It is time for the playoffs of the first season in the revamped women’s Daido Life SV.League in Japan. The eight best teams of the regular season are about to engage in best-of-three quarterfinal battles, starting from Friday, April 18, and lasting through Monday, April 21, or potentially Tuesday, April 22. The four eventual winners will advance to the best-of-three semifinals. The teams that were ranked higher in the regular season standings will have the home-court advantage in all quarterfinal and semifinal matches.
SV-Women 2024-2025
Japan’s SV.League playoffs to serve off on Friday
Watch the women’s SV.League in Japan live on VBTV
Published 06:47, 17 Apr 2025
Denso against Ageo in one of their regular season battles
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Denso Airybees Koriyama v Saitama Ageo Medics
Denso Airybees Koriyama and Saitama Ageo Medics will open the playoff action on Friday at 18:05 local time (09:05 UTC). The second match of their series is scheduled on Saturday at 15:05 local (06:05) and the third, if necessary, on Sunday at the same time. The games will be played at the newly renovated Horaiya Koriyama Gymnasium. In theory, this should be the most exciting quarterfinal match-up as it puts the fourth and the fifth-placed teams against one another. Denso finished the regular season on a 29-15 win-loss ratio and 89 points, right above Ageo on 27-17 and 83. However, in the direct head-to-head encounters between the two sides this season, Ageo won the last three of the four matches played, two away and one at home. While Brazilian opposite Rosamaria Montibeller is the big star on the Airybees’ squad, Ageo rely mainly on the teamwork resulting from rotating all their players from one match to another.
Saga Hisamitsu Springs v Victorina Himeji
Saga Hisamitsu Springs and Victorina Himeji are the last teams to get into quarterfinal action and are set to close the first playoff round on Monday or Tuesday. Their first game at the Saga Arena will serve off on Sunday at 19:05 (10:05). They will play again at the same time on Monday. Should a third match be prompted, it will take place on Tuesday at 18:35 (09:35). With American opposite Stephanie Samedy as one of the leaders of a well-rounded squad, Saga finished the regular season in third place on 30-14 and 89. The stellar presence of the likes of Arisa Inoue, Airi Miyabe and Thai standout Chatchu-On Moksri was enough for Himeji’s sixth place on 27-17 and 79. The two sides are quite evenly matched as they produced three five-setters and a 2-2 record in the four head-to-head encounters during the regular season. Furthermore, they met in December’s final of the Empress’s Cup, with Himeji coming back from two sets down to celebrate the trophy.
NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki v Toray Arrows Shiga
While the defending champions of the previous two years, NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki, seem to be the favorites in their quarterfinal duel with Toray Arrows Shiga, the visitors certainly have what it takes to produce an upset, namely the regular season’s best scorer, Italian opposite Sylvia Nwakalor, whose spiking prowess could tilt the balance in any game. NEC have also been relying on the stellar performances of outside hitter Yoshino Sato to achieve a second-place finish on 30-14 and 92, while Toray Arrows had to settle for seventh place on 26-18 and 74. The two teams met only twice this season back in October, with the squad from Kawasaki putting together two 3-1 away wins. The Todoroki Arena will host the matches of this quarterfinal series on Friday at 19:05 (10:05), on Saturday at 16:05 (07:05) and, if necessary, on Sunday at 15:05 (06:05).
Osaka Marvelous v Astemo Rivale Ibaraki
Osaka Marvelous were by far the best team of the regular season, cruising to the top of the table on 37-7 and assuming the role of favorites in their quarterfinal playoff against eighth-placed Astemo Rivale Ibaraki, who finished on a positive balance of 23-21 and 65 points. The matches at the Green Arena Kobe will set Osaka’s top-caliber performers like Kotona Hayashi and Belgian opposite Lise Van Hecke against the regular season’s most efficient spiker and most efficient blocker Brionne Butler and her Astemo teammate, fellow American Mackenzie May. The two sides met for a double header in November, when hosts Osaka allowed their opponents only a set. The series will open on Saturday at 15:05 (06:05). The second game will serve off on Sunday at the same time. If it comes down to a deciding third duel, it will take place on Monday at 18:05 (09:05).
Women’s SV.League 2024-2025 quarterfinals:
Apr 18, 18:05 local (09:05 UTC): Denso Airybees Koriyama v Saitama Ageo Medics
Apr 18, 19:05 local (10:05 UTC): NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki v Toray Arrows Shiga
Apr 19, 15:05 local (06:05 UTC): Osaka Marvelous v Astemo Rivale Ibaraki
Apr 19, 15:05 local (06:05 UTC): Denso Airybees Koriyama v Saitama Ageo Medics
Apr 19, 16:05 local (07:05 UTC): NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki v Toray Arrows Shiga
Apr 20, 15:05 local (06:05 UTC): Osaka Marvelous v Astemo Rivale Ibaraki
Apr 20, 15:05 local (06:05 UTC): NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki v Toray Arrows Shiga (if necessary)
Apr 20, 15:05 local (06:05 UTC): Denso Airybees Koriyama v Saitama Ageo Medics (if necessary)
Apr 20, 19:05 local (10:05 UTC): Saga Hisamitsu Springs v Victorina Himeji
Apr 21, 18:05 local (09:05 UTC): Osaka Marvelous v Astemo Rivale Ibaraki (if necessary)
Apr 21, 19:05 local (10:05 UTC): Saga Hisamitsu Springs v Victorina Himeji
Apr 22, 18:35 local (09:35 UTC): Saga Hisamitsu Springs v Victorina Himeji (if necessary)
