The Japanese women’s volleyball scene is set for a dramatic return. Following a 20-day intermission due to the prestigious Empress’s Cup tournament, the Daido Life SV.League is back in full swing. The 10th leg of the regular season, scheduled from Saturday, December 27, to Monday, December 29, presents a full slate of seven critical double headers. All eyes, however, are fixed on a singular, high-stakes confrontation: the third-place Victorina Himeji taking on the seemingly impenetrable league leaders, NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki.
The Historical Hurdle: Himeji`s Challenge to the Top Spot
The upcoming clash is not merely a battle for points; it is a battle against history. Victorina Himeji is set to host NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki at the Victorina Wink Gymnasium for two pivotal matches on Saturday and Sunday. Currently, Himeji boasts a strong 14-4 win-loss record, totaling 39 points, placing them securely in third. The visitors from Kawasaki, however, sit atop the table with a commanding 16-2 record and 44 points.
Mathematically, the stakes are crystal clear: securing six points from this double header would allow Himeji to overtake NEC in the standings, fundamentally restructuring the league hierarchy heading into the new year. The psychological hurdle, however, is immense. Since the two clubs began meeting in the league, NEC Red Rockets have prevailed in all 13 previous encounters. Himeji`s record against the league leaders stands at a perfect, yet frustrating, 0-13.
To defeat NEC is not just a strategic objective for Himeji; it is an exorcism of a long-standing jinx. The challenge isn`t just about technical execution this weekend, but overcoming the institutional memory of failure.
The Momentum of the Champions and the Pursuit of Second Place
While the Himeji-NEC saga dominates the headlines, the rest of the top four are equally engaged in defining their final positioning. The weekend kicks off with the PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku (6th place, 10-8, 34 pts) facing the Osaka Marvelous (4th place, 12-6, 39 pts). Osaka enters the weekend with significant momentum, fresh off their recent triumph as the newly crowned Empress’s Cup winners. PFU will be seeking to utilize their home advantage at the Komatsu General Gymnasium to disrupt Osaka’s post-victory flow.
Meanwhile, second-placed Saga Hisamitsu Springs (14-4, 39 pts) will be looking to solidify their position when they welcome the Okayama Seagulls to the Saga Arena. Okayama, languishing in 12th place (3-15, 11 pts), represents a potential six-point acquisition for Saga, crucial for keeping pace with the leader or overtaking Himeji, should the latter falter against NEC.
Mid-Table Maneuvering and Survival Scraps
The 10th leg features numerous clashes that will tighten the race for the middle ground and subsequent playoff berths. In a clash of table neighbors, Queenseis Kariya (7th, 9-9, 29 pts) will entertain Denso Airybees Koriyama (8th, 9-9, 27 pts). With identical win-loss records, this fixture at the Nishihara Shokai Arena is a pure metrics battle, defining who gets the psychological edge in the competitive logjam.
Towards the lower end of the table, teams are desperate for wins to avoid relegation or secure respectability. Kurobe Aqua Fairies (9th, 9-9, 25 pts) host Aranmare Yamagata (14th, bottom of the table, 1-7, 3 pts). Simultaneously, Astemo Rivale Ibaraki (11th, 5-11, 17 pts) welcomes Toray Arrows Shiga (13th, 3-15, 9 pts). These matches, though lacking the prestige of the top clashes, are vital survival battles where every point dictates the ultimate fate of the clubs.
The extended schedule, which uniquely sees Saitama Ageo Medics (10th) vs. Gunma Green Wings (5th) play on Sunday and Monday, ensures that the excitement spills over past the traditional weekend window. The league’s return guarantees intensity, highly technical volleyball, and potential upsets that could define the second half of the 2025-2026 season.
SV.League Women’s 2025-2026 10th Leg Schedule Overview
All times are listed in local time (UTC offset provided).
Saturday, December 27
- 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku vs Osaka Marvelous
- 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Queenseis Kariya vs Denso Airybees Koriyama
- 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Astemo Rivale Ibaraki vs Toray Arrows Shiga
- 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Kurobe Aqua Fairies vs Aranmare Yamagata
- 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): **Victorina Himeji vs NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki**
- 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Saga Hisamitsu Springs vs Okayama Seagulls
Sunday, December 28
- 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku vs Osaka Marvelous
- 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Queenseis Kariya vs Denso Airybees Koriyama
- 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Astemo Rivale Ibaraki vs Toray Arrows Shiga
- 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Kurobe Aqua Fairies vs Aranmare Yamagata
- 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): **Victorina Himeji vs NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki**
- 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Saga Hisamitsu Springs vs Okayama Seagulls
Sunday, December 28 & Monday, December 29
- Dec 28, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Saitama Ageo Medics vs Gunma Green Wings
- Dec 29, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Saitama Ageo Medics vs Gunma Green Wings
