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

No V2 matches tonight (relative to where you live) but the first Challenge Stage Match will take place:

Sat 09 MAR (Japan Time)

16:00 Kurobe AquaFairies v Okayama Seagulls

Sun 10 March 2019 Results Day 3/5 Final 6 Stage

Looks like Gifu-Gumma was a fun match. One of those two teams is probably going to be bummed out soon. If Himeji didn't pop up out of nowhere they'd both be promoting to V1, or at least have the opportunity to challenge for it. My gut tells me that if the Challenge match is against Kurobe one of these two teams will win it. If it's against PFU, I think not.

Two matches left and Himeji plays both Gifu and Gumma. Of course they both have to play Himeji but their other match is a toss off. Assuming everyone wins their next match (Himeji/Gumma, Gifu/Ohno, NA), the final match of the season will be for the title - Himeji v Gifu - more or less Depending on what happens Saturday, Himeji could endure a 2–3 loss against Gifu on Sunday and still take the title. Himeji hasn't lost a set yet; Gifu's lost three.

A 3–0 win against Gumma on Saturday would take some pressure off Himeji but that won't be easy. Gumma is the only team who beat Himeji in the Regular Round.

Heck, what am I worrying about. It's Himeji's destiny to win this thing

I wish Breath Hamamatsu would have advanced. That's such a cool name for a team (I have no idea what it's about) and they have a modern, cared for web site with pictures of the players like this:

Each player has a photo gallery, fan support and a questionnaire where they weigh in on fluffy animals, delicious food, and shopping.

Update: Damn I forgot the part that prompted this outburst. They actually have a news item in their news feed informing about a player injury during practice. They also have a radio program. One of the shows is titled "Feel Our Breath". How cool is that?

The only thing GSS Tokyo has on their 1990s web site is one unreadable, untranslatable JPEG:

I was on the edge of my seat watching a web page live update the Himeji v Gumma Bank score.

Gumma Bank beats Himeji 3–2 damn , 22-20 in the Tie Break

Gold Medal match tomorrow -- Himeji v JA Gifu. Winner wins and auto promotes to V1.

I hope I'm wrong about this but ... if Himeji loses in less than 5 and Gumma Bank beats GSS in less than five (easy), Himeji is doomed to another year in V2. They'd be tied on points and Gumma Bank just beat them. All that beautiful hard work all year up in smoke. There's got to be some random pool drawings to blame. It wouldn't be fair.

Sat 16 March 2019 Results Day 4/5 Final 6 Stage

This is difficult. Gumma Bank is the only team who's beaten Himeji this season. Once in the regular round and now a crushing blow in the Final Stage. I should just accept that and not worry. JA Gifu hasn't been a problem for Himeji, so why get anxious? Well, because ... that's Sports Enthusiasm. I could live with Himeji placing second and having to continue to compete for a spot in the V1, but there is a chance ... I can't bring myself to write it. Himeji needs at least two sets tonight to keep the dream alive I would much rather they win and be done with it. That's probably what's going to happen.

Himeji trailed throughout the first set until the 20s. And pulled out a win. 1–0 over JA Gifu

Update:

Same thing in Set 2. I like teams who, if they may dally about, take control and finish.

Himeji 25-23, 25-21 JA Gifu

Himeji is at least going to get to play PFU. One more set and they auto promote.

Update:

This is perfect (so far 13-6 in set 3). Come from behind in the first two sets and then crush

Update:

Crush Crush. Step on the neck. 20–8 We're almost there!

Update:

25–11 Crush!

2018-19 V.LEAGUE DIVISION 2 WOMEN V Final Stage Final 6 Final Results

They changed their mind!

Source

Victorina Himeji Promotes to V1 and JA Gifu plays PFU for the Challenge Match

Sat 30 March

16:00 PFU vs. JA Gifu

Sun 31 March

16:00 PFU vs. JA Gifu

Rie Takaki

2018-19 V.LEAGUE DIVISION2 WOMEN Individual Awards

Adding Coach, MVP, Newcomer, and Fighting Spirit to the previously posted scoring awards

Kana Yoshioka

2019 V.League Women Division 2 All Stars

2018-19 V.LEAGUE All-Star Game will be held in the Urayasu City Sports Park Gymnasium, Chiba Prefecture on Saturday April 20, 2019

"For each team of "Team Buiri" "Team Cheever-kun", each seven by the results of fan voting (outside hitter three people, middle blocker 2 people, setter 1 person, libero 1 people) are elected, further V-League recommendation players of each seven one team 14 people plus".

The V2 All Star game starts at 11:00am JST Saturday April 20, 2019, which is 7:00pm Friday night PST (USA West Coast)

The V1 game starts 3 hours later at 14:00 JST

A little shake up at our thread inspiration Victorina Himeji - Players to resigning will be following (Source:

# 07 Yuki Kawai player (captain) Wow wow wow

• # 02 Oliveira, Suere players
• # 01 Tsutsui Mihoko player
• # 05 Chika Ota player
• # 06 Takimoto Rina player
• # 11 Sakasegawa Yui player
• # 16 Mirai Sugawara player

What the heck is happening with Toyota Motor Walkure (or Valkyrie? like that Tom Cruise movie?) (Source)

Are they going out of business? Their web site is down undergoing maintenance

• Suzuki Chiori Toyota Motor Valkyrie Resignation
• Gondo Mana Toyota Motor Valkyre Resignation
• Goto Mari Motors Toyota Motor Valkyre Resignation
• Matsuo Keiichi Seven Cars Toyota Motor Valkyre Resign
• Yui Shibata Toyota Motor Valquere retired
• Ogawa Ancient capital Toyota Motor Valkyre retired
• Toyota Motor Valkyre retired
• Atsushi Takeuchi Toyota Motor Valkyre retired
• Misaki Tado Toyota Automobile Valkyrie Retirement
• Ichimori Akina Toyota Motor Valkyrie Retirement
• Hitomi Umegi Toyota Automobile Valkyre Retirement
• Asano Minami Wave Toyota Automobile Valkyre Resignation
• Yoshida Midori Toyota Motor Valkyrie Resignation

Gumma Bank is losing their Captain (Source

• 優 Grace Gunma Bank Green Wings Resign (I don't know who this is)
• Miyoshi Saika (C) Gunma Bank Green Wings resign

And I should have posted this over here in V2 thread

JA Gifu is being gutted (Source)

Satomi Imai - Starting OH

Miho Sasaki - Starting MB

Haruka Sano - Backup Setter

Sakiko Nakamura - All Star Veteran OH

Indeed, looks like Toyota Motor Walkure (or Valkyrie like the goddess who chooses who lives and dies in battle) are folding up shop. Beware the usual google translation mistakes

Source

Oh, Victorina Himeji. I've remarked about them being a team with style--above what we see from other teams. That's why it was a good move for Yuka Kanasugi to go there. She's stylin'

I just watched a video which is a sort of history and celebration of their promotion to the V1 League. In a nod to things kinda creepy and old school there is a section that appears to show them being instructed in how to walk in high heels and put on makeup.

I thought girl's VB was more popular than boys in Japan. Boys have a V3 but girls aren't popular enough to fill out a V2. V1 is shaky at the bottom. Maybe other considerations, too.

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Noticing that photo above from the Himeji "How to walk and chew gum" video, I'm reminded that N K youtuber posted that. I don't think it was a DAZN video. Probably owned by someone else. S/He got cocky. No coincidence it was the last video s/he posted before getting busted.

Conspiracy theories help me pass the time

I'm making a Wikipedia page for Victorina Himeji, and as I'm researching something struck me:

• Four of their starters -- Yuki kawai (S); Kyoko Katashita (L); Rie Takaki (MB); Yuko Asazu (OP) hadn't played in the V.League for years. I don't know if they were fully retired or playing 9-person foosball, or what, during that time.

If GM Masayoshi Manabe is responsible for personnel decisions he's doing a good job thinking outside the box. Retirees, college kids, and Yuka Kanasugi. Damn.

Has this ever happened before? A development team wins a championship their first year in the league?

Anyway, here's the most amazing, uhm, HOPE for me. Look who appears to be pretty good friends with the Himeji girls:

For those not keeping score at home that is the amazing Haruka Maruo

Please please please Manabe grab this girl from the Panasonic Bluebells, whoever they are .

[Update] I found the match these friendly embraces are from [2018.12.14 Empress Cup Himeji v Tsukuba (3–0) Set 3]:

Only set 3, Good Quality stationary end of court camera, behind Tsukuba. Heaven.

Haruka Maruo and setter Manami Mandai are destined to play for Himeji. Stylin'