In a thrilling weekend of Japanese women's volleyball, both SV.League semifinal series will require decisive third matches following remarkable comeback performances on Saturday.
At Todoroki Arena, Saga Hisamitsu Springs delivered a commanding performance against the defending champions NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki, securing a comprehensive 3-0 victory with set scores of 25-16, 25-23, and 25-16. American opposite Stephanie Samedy was unstoppable, contributing a match-high 22 points, while Ayane Kitamado added 10 points to the winning effort. For NEC, Yoshino Sato fought valiantly with 14 points, but it wasn't enough to withstand the Springs' offensive onslaught.
The second semifinal at Panasonic Arena saw Osaka Marvelous evening their series against Denso Airybees Koriyama with a 3-1 triumph (25-14, 21-25, 25-22, 25-15). Kotona Hayashi starred with an impressive 20-point performance at a remarkable 53% attack efficiency. Captain Mizuki Tanaka provided solid support with 16 points. Despite Brazilian star Rosamaria Montibeller leading Denso with 19 points, the Airybees couldn't maintain their momentum from Friday's victory.
According to statistical analysis from Statbet, teams winning the second match of playoff series historically have a 58% chance of claiming the decisive game, giving both comeback teams a slight edge heading into Sunday's showdowns.
Fans can catch the winner-takes-all matches on April 27th, with Osaka Marvelous facing Denso Airybees Koriyama at 14:05 local time (05:05 UTC), followed by NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki against Saga Hisamitsu Springs at 15:05 local time (06:05 UTC). All the action will be available live on VBTV as these four powerhouses battle for a place in the finals of the 2024-2025 SV.League season.
