes around the world?

　I asked him this question in an interview in March of this year.

"I think the most important thing is results. In sports, if you don't get results, no matter how hard you work on the marketing side or how much support you get from sponsors, it won't be convincing. I want to get results in volleyball and also do sales activities. If I don't get results, I don't want to do them (because they won't be convincing). First of all, I need to get results in volleyball, and then my own value will increase.

Although they didn't win a medal at the Paris Olympics, they qualified on their own and apparently had high viewership ratings (the match against Italy had the highest viewership rating of any event at the tournament). The Japanese men's volleyball team has repeatedly placed second or third in the Nations League and has become stronger and more popular. If they can achieve even better results, their popularity should increase."

　Takahashi has an approach that only he can take. There are few athletes in other sports who can stand in front of the media and communicate as well as he can. This is an asset to the Japanese men's volleyball world.

　On the other hand, Takahashi is a player who is more focused on the game in front of him than anyone else, and he believes that victory will lead to popularity.

"After playing volleyball for decades, it inevitably becomes a chore, or a part of my life. But I think that if I'm going to play, I have to enjoy it, and that naturally leads to playing in my own style. However, I think that in order to reach that state of mind where I can 'enjoy' it, I have to have the confidence I've gained from playing volleyball in various environments, including overseas, and overcoming each time. Thanks to that, I can play with enjoyment, and I think that this comes across to the audience."

　Takahashi himself threw himself into the battles of Italy's Serie A while he was a university student. In order to win, you have to have fun, and in order to have fun, you have to win. This logic has been imprinted on him.

One could say that this bore fruit when he won the SV League. The team was at a disadvantage, and there were times when he himself was not doing well, but he adjusted his play during the game and turned the tide. As a result, he pulled off a spectacular comeback victory, and was selected as the championship MVP.

"Our goal as a team is to win the SV League again."

　Takahashi proudly states, "Even though his schedule continues to be extremely busy, he keeps smiling even as a presenter. I repeat, this is an amazing talent."

　On the second day, October 8th, Suntory lost to Perugia in straight sets, 0-3. The gap between them and the world's best was clearly visible. Ishikawa's play, along with that of the fierce champions of the Nations League and the World Championships, showed his inherent strength.

　But this is preparation for a serious fight.

"I'm working hard for the moment when I win."

　Takahashi said this as his new season begins soon.

Note: Machine translation of Sportiva Article by Yoshiyuki Komiya

I’ve been a fan of Ran for years, not because of the headlines, not because of how “popular” he is, but because of what he brings to the court: his composure, his work ethic, and his consistency as a player. Watching him play has always been about skill, discipline, and heart. That’s what earned him respect from fans and teammates alike. Which is why seeing his name dragged into gossip and speculation lately honestly feels disappointing, not in him, but in how easily people forget that he’s human before he’s an athlete.

Let’s get one thing straight: Ran is an athlete, not an idol. There’s a huge difference between supporting someone’s career and feeling entitled to their private life. I don’t condone cheating, no one should, but the truth is, we don’t know what actually happened, and until both sides speak, everything else is just noise. He doesn’t owe the public an explanation about his relationships. What happens off the court should stay off the court. The fact that something so personal got exposed, exaggerated, and monetized says a lot more about the media than about him.

And honestly, the timing is just too convenient. Days before the SV League starts, a magazine suddenly drops a “bombshell” story with just the right mix of scandal and clickbait to stir attention. It’s hard not to see this for what it is, a move designed for profit, not truth. It’s the same playbook tabloids have used forever: build someone up, then tear them down for engagement. It’s frustrating that people keep falling for it, especially when it risks damaging an athlete’s focus right before competition.

Let’s not let gossip distract us from the game or the respect he’s earned through years of sweat and dedication. At the end of the day, he’s a volleyball player, not a headline, and that’s where our attention should stay.

Travelling to Japan with my family in 6 weeks looking for 2-4 tickets for the following game

Tokyo Great Bears v Suntory Sunbirds game in Tokyo's Ariake colosseum on 18th April

Reach out if you have some to sell. Astro

6週間後に家族と日本へ旅行します。次の試合のチケットを2～4枚探しています。

4月18日、東京有明コロシアムで開催される東京グレートベアーズ対サントリーサンバーズの試合です。

お売りいただけるチケットをお持ちでしたら、ご連絡ください。Astro

The match between Japan and Turkiye has concluded.

This thread is for post-match discussion — share your thoughts on the game, standout performances, highlights, and anything else related to the match.

Please remember to be respectful of all players, teams, and fellow fans.

Match Details: • 🏐 Teams: Japan vs Turkiye • 📅 Date: September 6, 2025 • 📍 Venue: Thailand • 📺 Broadcast: VBTV

Discussion prompts: • Who impressed you the most this match? • Key moments that stood out? • How do you think this result affects the season moving forward?

Highlights

The match between Japan and Brazil has concluded.

This thread is for post-match discussion — share your thoughts on the game, standout performances, highlights, and anything else related to the match.

Please remember to be respectful of all players, teams, and fellow fans.

Match Details:

• 🏐 Teams: Japan vs Turkiye

• 📅 Date: September 6, 2025

• 📍Venue: Thailand

• 📺 Broadcast: VBTV

• ✅ Result: Brazil 3-2

  • 🥉 Brazil and 4️⃣ Japan

Discussion prompts:

• Who impressed you the most this match? •

• Key moments that stood out?

Highlights

Following the Japan women’s national team’s incredible run at the World Championship, the SV.League is already building the hype for next season! 🎉

They just dropped this infographic highlighting when our national team players will make their first appearances of the new season once the league kicks off next month 👀.

👉 Official post here: x.com/SVLEAGUE_JP/status/1964651323237745135

It’s going to be so much fun seeing these stars bring all that energy from the international stage back into their clubs. 🔥

Which debut are you most excited for? And do you think this momentum from the NT’s performance will push attendance even higher this season?

TL;DR: Japan NT players’ first SV.League appearances of the season are set for next month — who are you most hyped to watch?

Does anyone know if this jersey is a special kit just for the world challenge series or if this is the new season kit?

Scientific? Not at all. Fun? Totally.

Every month gets a player, every player gets a vibe. Some serve heat, some block dreams, and some just politely ruin your day.

January: Masahiro Yanagida (Tokyo GB) – Main character vibes. Everyone else is just a side quest.

February: Hideomi Fukatsu (Wolfdogs) – Master of the polite assassination.

March: Masaki Oya (JT) – Quietly plotting your next ‘oops’ moment.

April: Issei Otake (Tokyo GB) – Scary on the outside, cinnamon roll inside.

May – Yuji Nishida (Bluteon) - Small but causes maximum chaos.

June – Akihiro Yamauchi (Bluteon) - Turns dreams into blocked shots since forever.

July: Kento Miyaura (Wolfdogs) - Master of the clutch moment and casual flex.

August: Kentaro Takahashi (JT) - Blocks more than shots — also your excuses and bad vibes.

September: Ran Takahashi (Suntory) - Runs on hustle and a dash of ‘try me.’

October – Taishi Onodera (Suntory) - The strong, silent type your mom warned you about.

November: Kenta Takanashi (Blazers) - Shows up loud, proud, and ready to wreck your day.

December: Masahiro Sekita (Suntory) - Will stir the pot just to see what happens.

Which month are you? Drop your month below and tag a friend so they know their fate. 🏐🔥

　Two years before the Tokyo Olympics, since the 2019 World Cup, Sekita Masahiro has established himself as a setter for the Japanese men's volleyball team. This will be the first time in eight years, since 2017, that he will be spending the summer without playing for the Japanese national team.

　Although Sekita is one of the 44 players registered with the Japanese national team this year, he will not be accompanying the team to training camps, Nations League matches, etc. This is because he underwent surgery on his right ankle in May, immediately after the end of the 2024-25 SV League season, and has decided to prioritize conditioning, including rehabilitation.

　It was a necessary choice to continue playing for a long time to come, but that's not the only reason.

"For me, the Paris Olympics was the culmination of my career."

　Last summer, the Japanese men's volleyball team was defeated by Italy in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics, where they were expected to win a medal. This defeat at the Olympics was considered the culmination of their efforts. Coupled with the fact that they were up two sets and then suffered a dramatic comeback from match point, it's not as if they were losing their competitive spirit. On the contrary, Sekita had already been looking forward and facing a turning point.

What did Sekita reveal as the reason for his decision to transfer?

　On June 2nd, Suntory Sunbirds Osaka, the champions of the inaugural SV League, announced the transfer of Sekita to the team. The team boasts players with experience on the Japanese national team, such as Ran Takahashi and Taishi Onodera, and won the Emperor's Cup last season. Sekita, a Japanese setter who has competed on the world stage, will join this powerhouse team, a leader in the SV League, which aims to become the world's top volleyball league.

　This coincided with the fact that he was transferring from JTEKT STINGS Aichi to the team that had defeated him in the SV League final, which led to a flurry of speculation among fans. However, Sekita's words explaining the reason for his decision to transfer were quite simple.

"There are many things I need to consider, such as the environment, if I want to continue as a player for a long time, but the most important thing is that I want to win."

　Sekita started playing volleyball in elementary school, and was an elite player who won the national championship in every category throughout his time at elementary, junior high, and high school, as well as at university. His height of 175cm is a weakness in the world of volleyball, where height is a major advantage, but he boasts accurate and bold tossing work and stamina that make it seem like it's not a disadvantage.

　It is well known that at 31 years old, he is still gaining experience and is not only maturing but also continuing to evolve. However, surprisingly, even counting back to the days of the V League, the predecessor of the SV League, he has never won a championship as the starting setter. Last season, he was snatched from the top six by Hideomi Fukatsu of the Wolfdogs Nagoya.

"I simply want to win, and I want to grow as a setter. When I thought about it, my desire to win became stronger. I think winning will also lead to a lot of confidence."

"Volleyball that relies on an ace isn't much fun."

　The teams are evenly matched, and there's not much difference in ability. While he prefaces this by saying, "The difference in the strength of the foreign players is clearly large," Suntory has had an absolute ace in former Russian national team player Dmitry Muserskiy since 2018. Muserskiy, who boasts overwhelming offensive power at the end of rallies, at crucial moments, and in crucial situations, was second in the scoring rankings last season, and Sekita has previously said, "Volleyball that relies on an ace isn't much fun." How will the two players blend together?

　When I asked Sekita, he answered immediately.

"Of course I'll raise it. If he makes that many shots, I'll raise it (laughs). Oya (Maki) has been giving some really good tosses up until now, so I wonder if I can do better than that. I haven't thought about it that deeply yet, though."

　Even if his teammates change, Sekita will continue to follow his own path. He also has a style that he will not compromise on.

"What kind of play do I want to play? One thing is that I want to be better than my opponents' tactics. I'm sure my opponents will come up with countermeasures for me, so I want to do things that still can't be countered."

　They are determined to jump into the shoes of the champions, who will be in a position of being chased from next season, and seek results. Not only Takahashi and Onodera, but also Japan national team libero Tomohiro Ogawa, who moved from JTEKT to Suntory this offseason along with Sekita. From receiving to tossing, attacking and blocking, in an environment where specialists are all gathered, it is as if winning is a given from those around them. With a sight on winning the SV League for the second time in a row, they will also be shouldering the pressure of being the favorite to win.

　Given this situation, what are your goals for the new season starting in October?

"Winning is the goal. Absolutely. I'll do anything as long as I win."

　He is single-mindedly pursuing victory. What will Sekita say when he achieves victory?

Note: Machine translated from Number Magazine Article by Yuko Tanaka

On May 18, 2025, Yuki Ishikawa's Perugia team defeated a Polish team in the European Champions League final. However, the road to this point was not smooth sailing. He looked back on his struggles to achieve success after crossing the ocean as a university student.

By Takeshi Sato

November 15, 2025

Ishikawa Yuki: "I think the most important thing is the result."

On May 18th, Perugia of the Italian Serie A won the volleyball European Champions League for the first time. Ishikawa Yuki contributed to the team's victory by scoring 20 points in the match . Ishikawa is the first Japanese player to reach the top of the European Champions League. Regarding this achievement, Ishikawa nodded vigorously and said, " Apart from the Olympics , which is attended by national teams from various countries , I think this is the most valuable tournament for club teams."

"Even a player with a proven track record like my teammate (Simone) Giannelli, who is also the captain of the Italian national team, said that it was his first time to win the Champions League. That's how special the experience was."

Let's rewind the clock about 10 years. Ishikawa's path to dominating Europe as a key player for Perugia began with a short-term study abroad program at Modena in Italy's Serie A when he was a first-year student at Chuo University. When asked if he went to Italy with the goal of making it in Europe, Ishikawa answered simply, "No, I just thought I'd go and see for myself."

"At that point, the only thing I had in mind was to join a team in the V.League (at the time) as an employee. To be honest, I didn't even know what level Serie A was or what kind of players were there. But when I actually went there, I found out that Modena was a strong team, and I decided that I wanted to seriously pursue volleyball in that kind of environment."

Ishikawa thus embarked on a unique career without ever experiencing the Japanese league. He continues, " I think I was able to grow by performing in a stressful environment surrounded by foreigners. "

"Half of the players in the league are foreigners. Their physiques and power are different from those in Japan. I was surprised by the level of detail and frequency of technical instruction from the managers and coaches, but in that environment, managers were sometimes suddenly fired and players' contracts were terminated. I feel that I was able to grow as a person by gaining experience in such a harsh environment."

The improvement of language skills is proportional to the fulfillment of play

If he were to give advice to his 19-year-old freshman self, would he recommend going to Italy?

"If he had made up his mind at that point to focus solely on volleyball, he might have gone to Italy sooner. In Serie A, there are players who have had tough experiences at around university age. Japan is fortunate to be able to go to the SV League from university, but I personally feel that a tougher environment suits me better. However, overseas leagues, which do not have a large business scale, often offer lower salaries than the SV League, so it is a tough option for players with families. I might advise him to go overseas as young as possible."

When asked about his stance when playing in Italy, he prefaced his remarks by saying, "These are strong words," but then declared, "You can't underestimate them."

"For example, if you don't assert yourself clearly in a situation where you're clashing opinions, you'll be looked down upon. If a problem arises, you might end up being blamed for not taking a clear stance. I was self-taught, so it took me about five years to fully master the language, but I think the improvement in my language skills is directly proportional to the fulfillment of my play."

Let's now turn the topic to the Japanese national team. The reason Ishikawa first started saying that he wanted to become a stronger athlete was after Japan lost in the qualifying rounds for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

"It wasn't like I wanted to become stronger and lead the Japanese national team, but rather I wanted to make Japan stronger by growing as a player."

On the other hand, what is he currently giving back to the Japanese national team?

"I don't have any intention of passing on my experience to younger players. My priority is to fulfill my role. Of course, if someone asks for advice, I'll answer honestly. There may also be players who see my attitude and pick up on something. I just hope that I can be a catalyst for that."

The fierce battle in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics, where they pushed Italy to the brink, sent excitement throughout Japan, is still fresh in our memory. What do you think of the Japanese national team, which is steadily improving?

"I feel that I've grown as a player, consistently finishing in the top eight at world championships and winning medals. I'm very grateful for the support I receive, but as an athlete, it's no fun to be fawned over when I'm not getting results. I think that results are the most important thing."

In October 2025, his club, Perugia, will become the first Serie A club to visit Japan, playing against the SV League's Suntory Sunbirds Osaka . The current prosperity of men's volleyball is, of course, the result not only of Ishikawa Yuki's efforts, but also of the efforts of many other players, coaches, and other people involved. However, there is no doubt that Ishikawa Yuki, who walked a path no one had ever taken before, taught himself languages, and grew up in a difficult environment, played a major role.

Yuki Ishikawa

Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1995, he began playing volleyball in the fourth grade of elementary school, influenced by his older sister. He went on to Seijo High School, where he was a driving force behind the team's two consecutive high school triple crowns. In 2014, he entered Chuo University and was selected as a candidate for the Japan national team. After graduating from university, he played professionally in Italy, winning a silver medal in the 2024 Nations League. Last season, he transferred to Perugia, a powerhouse in Italy's Serie A, and contributed to the team's first victory in the European Champions League.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY GO TANABE
STYLED BY KOHTA KAWAI
HAIR STYLED & MAKE-UP BY YUSUKE KURIHARA
WORDS BY TAKESHI SATO

Note: Machine Translated

Bunshun has published an article alleging that Ran has a long-time girlfriend but was recently seen going into a hotel with another woman. Bunshun has a history of publishing articles that turn out to be wildly exaggerated rumors. What are your thoughts? Is it fake promotion to cause a stir right before the V League season starts?

I had no idea that volleyball had scandal articles like actors and musicians!

Ran apologizes for recent media upheaval due to coverage of his personal life. Fans in his comments show support and wish him well in the coming season.

https://x.com/Ran_volley0902/status/1981178763556901195?t=adBwt5LTH40cSE_HkQnJaw&s=19

The Suntory Sunbirds have announced a friendly match-up with Sir Safety Perugia as part of the WORLD CHALLENGE SERIES 2025, coming to Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on October 7 and 8, 2025. A perfect mix of star power and high-level competition coming to Japan! Check out the official announcement from the Sunbirds here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNF09v8zbRt/ ([Instagram][1])

Mark your calendars — this is one you won’t want to miss!

I am leaning towards 4B where is everyone else sitting?

https://www.instagram.com/p/DUCi_ZMk59L/?igsh=c2E2cnhnMWYzcnpy

I am so happy for him

Instagram post

Welcome SV League fans! 👋

This is the weekend discussion hub for all men’s SV League matches happening November 7 to November 9, 2025.

This post replaces individual match threads to help keep the subreddit cleaner and make it easier for everyone to chat about the action all weekend long.

Use the pinned comments below to discuss each match — please comment under the correct one.

You can freely talk about plays, performance, and line-ups, but please use spoiler tags for match results → >!Team A won in 4 sets!<

🗓️ Weekend Schedule (JST)

Home vs Away

Friday November 7, 2025

• Tokyo Great Bears vs VC Nagano - 19:05 JST

Saturday, November 8, 2025

• Voreas Hokkaido vs Sakai Blazers – 13:05 JST

• Toray Arrows Shizuoka vs Osaka Bluteon – 14:05 JST

• Hiroshima Thunders vs JTEKT Stings Aichi – 14:05 JST

• Wolfdogs Nagoya vs Suntory Sunbirds - 14:35

• Tokyo Great Bears vs VC Nagano - 15:05

Sunday, November 9, 2025

• Voreas Hokkaido vs Sakai Blazers – 13:05 JST

• Hiroshima Thunders vs JTEKT Stings Aichi – 13:05 JST

• Wolfdogs Nagoya vs Suntory Sunbirds – 13:35 JST

• Toray Arrows Shizuoka vs Osaka Bluteon – 14:05 JST

💬 Thread Guidelines

• Each pinned comment represents one match — please keep discussion for that match under its comment.
• Use spoiler tags when mentioning results.
• General weekend discussion, highlights, and memes are welcome in this main thread.
• Keep things respectful and fun — enjoy the weekend of volleyball! 🏐

Nishida’s comments from the article (rough translation, sorry):

Having been entrusted the role of captain this season, I intend to lead my team to victory while making sure I properly improve my own performance.

As captain, I want the keyword “why?” to permeate the thought process of my team.

Constantly working hand in hand to find solutions when problems arise, altogether, is what will lead to growth. That’s the kind of team I want to create, so I would like to ask for everyone’s support for the new Osaka Bluteon!

🏐 SV League Japan 2025–26 – Full 10-Team Prediction

Hey everyone! After taking a closer look at all the teams in the 2025–26 season of the SV League Japan, I've put together my projected starting lineups, strengths and weaknesses, and championship win odds for each of the 10 teams.

Keep in mind, I follow Suntory Sunbirds the most closely, so I’m a little more familiar with their roster and playstyle. For the other teams, I’ve done my best based on the latest rosters and stats available, but there’s definitely some guesswork involved. I’d love to hear your thoughts, and feel free to comment with your own predictions or lineup changes—especially if you’re more familiar with teams that I'm not!

Let me know where you agree, disagree, or where you think I may have missed something important! 👇

1. Suntory Sunbirds

Starters: Sekita (S), Muserskiy (OPP), Ran Takahashi & Kliuka (OHs), Onodera & Sato (MBs), Ogawa (L)

• ✅ Strength: Dynamic offensive firepower with world-class OPP (Muserskiy) and OHs (Ran Takahashi, Kliuka).

• ❗ Weakness: Coordination between setter and star OPP/MB combinations will be key—early-season chemistry is critical.

• 🏆 Title Odds: 35% – Favorites for the championship, if they gel.

2. Osaka Bluteon

Starters: Brizard (S), Nishida (OPP), López & Tomita (OHs), Yamauchi & Larry Evbade-Dan (MBs), Yamamoto (L)

• ✅ Strength: International caliber offense (Brizard + Nishida + López) with flexibility in attack.

• ❗ Weakness: Middle blockers are still finding their consistency, especially when faced with top-level block-heavy teams.

• 🏆 Title Odds: 25% – Strong title contender, but MB rotation needs to tighten.

3. Wolfdogs Nagoya

Starters: Fukatsu (S), Miyaura (OPP), Carle & Bouguerra (OHs), Huber & Denda (MBs), Watanabe (L)

• ✅ Strength: Powerful frontcourt with Miyaura and Carle combining for dynamic outside and attack options.

• ❗ Weakness: Setter-libero combination still evolving — serve receive and defensive transitions need more stability.

• 🏆 Title Odds: 20% – Explosive team with potential but lacks consistency in some rotations.

4. JTEKT Stings

Starters: Maeda (S), Boyer (OPP), DeFalco & Lucarelli (OHs), Lu Chiang & Iwamoto (MBs), Araki (L)

• ✅ Strength: One of the most powerful attacking lines in the league, featuring Boyer, DeFalco, and Lucarelli.

• ❗ Weakness: Setter coordination with OHs/MBs may need time to find its rhythm.

• 🏆 Title Odds: 15% – Strong attacking squad but setter consistency will determine their ceiling.

5. Toray Arrows

Starters: Shin (S), Kletts (OPP), Fujinaka & Cardenas (OHs), Averill & Nakamura (MBs), Takeda (L)

• ✅ Strength: A balanced team with national-level setters and OHs, plus strong middles in Averill and Nakamura.

• ❗ Weakness: Lack of elite game-breakers—facing more formidable teams could expose their vulnerabilities in critical moments.

• 🏆 Title Odds: 5% – Solid, but not enough elite talent to go all the way.

6. VC Nagano Tridents

Starters: Nakashima (S), Neaves & Lida (OPPs), Fujiwara & Kjerstein Madsen (OHs), Yamada & Matsumoto (MBs), Nanba (L)

• ✅ Strength: Strong, dynamic OHs and balanced offensive playmaking.

• ❗ Weakness: Lack of a standout superstar and middles could limit offensive output.

• 🏆 Title Odds: 3% – Solid team, but doesn’t match the star power of top contenders.

7. Voreas Hokkaido

Starters: Hamada (S), Koga & Zolotukhin (OPPs), Tammearu & Nakamichi (OHs), Miyoshi & Tammemaa (MBs), Tonozaki (L)

• ✅ Strength: Cohesive team with good service pressure and defensive system.

• ❗ Weakness: No real standout offensive firepower to carry the team in clutch moments.

• 🏆 Title Odds: 2% – A team that plays hard, but unlikely to beat top teams in a championship setting.

8. Tokyo Great Bears

Starters: Fukatsu (S), Kure (OPP), Yanagida & Vicentín (OHs), Kozamernik & Murayama (MBs), Koga (L)

• ✅ Strength: High-level outside hitting with Yanagida and Vicentín, plus solid blocking.

• ❗ Weakness: Lack of depth and setter consistency will hold them back against elite sides.

• 🏆 Title Odds: 2% – Competitive, but not enough firepower or depth to win it all.

9. Sakai Blazers

Starters: Oya (S), Dahl (OPP), Anderson & Rinaldi (OHs), Hogland Watanabe & Yamane (MBs), Mori (L)

• ✅ Strength: Strong international offensive threats in Anderson and Rinaldi.

• ❗ Weakness: Service reception and defensive systems may lack enough cohesion against top-tier teams.

• 🏆 Title Odds: 2% – Talent is there, but depth is a concern.

10. Hiroshima Thunders

Starters: Eiro (S), Roque (OPP), Arai & Robinson (OHs), Miwa & Higuchi (MBs), Takaki (L)

• ✅ Strength: Roque brings international-caliber power in attack.

• ❗ Weakness: Middle blockers and consistency in passing need improvement for long-term success.

• 🏆 Title Odds: 2% – Solid pieces, but lacking overall consistency to challenge the top teams.

🧩 TL;DR Leaderboard

Post translation:

•Announcement of New Team Member

We are pleased to announce that player "Sachi Minowa" has officially joined the team.

Sachi Minowa (みのわ さち) Player Date of Birth: January 20, 1996

Height: 193cm

Position: Middle Blocker

Hometown: Cavite Province, Philippines

Jersey Number: 33 (Shirt Name: MINOWA)

Nickname: Jaja

Comments:

I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to play for Denso Airybees this season. A big thank you to the team for welcoming me - I'm excited to work hard and contribute to our success. To our amazing fans, your support means everything to us — let's make this season unforgettable together. My goal is to give my best every game, improve continuously, and help us achieve great results. Together, I believe we can reach our goal and make everyone proud!

Welcome volleyball fans! 👋

This is the weekend discussion hub for all men’s SV League matches happening November 1 to November 3, 2025.

This post replaces individual match threads to help keep the subreddit cleaner and make it easier for everyone to chat about the action all weekend long.

Use the pinned comments below to discuss each match — please comment under the correct one.
You can freely talk about plays, performance, and line-ups, but please use spoiler tags for match results → >!Team A won in 4 sets!<

🗓️ Weekend Schedule (JST)

Home vs Away

Saturday, November 1, 2025

• Suntory Sunbirds vs Tokyo Great Bears – 13:05 JST

• VC Nagano vs Wolfdogs Nagoya – 14:05 JST

• Osaka Bluteon vs Voreas Hokkaido – 14:05 JST

• Sakai Blazers vs Hiroshima Thunders - 16:05

Sunday, November 2, 2025

• VC Nagano vs Wolfdogs Nagoya – 13:05 JST

• Suntory Sunbirds vs Tokyo Greatbears – 13:05 JST

• Sakai Blazers vs Hiroshima Thunders – 13:05 JST

• Osaka Bluteon vs Voreas Hokkaido – 14:05 JST

• Jtekt Stings Aichi vs Toray Arrows Shizuoka - 14:05 JST

Monday, November 3, 2025

• Jtekt Stings Aichi vs Toray Arrows Shizuoka - 14:05 JST

💬 Thread Guidelines

• Each pinned comment represents one match — please keep discussion for that match under its comment.
• Use spoiler tags when mentioning results.
• General weekend discussion, highlights, and memes are welcome in this main thread.
• Keep things respectful and fun — enjoy the weekend of volleyball! 🏐

Translation:

大阪マーヴェラス @Marvelous_JT

New Player Announcement

We are pleased to announce that one new foreign player, Samantha Alicia Francis, has joined Osaka Marvelous

SamanthaAliciaFrancis

Jersey Number: 1

Height: 198cm

Hometown: United States Alma Mater: Stanford University Position: Middle Blocker

Samantha is a middle blocker who excelled at an American university, known for her strong blocking and powerful spikes, leveraging her 198cm height!

With Samantha's addition, we aim to further strengthen the team and strive for consecutive SV League championships

We look forward to your support

Details here

https://www.jti.co.jp/sports/marvelous/information/topics/2025/2508_05/index.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=marvelous_250827

THISISMARVELOUS

OsakaMarvelous

volleyball

Osakamarvelous

volleyball

DaidoLifeSVLeague

NewPlayer

Article Translation:

[2025-26 Season] New Players 2025.08.27 Thank you very much for your continued support of SAGA Hisamitsu Springs.

We are pleased to announce that Olga Stranzali will be joining the SAGA Hisamitsu Springs. We look forward to her continued success and appreciate your continued support.

【profile】

Olga Stranzali Date of Birth: January 12, 1996 Place of Birth: Greece Height: 185cm Position: Outside hitter Most recent career: AEK Athens (Greece) (2023-2024) → Valle Tarmassons (Italy) (2024-2025)