Women’s SV.League action in Japan resumes on Saturday

After a long interruption because of the Empress’s Cup tournament, the women’s Daido Life SV.League is set to get back in full-swing action on Saturday and Sunday, as the seven double headers of the 10^th leg in the regular season unfold in Japan.

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In one of the most interesting duels this weekend, Astemo Rivale Ibaraki will welcome NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki, who returned from China, where they took part in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship. It will be this weekend’s only clash between two teams from the top half of the current standings. Astemo, headlined by their American duo Mackenzie May and Brionne Butler, are in sixth place on a 10-6 win-loss ratio and 27 points, while defending champions NEC, starring Yoshino Sato and Thai outside Ajcharaporn Kongyot, stand fourth on 11-5 and 36.

The two matches at the Hitachinaka City Sports Park Total Gymnastics are set to start at 13:05 local time (04:05 UTC) on both competition days. NEC are on a three-game winning streak in the head-to-head series against Astemo. Astemo’s most recent wins over the rivals from Kawasaki date back to February 2023.

Table leaders Osaka Marvelous will host Aranmare Yamagata for two games at the Ookini Arena Maishima on Saturday and Sunday at 13:05 (04:05). Osaka are on top of the standings on 13-3 and 39, while Aranmare are second from the bottom, in 13^th place on 2-16 and 8.

Denso Airybees Koriyama, placed second on 14-4 and 42, will travel to winless Gunma Green Wings, trailing bottom, in 14^th place on 0-14 and 1. The two matches will be played at the Takasaki Arena with the first whistle blowing at 14:05 (05:05) on both days of the weekend.

Third-placed Saitama Ageo Medics, standing on 12-4 and 36, will entertain Toray Arrows Shiga, who top the second half of the table on 10-8 and 28 in eighth place. 13:05 (04:05) is the starting time of both fixtures at the Ageo Citizen Gymnasium.

After last week’s triumph in the Empress’s Cup with international star Arisa Inoue claiming the MVP award, Victorina Himeji will be back in SV.League action this weekend. Standing fifth in the table on 11-5 and 29, they will welcome Queenseis Kariya to the Victorina Wink Gymnasium at 13:05 (04:05) on Saturday and at 14:05 (05:05) on Sunday. Kariya are in 10^th place on 6-10 and 19.

The other Empress’s Cup finalist, Saga Hisamitsu Springs, will pay a visit to Kurobe Aqua Fairies at the Ariso Dome at 13:05 (04:05) on both competition days. Saga stand seventh on 10-8 and 32, while Kurobe are in 11^th place on 6-12 and 17.

At the same starting times on Saturday and Sunday, PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku will host Okayama Seagulls at the Toriyasaimiso BlueCats Arena. The home team stands ninth on 7-11 and 20, and the visitors are placed 12^th on 4-10 and 14.

Women’s SV.League 2024-2025 10th leg:
Dec 28, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Astemo Rivale Ibaraki v NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki
Dec 28, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Saitama Ageo Medics v Toray Arrows Shiga
Dec 28, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Kurobe Aqua Fairies v Saga Hisamitsu Springs
Dec 28, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku v Okayama Seagulls
Dec 28, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Osaka Marvelous v Aranmare Yamagata
Dec 28, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Victorina Himeji v Queenseis Kariya
Dec 28, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Gunma Green Wings v Denso Airybees Koriyama
Dec 29, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Astemo Rivale Ibaraki v NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki
Dec 29, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Saitama Ageo Medics v Toray Arrows Shiga
Dec 29, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Kurobe Aqua Fairies v Saga Hisamitsu Springs
Dec 29, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku v Okayama Seagulls
Dec 29, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Osaka Marvelous v Aranmare Yamagata
Dec 29, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Victorina Himeji v Queenseis Kariya
Dec 29, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Gunma Green Wings v Denso Airybees Koriyama

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