SAGA Hisamitsu Springs edge OSAKA MARVELOUS 3-2 to lead 2025-26 DAIDO LIFE SV.LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP Finals

April 25, 2026, Yokohama, Japan — SAGA Hisamitsu Springs overcame OSAKA MARVELOUS 3-2 (25-21, 28-26, 19-25, 23-25, 15-10) in the first game of the 2025-26 DAIDO LIFE SV.LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP Finals at Yokohama BUNTAI Arena on Saturday.

Stephanie Samedy (USA) and Sae Nakajima led SAGA HM with 21 points each, while Lise Van Hecke (BEL) was the top scorer in the match with 27 points, including two aces and three block points.

SAGA HM got off to a strong start, winning the first two sets despite some solid offensive play by Lise Van Hecke, who made an ace with her first service and also came up with some great blocks. Stephanie Samedy brought up the first point for SAGA HM and they were able to maintain their lead through to the end of the set. OSAKA came within a point at 17-16, 18-17, 19-18, 20-19 and 21-20, but SAGA HM were always able to find a winner at the right time. Despite the onslaught from Van Hecke – 9 points in the set – and some long rallies, SAGA HM defended bravely and kept Van Hecke’s teammates from getting back into the set. Ayaka Araki sent a brilliant shot down the right line to bring up setpoint and Samedy finished off with a shot through the block.

The second set was a different story, with OSAKA streaking out to a 7-2 lead, thanks to another ace from Van Hecke and some strong play from Kotona Hayashi. OSAKA were still four points ahead at 13-9 but some smart substitutions from head coach Kumi Nakada saw her team draw level at 14, with some inspirational play from Mina Inoue and Sae Nakajima. Setter Erika Sakae came up with a pair of brilliant plays – a one-handed set and a sharp reaction save – and led her team to a narrow victory, with Samedy again pushing a spike through the block to seal the set.

But then SAGA HM went off the boil and OSAKA started to find their rhythm, forcing Nakada to call a timeout with OSAKA leading 11-7 in the third set. It had little effect and she had to call another one at 14-8. An error by Ayane Kitamado – who was guilty of other mistakes in the match – and a long spike by Samedy saw the lead stretch out to 16-8. There was no coming back for SAGA HM and an Araki spike ended the set after a brilliant dig by Aki Momii.

The fourth set was much of the same, with errors by Kitamado not helping SAGA HM’s cause. Mizuki Tanaka was making some key plays for OSAKA, but the whole team was playing better. A slight dip saw the score close to 21-19, forcing head coach Daisuke Sakai to call a timeout, but the damage was done and a sharp cross-court spike by Samantha Francis (USA) sent the match to a fifth set.

A brilliant dig by libero Minami Nishimura set up a spike for Kitamado that put SAGA HM 5-2 up in the deciding set and forced Sakai to call a timeout. Kotona Hayashi and Tanaka responded as OSAKA drew level at 8-8. A great block by Araki on Francis made it 12-9 and a failed challenge after a long shot by Tanaka saw the score go to 13-9. Araki sealed the match with a block that OSAKA appeared to leave, thinking it was out. The umpire called it in and the subsequent challenge failed, putting SAGA HM 1-0 up in the CHAMPIONSHIP Finals.

SAGA Hisamitsu Springs Head Coach Kumi Nakada was expecting a tough battle. "We knew it wouldn't be an easy match. In the sets we lost—particularly the third and fourth—we made too many unforced errors and ended up beating ourselves. However, being able to take the fifth set and win the match without giving up until the very end was a positive takeaway. With another match tomorrow, we want to reset mentally and be ready to compete.”

“Winning in five sets doesn't mean we lack ability. Depending on the match, there are situations where we shouldn't have to go the distance. Rather than focusing on the fact that we won in five sets, we believe it's more important to address the issues that led us to that situation in the first place."

OSAKA MARVELOUS Head Coach Daisuke Sakai admitted his team found it tough early on. “We struggled throughout the first set, particularly because our serves were not effective, which meant we were unable to put pressure on our opponents.”

“In the second set, we showed signs of improvement, with better starts, side-out execution, and moments where we were able to create break points. However, despite that momentum, we were unable to close out the set, and that ultimately became a key factor in today's loss. Not being able to convert the points we needed was significant.”

“As the match progressed into the second, third and fourth sets, our performance metrics improved, and in the third and fourth sets, we were able to play closer to the style we had intended. While we don't yet know exactly what adjustments our opponents will make tomorrow, we want to prepare thoroughly with those possibilities in mind."

SAGA HM’s Samedy said the rollercoaster game was not surprising for a championship match. “That's the nature of the game for a high-pressure match,” she said. “It's going to happen for sure. But I think our ability to just ride the wave, maintain our game and our rhythm – even though it wasn't our best game – I think that helped us today. You know, just trust in our process.”

Samedy praised her coaches for being able to make necessary changes. “Our coaches do a great job, you know, identifying what the team needs. You know, just to change the flow of the game. So I think our coaches do a great job of that.”

She said her team was able to make it count in the final set. “I think we were all just on the same page – this is our chance, we've got to go after it and take our moment.”

Swiss outside hitter Julie Lengweiler, who didn’t make it on to the court on Saturday, believes her team can do better.

“I feel like it wasn't our A-game, but I think that's what makes this team so strong, that we're able to win when we're not all having our A-game,” she said. “And I think that's a really great testament for ourselves, like, to be able to pull through with a win.

“I feel like in the first two sets we had their hitters, besides their opposite (Van Hecke), pretty much under control. And I think after the third set, they started digging us better and converting more of those balls.  In the fifth, we started really strong and were able to pull through.”

Surprisingly, shutting down Van Hecke was not key to their game. “In our game plan, it was mostly like, we know Lisa can score so many points, so our main priority was not to slow her down, but if we can keep everyone else low, she won't win the game by herself. And I think that's what happened in the first two sets. She played amazing, but one player is not enough at this level. I think when they were able to rely more on their other hitters, that's when it got tough for us. Today, I don't think today was our best game and we still won. With that, we can really go with full confidence tomorrow.”

Van Hecke said it was a “physical battle” and was pleased with her game apart from the final set. “They studied us well and they were picking up really good spikes. And it was difficult for our setter to play with one block, so I think the other two sets it was a bit better playing with the middle, also with Sammy (Francis). When we get her to score, it's easier for the outside hitters, too.”

Van Hecke says the Championship isn’t over yet. “For sure, it's not done. You know you need to win two games to become champion. Tomorrow is another battle and I'm sure we will be there as a team.”

Competition Overview Women:

Each club plays a total of 44 matches in a home-and-away format. The top 8 clubs advance to the championship. The championship follows a tournament format, where teams compete in a best-of-three format, with the first to win two matches advancing from the QuarterFinals to the Finals.

CHAMPIONSHIP Finals Women:

Game 1: 13:35, Saturday, April 25 at Yokohama BUNTAI

Game 2: 16:05, Sunday, April 26 at Yokohama BUNTAI

Game 3: 18:45, Monday, April 27 at Yokohama BUNTAI

Please note that Game 3 will not be held if either team secures two victories