Japan - V.League V2 (Division 2, Women) 2018-2019

Japan - V.League V2 (Division 2, Women) 2018-2019

Japan Volleyball League V2

The Regular Round begins November 10, 2018 (Saturday) and ends February 24, 2019. Matches are played every Saturday and Sunday with a break from December 9, 2018 to January 12, 2019.

Everybody plays everybody twice. Eighteen matches.

If JA Gifu Rioreina or Breath Hamamatsu win this Division they will be automatically promoted to V1 next year to fill the 12th spot in that Division. They are the only teams with an S1 License--which is required to participate in Division 1. The rest of the teams, except Victorina Himeji, have S2 licenses. Victorina Himeji, as a new team in the league, have an S3 License. If a team without an S1 license wins Division 2, it's unknown at this time what will happen. brahmin has a nice chart with the breakdown of licenses here

2018-2019 V2 Regular Round Schedule, Results, and Highlights

All times are JST (UTC+9)

Sat 10 Nov 2018

Kashiwa v Prestige 1-3 [25-17, 21-25, 16-25, 16-25] Stats

GSS Tokyo v Himeji 1-3 [25-23, 19-25, 19-25, 14-25] Stats Highlights

JA Gifu v Osaka 3-0 [25-13, 25-18, 25-17] Stats

Ohno oil v Hamamatsu 3-0 [25-14, 25-20, 25-19] Stats

Toyota v Gunma Bank 0-3 [18-25, 12-25, 13-25] Stats

Sun 11 Nov 2018

Gunma Bank v Kashiwa 3-1 [30-28, 22-25, 29-27, 25-12] Stats

Hamamatsu v Osaka 3-0 [25-12, 25-10, 25-14] Stats

Ohno oil v JA Gifu 1-3 [21-25, 25-20, 21-25, 26-28] Stats

Toyota v Prestige 0-3 [20-25, 17-25, 6-25] Stats

Sat 17 Nov 2018

Hamamatsu v GSS Tokyo 1-3 [15-25, 28-26, 22-25, 20-25] Stats

Prestige v Ohno oil 3-1 [25-23, 23-25, 25-13, 25-23] Stats

JA Gifu v Kashiwa 3-1 [26-24, 19-25, 30-28, 25-20] Stats

Toyota v Osaka 3-1 [19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20] Stats

Gunma Bank v Himeji 1-3 [20-25, 19-25, 25-17, 19-25] Stats Highlights

Sun 18 Nov 2018

Kashiwa v Osaka 3-0 [25-17, 25-17, 25-20] Stats

Prestige v Himeji 0-3 [17-25, 16-25, 19-25] Stats Highlights

Hamamatsu v Toyota 3-0 [25-12, 25-17, 29-27] Stats
JA Gifu v GSS Tokyo 3-2 [26-24, 23-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-12] Stats

Sat 24 Nov 2018

Gunma Bank v Hamamatsu 2-3 [25-22 19-25 25-10 26-28 15-8] Stats

Toyota v Ohno oil 1-3 [12-25 25-22 11-25 15-25] Stats

Kashiwa v GSS Tokyo 3-2 [25-21 21-25 17-25 25-19 15-13] Stats

Himeji v JA Gifu 3-1 [23-25 25-21 25-14 27-25] Stats Highlights

Sun 25 Nov 2018

Gunma Bank v Prestige 3-0 [25-17 25-16 25-21] Stats

Ohno oil v GSS Tokyo 0-3 [16-25 20-25 18-25] Stats

Himeji v Osaka 3-0 [25-13 25-18 25-19] Stats

Kashiwa v Toyota 3-0 [25-17 25-17 25-16] Stats

Sat 01 DEC 2018

Kashiwa v Hamamatsu 2-3 [ 27-25 11-25 14-25 25-18 11-15 ] Stats

Gunma Bank v Osaka 3-0 [ 25-12 25-21 25-16 ] Stats

Ohno oil v Himeji 0-3 [ 16-25 21-25 11-25 ] Stats

JA Gifu v Prestige 3-0 [ 25-20 25-18 25-20 ] Stats

GSS Tokyo v Toyota 3-1 [ 25-16 25-20 19-25 25-15 ] Stats

Sun 02 DEC 2018

Prestige v Osaka 3-0 [ 25-11 25-17 25-22 ] Stats

JA Gifu v Gunma Bank 3-0 [ 26-24 25-20 25-20 ] Stats

Sat 08 DEC 2018

GSS Tokyo v Osaka 3-0     -- 25-19 25-19 25-17 Stats

Toyota v Himeji 0-3           -- 18-25 14-25 14-25 Stats

Hamamatsu v JA Gifu 1-3 -- 25-14 11-25 19-25 18-25 Stats

Ohno oil v Kashiwa 3-2     -- 25-22 20-25 25-20 15-25 16-14 Stats

Sun 09 DEC 2018

GSS Tokyo v Prestige 3-0               -- 25-20 25-23 25-16 Stats

12:00 Toyota v JA Gifu 0-3               -- 17-25 15-25 15-25 Stats

12:00 Ohno oil v Gunma Bank 1-3 -- 25-20 18-25 21-25 15-25 Stats

14:00 Hamamatsu v Himeji 0-3      -- 15-25 12-25 19-25 Stats

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Sat 12 JAN 2019

Gunma Bank v GSS Tokyo 3–1  -- 25-21 25-19 23-25 25-19 Stats

Osaka v Ohno oil 0–3  -- 22-25 24-26 22-25 Stats

Hamamatsu v Prestige 3–0  -- 21-25 25-17 16-25 25-21 15-12 Stats

Kashiwa v Himeji 1–3   -- 21-25 25-15 16-25 23-25 Stats

Sun 13 JAN 2019

Gunma Bank v Toyota 3–1 -- 25-14 25-22 25-27 25-13 Stats

Osaka v JA Gifu 0–3                  -- 18-25 14-25 14-25 Stats

Prestige v Himeji 0–3                 -- 18-25 18-25 21-25 Stats

Kashiwa v Hamamatsu 3–2  -- 24-26 26-28 25-19 25-12 15-10 Stats

Sat 19 JAN 2019

Ohno oil v Kashiwa 3–2                   -- 25-22 24-26 23-25 25-20 15-11 Stats

Toyota v GSS Tokyo 0–3                 -- 23-25 18-25 18-25 Stats

Hamamatsu v Gumma Bank 3–1   -- 28-26 23-25 25-19 26-24 Stats

Osaka v Himeji 0–3                          -- 15-25 15-25 21-25 Stats

Sun 20 JAN 2019

Toyota v Himeji 0–3                     -- 15-25 20-25 8-25 Stats

Hamamatsu v Ohno oil 0–3      -- 25-27 18-25 22-25 Stats

Osaka v GSS Tokyo 0–3                -- 18-25 15-25 24-26 Stats

Prestige v JA Gifu 1–3                   -- 22-25 25-19 20-25 22-25 Stats

Sat 26 JAN 2019

Kashiwa v GSS Tokyo 2–3 --19-25 15-25 25-16 25-23 14-16 Stats

Ohno oil v Prestige 2–3 -- 25-20 25-21 12-25 16-25 9-15 Stats

Osaka v Hamamatsu 3–0 -- 25-17 25-23 25-18 Stats

Himeji v Gumma Bank 2–3 -- 25-18 25-20 22-25 12-25 13-15 Stats

Toyota v JA Gifu 3–2 -- 16-25 22-25 25-17 25-20 15-13 Stats

Sun 27 JAN 2019

Toyota v Osaka 3–1 -- 21-25 25-21 25-13 27-25 Stats

Ohno oil v Gumma Bank 0–3 -- 22-25 14-25 23-25 Stats

Himeji v GSS Tokyo 3–0 -- 26-24 25-15 25-21 Stats

Sat 02 FEB 2019

Prestige v Kashiwa 3–2 -- 25-11 25-22 17-25 21-25 15-13 Stats

JA Gifu v Himeji 0–3 -- 21-25 28-30 25-27 Stats

Ohno oil v GSS Tokyo 3–1 -- 25-18 25-16 16-25 25-18 Stats

Gumma Bank v Osaka 3–0 -- 25-12 25-18 25-22 Stats

Toyota v Hamamatsu 0–3 -- 19-25 12-25 20-25 Stats

Sun 03 FEB 2019

Toyota v Kashiwa 0–3 -- 28-30 24-26 15-25 Stats

Gumma Bank v JA Gifu 3–2 -- 23-25 24-26 25-22 25-19 15-11 Stats

Prestige v Hamamatsu 3–0 -- 25-19 25-6 25-23 Stats

Sat 09 FEB 2019

JA Gifu v Hamamatsu 3–0 -- 27-25 25-16 25-19 Stats

Prestige v Osaka 3–0 -- 25-21 25-18 25-17 Stats

GSS Tokyo v Gumma Bank 1–3 -- 25-16 21-25 18-25 17-25 Stats

Himeji v Kashiwa 3–0 -- 25-19 25-17 25-17 Stats

Sun 10 FEB 2019

GSS Tokyo v Prestige 0–3 -- 21-25 23-25 23-25 Stats

JA Gifu v Ohno oil 3–1 -- 25-23 23-25 25-19 25-19 Stats

Sat 16 FEB 2019

Ohno oil v Osaka 3–0 -- 25-14 25-16 25-18 Stats

Toyota v Prestige 0–3 -- 23-25 19-25 21-25 Stats

Kashiwa v JA Gifu 0–3 --23-25 16-25 24-26 Stats

Sun 17 FEB 2019

Ohno oil v Himeji 0–3 --15-25 17-25 20-25 Stats

Hamamatsu v GSS Tokyo 1–3 --15-25 18-25 25-17 14-25 Stats

Kashiwa v Gumma Bank 3–0 -- 25-22 25-22 25-22 Stats

Sat 23 FEB 2019

Gumma Bank v Prestige 3–2 --25-17 23-25 22-25 26-24 15-8 Stats

Hamamatsu v Himeji 0–3 --15-25 19-25 16-25 Stats

Toyota v Ohno oil 2–3 -- 25-18 16-25 25-23 18-25 8-15 Stats

Sun 24 FEB 2019

Kashiwa v Osaka 3–0 -- 25-20 25-20 25-15 Stats

JA Gifu v GSS Tokyo 3–1 -- 27-25 24-26 25-20 25-20 Stats

V2 · Final Stage & Challenge Matches

FINAL 6 -- March 2 (Sat) - March 17 (Sun) 2019

CHALLENGE STAGE V1 -- March 9 (Sat) - March 17 (Sun) 2019

CHALLENGE MATCH -- March 30 (Sat) - March 31 (Sun) 2019

Gift Points to Start Final 6

Victorina Himeji 5

JA Gifu Rioreina 4

Gunma Bank Green Wings 3

Prestige International Aran Mare 2

GSS Tokyo SunBeams 1

Ohno Oil Hiroshima Oilers 0

Sat 02 MAR 2019

11:00 Himeji vs. Ohno Oil

13:00 JA Gifu vs. GSS Tokyo

15:00 Gumma Bank vs. Prestige

Sun 03 MAR 2019

11:00 Himeji vs. GSS Tokyo

13:00 JA Gifu vs. Prestige

15:00 Gumma Bank vs. Ohno Oil

Sun 10 MAR 2019

10:00 Himeji vs. Prestige

12:00 JA Gifu vs. Gumma Bank

14:00 GSS Tokyo vs. Ohno Oil

Sat 16 MAR 2019

12:00 Prestige vs. GSS Tokyo

14:00 JA Gifu vs. Ohno Oil

16:00 Himeji vs. Gumma Bank

Sun 17 MAR 2019

11:00 Prestige vs. Ohno Oil

13:00 Gumma Bank vs. GSS Tokyo

15:00 Himeji vs. JA Gifu

----------

CHALLENGE STAGE

Gift Points to Start:

Okayama 1

Kurobe 1

PFU 0

Sat 09 MAR

16:00 Kurobe AquaFairies v Okayama Seagulls

Sat 16 MAR

16:00 Kurobe AquaFairies v PFU BlueCats

Sun 17 MAR

16:00 Okayama Seagulls v PFU BlueCats

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CHALLENGE MATCH

Sat 30 March

16:00 3rd place in V1 Challenge Stage vs. 2nd place in V2 Final 6

Sun 31 March

16:00 3rd place in V1 Challenge Stage vs. 2nd place in V2 Final 6

I know there's not a lot of interest in this, heck, there's not much interest in V1. I want to track the rise to fame, and the ensuing drama, of the only team with an S3 License (because they are a new team) when they win this thing.

Victorina Himeji are coached by Legendary Japanese Setter Yoshie Takeshita. Their General Manager is Former Japan NT Head Coach Masayoshi Manabe.

Unlike most other Japanese teams, V1 or V2, Victorina Himeji has a lovely, navigable web site. AND AND AND, they have a freaking YouTube Channel:

Beyond that, I don't know much about them except that JT Marvelous Court Jester YUKA KANASUGI transferred there this season, and they have a talented super cute setter who likes to throw low fast balls. She wears Lucky #7 jersey. Her name is KAWAI.

Here are the Power Links for you Stat Loving People:

Team Stats

https://www.vleague.jp/form/c2/?round_id=264&leg=0

Individual Stats by Category (technique)

https://www.vleague.jp/form/c3/?round_id=264&leg=0

Each teams W/L with links to the stats

GSS Tokyo Record W-L

Gumma Bank Record W-L

Hamamatsu Record W-L

JA Gifu Riorena Record W-L

Kashiwa Angel Cross Record W-L

Ohno Oil Record W-L

Osaka Record W-L

Prestige International Record W-L

Toyota Valkyrie

Victorina Himeji Record W-L

And the piece de resistance:

GSS Tokyo Personnel

Gumma Bank Personnel

Hamamatsu Personnel

JA Gifu Rioreno Personnel

Kashiwa Angel Cross Personnel

Ohno Oil Personnel

Osaka Superiors Personnel

Prestige Internation Personnel

Toyota Valkyre Personnel

Victorina Himeji Personnel

Standings 2018.11.25 -- after Week 3 (6 competition days)

The Highlights Himeji post on their Youtube Channel aren't official V.League, or whatever. They're kind of cute with a sense of humor, done to music, edited well. More fun and full of joy compared to V.League. Each one looks to highlight one or two players. This one, against Prestige International, highlights a Foreigner Smash, a few Brain Farts (followed by a shot of an unhappy Coach Takeshita pacing), a few low fast balls, and adorable #9:

Against Gunma Bank, we are introduced to teeny weeny OH #3 (I think the libero is taller than her), and 35 year old middle blocker #14:

Yuka KANASUGI didn't start ramping up until their 3rd game or so. Against GSS Tokyo, we get #10 KANASUGI rolling around in the back court, a few nice kills from southpaw OP #4, and a moment of sit down with KAWAI and Coach

Looks like almost all the V2 matches are available VOD at V.League.TV

I'm watching Himeji v GSS Tokyo now ... I"m in heaven

Sat 1 Dec 2018 Week 4, Day 7 Results

Himeji

remains undefeated

GSS has a 202cm Chinese player. She can barely jump when she attacks, and after that there's no celebrating. She needs time to recover. It's kind of sad looking, but she's putting up numbers.

Quote from musgrave

now i got to see 2008 olympian miss kawaii reunited with her erstwhile national team/jt marvelous mentor & now coach yukie takeshita. it's no surprise that their team is dominating division two with impunity. plus their organization has marketing savvy to play up the team's charisma & star power!

Wait, what? isn't that a different Yuki Kawai

Quote from musgrave

i thought so too at first when i got wind of the fledgling himeji team. but yes, she's THE yuki kawai of nt/jt fame & almost unrecognizable now as she's become way thinner since her chubby teen years.

OMG

I made a Wikipedia page for Himeji that's waiting for approval, and had to figure out how to kill the link for her that automatically went to that Yuki Kawai. I just re-engaged it, and updated her page to reflect she's not a "retired volleyball player".

Thanks a lot for enlightening me I didn't bother to check birth dates because it looked like it couldn't be her, and for some reason I thought 2008 was twenty years ago making it more unlikely to be her.

Himeji does seem to have a lot more interest in creating media buzz than other Japanese teams. As I pointed out earlier, and it was the main impetus for starting this thread, they are the only team I know of with a Youtube Channel.

I don't know about their star power, as I don't know anything about the players except for Yuka Kanasugi, but that's the thing about having a Youtube Channel and sharing highlights. The way they put them together, for example, the one against Gunma Bank, highlights #14 Rie Tagaki--nice kills, nice blocks--and then she gets a little interview time at the end. She appears comfortable, mature (she is 35!), and very sweet but also like she could silently chew your head off. I'm a big fan of her now. And don't even get me going on the adorable #9 Kana Yoshioka who shows up at the end of the Prestige clip

Yep. You can see her coaching in those videos above. It's pretty funny the shots of her--giving sidelong glances at the ref, pacing pensively after they show her team make a few errors. Himeji shows a great sense of humor in those videos towards her.

I think the translation of head coach is unknown. Remember when the Turkish dude, Ferhat announced himself as Head Coach of Japan NT?

Sun 2 Dec 2018 Week 4, Day 8 Results

Only two games. I can't quite figure out what's going on with V.TV through Google Translation. It looks like none of the V2 matches are available (for free) LIVE, but I think that after seven days of the match SOME, but not all will available on-demand.

And by SOME, I mean not all the Himeji matches are available Only one of Himeji's 5 or 6 matches is up for viewing.

Standings 2018.12.02 -- after Week 4 (8 competition days)

Victorina Himeji is responsible for JA Gifu Riorena's only loss. Just sayin'

A couple more Himeji youtubes. I guess I won't go gaga over these forever. Not much new but you do see them play up the fan interaction. Yuka Kanasugi is a great mix with this team. Smart move on her part. They're all stylin'.

Himeji has lost only 3 sets so far this season, and in these highlight videos they always show a string of bad plays that caused the loss, and then they show Yoshie Takeshita let out a heavy sigh.

Himeji v JA Gifu 3-1:

Himeji v Osaka 3-0:

I assumed the V2 League would be full of kids, but there's a bunch of old people I guess players who want to keep playing volleyball but didn't cut it with a V1 team.