Japan - V.League (Division 1, Men) 2021-2022

Wolfdogs Nagoya have 3 positives and they will postpone their matches against JT this weekend.

Wolfdogs with more positives. Next weekends games are already postponed

Suntory with positives and their matches on Feb. 19-Feb. 20 against JTEKT have been postponed.

Quote from volleyb

Naonobu Fujii posted that he is diagnosed with stomach cancer stage 4 and is undergoing treatments

💔😫🥺😭

With the league having a number of matches postponed (maybe forfeited due to Covid), I am putting together the standings through games.

Standings through Match 28

1. Suntory 21-7, 57 points, 67-40 sets

2. Sakai 20-8, 60 points, 67-35

3. Wolfdogs Nagoya 20-8, 59 points, 68-39

4. Toray 19-9, 58 points, 65-39

5. Panasonic 18-10, 56 points, 67-41

6. JTEKT 15-13, 44 points, 56-50

7. JT Thunders 12-16, 38 points, 52-56

8. FC Tokyo 8-20, 27 points, 34-65

9. Oita 5-23, 13 points, 25-78

10. VC Nagano Tridents 1-27, 4 points, 18-83

Standings through Match 29

1. Suntory 22-7, 60 points, 70-41 sets

2. Sakai 21-8, 63 points, 70-35

3. Toray 20-9, 61 points, 68-40

4. Wolfdogs Nagoya (1 match to play) 20-8, 59 points, 68-39

5. Panasonic 19-10, 59 points, 70-41

6. JTEKT (1 match to play) 15-13, 44 points, 56-50

7. JT Thunders 13-16, 41 points, 55-56

8. FC Tokyo 8-21, 27 points, 35-68

9. Oita 5-24, 13 points, 25-81

10. VC Nagano Tridents 1-28, 5 points, 20-86

Standings through Match 30

1. Suntory 23-7, 62 points, 73-43 sets

2. Sakai 21-9, 63 points, 71-38

3. Panasonic 20-10, 62 points, 73-42

4. Toray 20-10, 61 points, 68-43

5. Wolfdogs Nagoya (2 matches to play) 20-8, 59 points, 68-39

6. JTEKT (2 matches to play) 15-13, 44 points, 56-50

7. JT Thunders 14-16, 44 points, 58-56

8. FC Tokyo 9-21, 30 points, 38-69

9. Oita 5-25, 13 points, 25-84

10. VC Nagano Tridents 1-29, 5 points, 20-89

Standings through Match 31

1. Suntory (1 match to play) 23-7, 62 points, 73-43 sets

2. Panasonic 21-10, 65 points, 76-42

2. Sakai 21-10, 64 points, 73-41

4. Toray 21-10, 64 points, 71-43

5. Wolfdogs Nagoya (3 matches to play) 20-8, 59 points, 68-39

6. JTEKT (3 matches to play) 15-13, 44 points, 56-50

7. JT Thunders 14-17, 44 points, 59-59

8. FC Tokyo 9-22, 30 points, 39-72

9. Oita 5-26, 13 points, 25-87

10. VC Nagano Tridents 1-30, 5 points, 21-92

Quote from volleyb

I've read some cancelled matches were already decided (3-0 set win) and some are scheduled, but haven't seen something about the 2 remaining Nagoya vs Sakai games. They are not in the schedule, or maybe I just missed the announcement? These are crucial matches also.

They have not been rescheduled and with a hard stop of next weekend, they may not be replayed and would be 3-0 wins for Wolfdogs as Sakai was the team that could not play.

Standings through Match 29 (results adjusted due to forfeits)

1. Suntory 23-6, 63 points, 72-37 sets

2. Sakai 21-8, 63 points, 70-35

3. Wolfdogs Nagoya 21-8, 62 points, 71-40

4. Toray 20-9, 61 points, 68-40

5. Panasonic 19-10, 59 points, 70-41

6. JTEKT 15-14, 44 points, 55-53

7. JT Thunders 13-16, 41 points, 55-56

8. FC Tokyo 8-21, 27 points, 35-68

9. Oita 5-24, 13 points, 25-81

10. VC Nagano Tridents 1-28, 5 points, 20-86

Standings through Match 30 (results adjusted due to forfeits)

1. Suntory 23-7, 63 points, 73-40 sets

2. Wolfdogs Nagoya 22-8, 65 points, 74-40

3. Sakai 21-9, 63 points, 71-38

4. Panasonic 20-10, 62 points, 73-42

5. Toray 20-10, 61 points, 68-43

6. JTEKT 15-15, 44 points, 56-56

7. JT Thunders 14-16, 44 points, 58-56

8. FC Tokyo 9-21, 30 points, 38-69

9. Oita 5-25, 13 points, 25-84

10. VC Nagano Tridents 1-29, 5 points, 20-89

Standings through Match 31 (results adjusted due to forfeits)

1. Suntory 24-7, 66 points, 76-41 sets

2. Wolfdogs Nagoya 23-8, 68 points, 77-41

3. Panasonic 21-10, 65 points, 76-42

4. Sakai 21-10, 64 points, 73-41

5. Toray 21-10, 64 points, 71-43

6. JTEKT 15-16, 44 points, 57-59

7. JT Thunders 14-17, 44 points, 59-59

8. FC Tokyo 9-22, 30 points, 39-72

9. Oita 5-26, 13 points, 25-87

10. VC Nagano Tridents 2-29, 8 points, 23-89

Standings through Match 32

1. Suntory 25-7, 68 points, 79-43 sets

2. Wolfdogs Nagoya (1 more to play) 23-8, 68 points, 77-41

3. Panasonic 22-10, 68 points, 79-42

4. Toray 22-10, 67 points, 74-44

5. Sakai 22-10. 66 points, 76-43

6. JTEKT 15-17, 45 points, 59-62

7. JT Thunders 14-18, 44 points, 60-62

8. FC Tokyo 9-23, 30 points, 39-75

9. Oita 5-27, 13 points, 25-90

10. VC Nagano Tridents 3-29, 11 points, 26-89

Standings through Match 33

1. Suntory 25-8, 68 points, 79-46 sets

2. Panasonic 23-10, 71 points, 82-42

3. Toray 23-10, 70 points, 77-44

4. Sakai 23-10. 69 points, 79-43

5. Wolfdogs Nagoya (2 more to play) 23-8, 68 points, 77-41

6. JTEKT 15-18, 45 points, 59-65

7. JT Thunders 14-19, 45 points, 62-65

8. FC Tokyo 9-24, 30 points, 39-78

9. Oita 5-28, 13 points, 25-93

10. VC Nagano Tridents 3-30, 11 points, 27-92

Standings through Match 34

1. Suntory 25-9, 68 points, 80-49 sets

2. Panasonic 24-10, 74 points, 85-42

3. Toray 24-10, 73 points, 80-445

4. Sakai (1 more to play) 23-10, 69 points, 79-43

5. Wolfdogs Nagoya (3 more to play) 23-8, 68 points, 77-41

6. JT Thunders 15-19, 47 points, 65-67

7. JTEKT (1 more to play) 15-18, 45 points, 59-65

8. FC Tokyo 9-24, 30 points, 39-78

9. Oita 5-28, 13 points, 25-96

10. VC Nagano Tridents 4-30, 14 points, 30-93

Wednesday's matches

Wolfdogs vs. JTEKT

If Wolfdogs keep winning, their win percentage will be better than those of the remaining teams and the likelihood of them making the Final 3 is very high. Suntory right now is the only team that is in front of them on win percentage. Plus may get two more wins added to the total of 23, which would put them at 25-8 before this match is played and a win would get them to 26. That is more wins that everyone else and would put them into first place. Even without the forfeits, Wolfdogs would have the best winning percentage at 75% with a win to go to 24-8.

Sakai vs. FC Tokyo

Sakai is probably out of the playoffs right now. A win still gives them a chance, but with 2 games against the Wolfdogs that will not be played, and Sakai being the reason for those matches not being played, I say that it is a meaningless game.

With Wednesday's results shown

Standings through Match 32

1. Suntory 25-7, 68 points, 79-43 sets

2. Wolfdogs Nagoya 24-8, 71 points, 80-41

3. Panasonic 22-10, 68 points, 79-42

4. Toray 22-10, 67 points, 74-44

5. Sakai 22-10. 66 points, 76-43

6. JTEKT 15-17, 45 points, 59-62

7. JT Thunders 14-18, 44 points, 60-62

8. FC Tokyo 9-23, 30 points, 39-75

9. Oita 5-27, 13 points, 25-90

10. VC Nagano Tridents 3-29, 11 points, 26-89

Standings through Match 33

1. Suntory 25-8, 68 points, 79-46 sets

2. Wolfdogs Nagoya (1 more to play) 24-8, 71 points, 80-41

3. Panasonic 23-10, 71 points, 82-42

4. Toray 23-10, 70 points, 77-44

5. Sakai 23-10. 69 points, 79-43

6. JTEKT 15-18, 45 points, 59-65

7. JT Thunders 14-19, 45 points, 62-65

8. FC Tokyo 9-24, 30 points, 39-78

9. Oita 5-28, 13 points, 25-93

10. VC Nagano Tridents 3-30, 11 points, 27-92

Standings through Match 34

1. Suntory 25-9, 68 points, 80-49 sets

2. Panasonic 24-10, 74 points, 85-42

3. Toray 24-10, 73 points, 80-45

4. Sakai 24-10, 72 points, 82-44

5. Wolfdogs Nagoya (2 more to play) 24-8, 71 points, 80-41

6. JT Thunders 15-19, 47 points, 65-67

7. JTEKT 15-19, 45 points, 59-68

8. FC Tokyo 9-24, 30 points, 39-78

9. Oita 5-29, 13 points, 25-96

10. VC Nagano Tridents 4-30, 14 points, 30-93

Standings through Match 35

1. Toray 25-10, 75 points, 83-47

2. Suntory (1 more to play) 25-9, 68 points, 80-49

3. Panasonic (1 more to play) 24-10, 74 points, 85-42

4. Sakai 24-10, 72 points, 82-44 (2 matches with Sakai will not be played, could be forfeit losses)

5. Wolfdogs Nagoya (2 more to play) 24-8, 71 points, 80-41 (2 matches with Sakai will not be played, could be forfeit wins)

6. JT Thunders (1 more to play) 15-19, 47 points, 65-67

7. JTEKT (1 more to play)15-19, 45 points, 59-68

8. FC Tokyo (1 more to play) 9-24, 30 points, 39-78

9. VC Nagano Tridents 5-30, 17 points, 33-94

10. Oita 5-30, 13 points, 26-99

Standings through Match 36

1. Toray 25-11, 76 points, 85-50

2. Suntory (2 more to play) 25-9, 68 points, 80-49

3. Panasonic (2 more to play) 24-10, 74 points, 85-42

4. Sakai 24-10, 72 points, 82-44 (2 matches with Sakai will not be played, could be forfeit losses)

5. Wolfdogs Nagoya (2 more to play) 24-8, 71 points, 80-41 (2 matches with Sakai will not be played, could be forfeit wins)

6. JT Thunders (2 more to play) 15-19, 47 points, 65-67

7. JTEKT (2 more to play)15-19, 45 points, 59-68

8. FC Tokyo (2 more to play) 9-24, 30 points, 39-78

9. Oita 6-30, 15 points, 29-101

10. VC Nagano Tridents 5-30, 18 points, 35-97

Playoff Scenarios

Suntory

A win will get them to 26 and with Sakai and Toray not playing, they will clinch a playoff berth.

If Nagoya is given two forfeit wins, Suntory needs to win out to have a chance at the regular season title

Panasonic

A win will match them on wins with Toray, but with a better sets ratio, they would clinch a playoff berth, with Sakai not playing.

Two wins against Nagoya and win Suntory losses they would clinch the regular season title

Wolfdogs Nagoya

If Sakai games are forfeits, would push them to 26-8, 77 points and clinch them a playoff berth.

If they can win two games against Panasonic, would put them at 28-8, which is more than Suntory can reach.

Toray

Have to hope that Panasonic lose both matches, 25-24 wins to Toray OR

Have Suntory lose both matches, as Toray would have more points 76-68 right now

Sakai cannot qualify if the Nagoya matches are not played.

League announced that Wolfdogs Nagoya would be awarded 3-0 forfeit wins over Sakai, which also pushes them to 26-8 on the season and clinches a playoff berth.

League also announced today that they are shifting to win percentage for the standings, which is just in case of players catching Covid, like JT-FC Tokyo which has been cancelled.

If teams are tied on win percentage then the next tiebreaker is sets ratio, points ratio. If still tied then head-to-head win percentage, sets ratio and then points ratio.

Playoff Scenarios After Forfeits and Shift to Win Percentage

Suntory

A win will get them to 26 and with Toray not playing, they will clinch a playoff berth.

Suntory needs to win out to have a chance at the regular season title and have Nagoya lose twice

Panasonic

A win will match them on wins with Toray, but with a better sets ratio, they would clinch a playoff berth

Two wins against Nagoya and with one Suntory loss they would clinch the regular season title due to a better sets ratio when tied on win percentage

Wolfdogs Nagoya

With them at 26-8 and a better sets ratio than Suntory with the shift to win percentage, Nagoya only needs a win to clinch regular season title

Toray

Have to hope that Panasonic lose both matches, 25-24 wins to Toray OR

Have Suntory lose both matches, as Toray would have a better sets ratio if tied on win percentage

With Nagoya clinching the regular season title and Suntory a playoff berth with their wins today

Playoff Scenarios

Panasonic

A win will match them on wins with Toray, but with a better sets ratio, they would clinch a playoff berth

Toray

Panasonic loss, 25-24 wins to Toray

Panasonic get the 3-1 win over Wolfdogs Nagoya on the final day to take 3rd from Toray.

So here is the Final 3 breakdown

Final 3 Match (best of 2 series, Suntory with a 1-0 advantage due to better record. If tied , then 25 point Golden Set after match)

April 9, Suntory vs. Panasonic

Finals Matches (best of 2 series, only wins count. If tied, then 25 point Golden Set after 2nd match)

April 10, Wolfdogs Nagoya vs. winner on April 9

April 17, Wolfdogs Nagoya vs. winner on April 9

Moving over to the Challenge Matches

Two match series

Tiebreakers as follows:

1. wins

2. points (3,2,1,0)

3. sets ratio

4. points ratio

5. if all 4 are tied, the V1 team is declared the winner (higher ranked team in the league)

April 9 & April 10

VC Nagano Tridents vs. Voreas Hokkaido

Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler vs. Fujitsu Kawasaki Red Spirits