What a difference a year makes. I found 2017 Intercollegiate Championship Match on the youtube.
Tsukuba 2–3 Aoyama Gakuen (25–14, 22–25, 25–16, 21–25, 12–15). Even though I knew the outcome I kept thinking Tsukuba was going to win it 
They looked like the better team this time around.
On the Tsubuka side, my new love Haruka Maruo played traditional OP instead of MB. I wouldn't call her performance invisible but she wasn't the game changer she was in 2018. She played like a solid veteran and sunk enough 3-pointers to keep me happy 
Arisa Inoue (Hisamitsu) was the monster for Tsukuba. She looked powerful (in the context of university vb). Freshman setter Manami Mandai was there with her freshman hairstyle malfunction. It wasn't too bad but it resembled a racing helmet more than a hairdo, although it also foreshadowed her inner sexy cute/toughness the way it draped her jawbone. She also parlayed her Haruka Miyashita commitment to floor defense. Remember her name--Manami Mandai--she's got two years to go in college but then she will be a great pickup for a V.League team in need of a setter.
Speaking of setters, on the Aoyama Gakuen side Minami Higane (Hisamitsu) was calling the shots. I think of the Higane Sisters as little pipsqueaks but Minami looked big and in charge in this context. I hope she takes over at Hisamitsu, soon.
Dig this, though: Minami Higane got the MVP, but Manami Mandai got the Best Setter Award. Mark my words, and remember her name--although, honestly, given google translate realities, I could have her name wrong
I was so looking forward to seeing Victorina Himeji's Queen of Adorableness, Kana Yoshioka, playing for Aoyama but I don't think she was even there. I could have missed her. These kids look so different from year to year, but I sussed her as #8 after about 30 hours of Internet research and didn't even see her around timeout huddles 
But even if she was there Okayama Smiler Mayu Oikawa was in command of the MB position. I love this historical context. Mayu Oikawa's ballroom entrance to the NoSmilers is explained 
Aoyama was almost all seniors except for sophomore 170cm southpaw OP ... uhm ... "Fruit and Vegetables Miyashita" or Seihana Miyashita which translates as "It's because I'm fine", or 宮下 聖果. Whatever works. Great swinger.
Awards for 2017 (notice how many Tsukuba (6) won opposed to Aoyama (2))
Most Valuable Player Award: Minami Higani (Aoyama Gakuin University 4 years)
Fighting Spirit Player of the Year: Arisa Inoue (University of Tsukuba 4 years)
Best Scorer Award: Arisa Inoue (University of Tsukuba 4 years)
Spike Award: Shirasawa AkiraKaori (NIFS 2 years)
Block Award: KinoeMoeKaoru (University of Tsukuba 2 years) ???? on the name
Serve Award: Kawakami Hiyokona (University of Tsukuba 1 year) ???? on the name
Setter Award: Manami Mandai (University of Tsukuba 1 year)
Receive Award: Tsubokawa Natsuon (Aoyama Gakuin University 4 years) ???? on the name
Libero Award: Minori Wada (University of Tsukuba 4 years) Another good libero who I believe plays for PFU now.
◆女子個人表彰
最優秀選手賞： 比金みなみ選手(青山学院大学4年)
敢闘選手賞： 井上愛里沙選手(筑波大学4年)
ベストスコアラー賞：井上愛里沙選手(筑波大学4年)
スパイク賞： 白澤明香里選手(鹿屋体育大学2年)
ブロック賞： 甲萌香選手(筑波大学2年)
サーブ賞： 川上雛菜選手(筑波大学1年)
セッター賞： 万代真奈美選手(筑波大学1年)
レシーブ賞： 坪川夏音選手(青山学院大学4年)
リベロ賞： 和田実莉選手(筑波大学4年)
