Japan - V.League V1 (Division 1, Women) 2023-2024

    Quote from sean1

    Wouldn't the power dynamics between Victorina and the other V2 teams be overwhelmingly big? except for maybe that team with the former Olympian coach with import budget

    well their point is that they won't be there for long it's really weird that it got that bad so it's a mystery to me why hitachi agreed to hire their former coach

    Quote from Phoenix

    Speaking of Mayumi Saito, sitenoise do you think she makes a great coach? in terms of technique and discipline?

    Since I can't watch many/any of their matches it's hard to say. I saw one match where they were winning and everyone seemed happy and the coach was good vibing everywhere, and one where they were losing and everyone seemed miserable and the coach was yelling at players, which surprised me, because ...


    They remind me of PFU when they signed a bunch of new players and the coach had to decide who will play, and more importantly how to keep those who don't play happy. Gunma is like that now (adding even a couple more V1 players this year--Ayumi Yoshida (NEC) and Aika Hayashida (Toyota)). Not that PFU is a winning paradigm, but I've never seen the PFU coach angry/yelling at players


    Gunma coach also plays shenanigan rotations, where players play different positions in different matches. I've read vbm articles where she and the players talk about how "cool" that is, and how they all contribute even when they are "on the bench". I understand wanting to believe in that, but if they make SV.League it'll be hard to win anything with it


    Contrast the "team spirit" of Prestige who haven't started drafting new players yet with Gunma who have, on paper, a lot more "talent". Watch the Final from last season to see how it worked out. Prestige was focused. Gunma was juggling shenanigans

    Ironically, Saito talks big on "ideal guidance over adversity" in her latest interview with Nikkei. It's not free so I don't know what exactly she said.


    I don't think I've noticed any V1 coaches other than Lerbach yell at players. Okayama's coach doesn't yell but he's definitely a pouter with a bad case of resting bitchface like Nakada although Haruka said last 2020 that he's actually a teddy bear offcourt.

    Quote from sean1

    Wouldn't the power dynamics between Victorina and the other V2 teams be overwhelmingly big? except for maybe that team with the former Olympian coach with import budget

    It is kind of silly, but should be good practice for them to iron out the kinks and get ready for next year. I hope Shibata takes over as setter. I don't hate Sakurai but she's had 3 or 4 years and hasn't produced


    I think the only teams who might win even a set against Himeji will be Gunma, Brilliant Aries, or Breath Hamamatsu (maybe Sendai)

    Quote from Phoenix

    Ironically, Saito talks big on "ideal guidance over adversity" in her latest interview with Nikkei. It's not free so I don't know what exactly she said.


    I don't think I've noticed any V1 coaches other than Lerbach yell at players. Okayama's coach doesn't yell but he's definitely a pouter with a bad case of resting bitchface like Nakada although Haruka said last 2020 that he's actually a teddy bear offcourt.

    "ideal guidance over adversity" ... not sure what that even means, or refers to? Gunma doesn't have any adversity. It must be about her own injured life and coming back from that, and she wants to share that with the players?

    What's everyone's prediction for this season?


    Will the streak of winning Empress Cup then winning the League cup in one go continue?

    Quote from sciew

    What's everyone's prediction for this season?


    Will the streak of winning Empress Cup then winning the League cup in one go continue?

    JT / Yoshihara made it very clear that they are dead serious about getting back the throne and I mean it's hard not to believe them lol Hayashi has grown into an impeccable ace and Wada is just getting started.


    After that I can't really tell right now without seeing the other teams yet. Toray is kind of a mysterious aceless team. I'd like to see how it goes for them now that their entire main force (except seki) is gone.

    Quote from sciew

    What's everyone's prediction for this season?

    I'm pretty much with Phoenix . JT seems the team to beat. Haven't seen the other teams yet but I think SAGA will also be a contender. Both teams appear solidly deep. I don't think NEC will have any vibes but maybe they won't need them

    Can someone let me know how Dani Drews does when her team starts playing

    Quote from Madden54

    Can someone let me know how Dani Drews does when her team starts playing

    I think you probably know but in case you don't, and for full context:


    She's playing for NEC Red Rockets, reigning Champions of both Empress Cup and V.League (the streak referenced above)

    NEC has NT OH Koga, MBs Shimamura and Yamada, libero Kojima, Thai NT OH Ajcharaporn, and a few U-Squad members

    NEC has an ability to under perform, too