Victorina Himeji

Himeji Victorina
Short nameHimeji
NicknameVictorina
FoundedMarch 14, 2016
Ground Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture,
Japan
General Manager
Head Coach
Japan Kiyoshi Abo
Japan Kiyoshi Abo
CaptainShiori Aratani
LeagueV.League Division 1
2021-2211th
WebsiteClub home page
Uniforms
Home
Away

Himeji Victorina (ヴィクトリーナ姫路) is a women's volleyball team based in Himeji, Japan. The owner of the team is Masayoshi Manabe, former head coach of the Japan women's national volleyball team.[1] The club was founded in 2016.[2][3]

Himeji entered the V.League in 2018 playing in V.League Division 2 and won the 2018-2019 season Championship[4] which automatically promoted them to Japan's top level V.League Division 1.

History[edit]

The team registered with the Japan Volleyball association in March 2016. Three months later Yoshie Takeshita was announced as head coach.[5][6] In November 2016 Masayoshi Manabe, who was born in Himeji, was appointed general manager.[7][8]

In July 2017, Himeji announced it would transfer the franchise of bankrupt club Sendai Belle Fille to Himeji Victorina, with a requirement that it take 8 of the players from Sendai Belle Fille and reach contract agreements with them.[9] If successful it would be the first time in Japan that one club team had transferred to another.[10] The team's goal was to enter the V.Challenge League II for the 2017-2018 season. By August 3rd Himeji had reached an agreement with only two Sendai players.[11] On August 10 the V.League announced Himeji had been unable to sign a sufficient number of Sendai players and would not be allowed to participate in the V.Challenge League II 2017-18 season.[12]

In March 2018 the Japanese V.League announced Himeji Victorina will play the 2018–2019 season in the newly organized V.League Division 2[13]

On March 17, 2019, Himeji Victorina defeated JA Gifu Rioreina in straight sets to claim the title of Women's V.League Division 2 Champions.[14] As 2018-2019 V2 Champions they are automatically promoted to play the 2019-2020 season in V.League Division 1.[15]

Masayoshi Manabe is currently the team owner and Kiyoshi Abo is the team's general manager.[16]

Honors[edit]

V.League Division 2
  • Champions (1): 2018-2019
  • Runners-up ():

League results[edit]

League Position Teams Matches Win Lose
V.League Division 2 2018-19 Champions 8 18 17 1
V.League Division 1 2019-20 12th 12 21 3 18
2020-21 10th 12 21 4 17
2021-22 11th 12 33 8 25

Current squad[edit]

2023-24 Squad[17][18][19][20][21]

No. Name Position Date of birth Height (m) Weight (kg) Spike (cm) Block
1 Japan Riho Sadakane (C) Outside hitter (1996-04-13) 13 April 1996 (age 28) 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) 69 kg (152 lb) 286
2 Japan Miki Sakurai Setter (1996-05-01) 1 May 1996 (age 28) 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) 63 kg (139 lb) 275
3 Japan Shuna Omoto Middle blocker (1995-05-02) 2 May 1995 (age 29) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 64 kg (141 lb) 289
4 Japan Moeri Hanai Libero (1994-04-17) 17 April 1994 (age 30) 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) 60 kg (130 lb) 280
5 Japan Arisa Nagano Middle blocker (1996-09-13) 13 September 1996 (age 27) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 62 kg (137 lb) 300
6 Netherlands Celeste Plak Outside hitter (1995-10-26) 26 October 1995 (age 28) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 314 302
7 Japan Nao Horigome Setter (1996-06-26) 26 June 1996 (age 27) 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) 52 kg (115 lb) 260
8 Japan Kano Miyaji Outside hitter (2001-07-28) 28 July 2001 (age 22) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 64 kg (141 lb) 295
9 Japan Kana Yoshioka Middle blocker (1995-10-14) 14 October 1995 (age 28) 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 57 kg (126 lb) 293
10 Japan Mirei Wakita Outside hitter (1996-12-10) 10 December 1996 (age 27) 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) 61 kg (134 lb) 280
11 Japan Shiori Aratani Middle blocker (1998-09-22) 22 September 1998 (age 25) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) 61 kg (134 lb) 296 291
12 Japan Nana Magota Outside hitter (1998-04-16) 16 April 1998 (age 26) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 63 kg (139 lb) 292
13 Japan Saki Tanaka Outside hitter (1996-09-21) 21 September 1996 (age 27) 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) 57 kg (126 lb) 296
14 Japan Chihiro Sasaki Middle blocker (1997-11-17) 17 November 1997 (age 26) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) 67 kg (148 lb) 299
15 Japan Aikiho Matsumoto Outside hitter (1997-06-29) 29 June 1997 (age 26) 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) 61 kg (134 lb) 292
16 Japan Akane Shimizu Outside hitter (1997-09-24) 24 September 1997 (age 26) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 68 kg (150 lb) 295
17 Japan Moe Kiyota Setter (2001-12-25) 25 December 2001 (age 22) 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) 55 kg (121 lb) 285
19 Thailand Chatchu-on Moksri Outside hitter (1999-11-06) 6 November 1999 (age 24) 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) 58 kg (128 lb) 302
21 Japan Kaya Watanabe Outside hitter (1998-06-09) 9 June 1998 (age 26) 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) 62 kg (137 lb) 286
22 Japan Rimi Kaneda Outside hitter (1998-10-06) 6 October 1998 (age 25) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 63 kg (139 lb) 295
23 Japan Akari Bono Setter (2002-10-04) 4 October 2002 (age 21) 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) 60 kg (130 lb) 285

Former players[edit]