The Kurashiki Ablaze (倉敷アブレイズ, Kurashiki Abureizu) is a Japanese professional women's volleyball team from Kurashiki, Okayama which plays in the V.League, the second-tier volleyball league in Japan.
 Crest | |||
| Founded | 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Hideo Suzuki | ||
| Captain | Saya Taniguchi | ||
| League | V.League | ||
| 2024–25 | TBD | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
| Championships | |||
| 1 | |||
History
editIt is a volleyball club from Kurashiki City, Okayama, Japan founded in 2019.[1] Kurashiki Ablaze is operated by Ablaze Co., Ltd. that is located in Minamiune, Kurashiki, Okayama.[2]
Kurashiki won bronze medal in 13th National 6-Person Final League & Grand Champion Match Awards in Japan.[3]
They debuted at the V.League for the 2023–24 season after being given an S3 license in October 2022.[4]
They would join the Premier Volleyball League in the Philippines as one of the two foreign guest teams for the 2023 Invitational Conference.[5][6][7] They also beat the undefeated 6 year semi finals no loss place of Creamline Cool Smashers.[8][9] Kurashiki won their first title in the PVL against the Creamline Cool Smashers in five-set match.[10] After the awards ceremony, Kurashiki helped to clean the PhilSports Arena that caught the attention of the Creamline Cool Smashers team manager Alan Acero.[11] They would return in 2024 to defend their PVL Invitation Conference crown.[12][13] They however would finish third place.[14]
They are also set to play in the 2024–25 season of the V.League, which saw its division two and three merged.[15][16]
Team image
editThe meaning of ABLAZE to the team refers to "passion", "excitement", and "burning".[17]
Current roster
editThese are the players for the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.[18][19]
| Kurashiki Ablaze | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Birth date | School |
| 1 |  Wako Omura |
Setter | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | 15 June 2001 | Okayama Minami High School |
| 2 | Saya Taniguchi (C) |
Opposite Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | 12 August 2000 | Kyoto Tachibana University |
| 3 | Kyoka Ohshima
|
Setter | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | 2 February 1998 | Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education |
| 4 | Sayaka Tanida |
Outside Hitter | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | 31 October 2000 | Seishin Girl's High School |
| 7 | Ayane Wanatabe |
Libero | 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) | 3 November 2002 | Seiei High School |
| 9 | Kaoru Takahashi |
Libero | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | 26 May 1998 | Chūgoku Gakuen University |
| 10 | Yukino Yano |
Outside Hitter | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | 1 March 2000 | Nagasaki International University |
| 12 | Asaka Tamaru |
Opposite Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | 4 August 1998 | Kyoto Sangyo University |
| 13 | Miho Kawamura |
Middle Blocker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | 13 September 1999 | Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences |
| 14 | Reina Fujiwara |
Opposite Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | 25 October 1997 | International Pacific University |
| 15 |  Low Mei Cing |
Middle Blocker | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | 17 January 1996 | National Taiwan Normal University |
| 16 | Saki Tanabe |
Opposite Hitter | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | 30 March 1999 | National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya |
| 17 | Kokoro Takio |
Opposite Hitte | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | 19 November 2001 | Mukogawa Women's University |
| 18 | Nana Fujimura |
Libero | 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) | 14 December 2004 | Okayama Minami High School |
| 22 | Honoka Doi |
Opposite Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | 15 May 2005 | Seiei High School |
| 23 | Mami Gondo |
Middle Blocker | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | 15 June 2001 | Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences |
Coaching staff
- Head coach:
Hideo Suzuki - Assistant coach:
Tamaru Shoichiro
Previous roster
edit2023–24
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These are the players for 2023/2024:
Coaching staff
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2022–23
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Coaching staff
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2021–22
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Coaching staff
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Honors
editTeam
edit| Season | Conference | Title | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | PVL Invitational Conference | Champions | [20] |
| 2024–25 | 2024 PVL Invitational Conference | 3rd place | [14] |
| V.League (Japan) | [to be determined] |
Individual
edit| Season | Conference | Award | Name | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | PVL Invitational Conference | Finals MVP | Kyoka Ohshima | [21] [22] |
| 1st Best Outside Spiker | Asaka Tamaru | |||
| 2024 | PVL Invitational Conference | Best Opposite Spiker | Saya Taniguchi | [23] |
| 2nd Best Middle Blocker | Low Mei Cing |
Foreign players
edit
Carrie Ann Pronuevo- Javen Sabas
Low Mei Cing – Malaysia national team player[24]
References
edit- ^ "Kurashiki Ablaze » rosters". Women Volleybox. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "練習場所・設備 | 岡山の女子バレーボールチーム 倉敷アブレイズ". kurashiki-ablaze.jp. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "13th National 6-Person Final League & Grand Champion Match Awards". Women Volleybox. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "倉敷アブレイズについて" [About Kurashiki Ablaze]. Kurashiki Ablaze (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Javier, Nikole. "Japanese, Vietnamese club teams join PVL Invitationals". Manila Bulletin.
- ^ Masoy, Niel Victor C. (25 July 2023). "Kurashiki moves on cusp of finals berth, boots out F2, Cignal, Kinh Bac". The Manila Times.
- ^ Basco, Karl Cedrick. "PVL: Kurashiki sets sight on last Finals berth vs PLDT". ABS-CBN.
- ^ Agcaoili, Lance (28 July 2023). "PVL: Kurashiki Ablaze end Creamline's unbeaten run ahead of their title showdown". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "Kurashiki deals Creamline its first loss ahead of PVL title showdown". Spin.ph. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "Kurashiki Ablaze dethrones Creamline in thrilling PVL finale". Spin.ph. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Kurashiki helps in Philsports cleanup after ceremony". pvl.ph. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Escarlote, Mark (3 August 2023). "Kurashiki returning next year – Welcome to Tribune Sports!". Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ Agcaoili, Lance (4 August 2023). "Kurashiki Ablaze to return to PVL to defend Invitationals title next season". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ a b Dannug, Jonash (12 September 2024). "Kurashiki in unison: Filipino teams have embraced Japanese style, making PVL tougher". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "2024-25 V.LEAGUE WOMENの開催要項・試合日程が決定しました！". Kurashiki Ablaze (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Valencia, Justin (4 September 2024). "Kurashiki aims to ignite passion for volleyball among Filipino youth in PVL title defense". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "倉敷アブレイズについて | 岡山の女子バレーボールチーム 倉敷アブレイズ". kurashiki-ablaze.jp. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "P-2 for match 1: EST-KUR" (PDF). PVL INVITATIONAL 2024. Premier Volleyball League. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Kurashiki Ablaze - Teams". Premier Volleyball League. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ Basco, Karl Cedrick (31 July 2023). "PVL: Kurashiki dethrones Creamline, claims Invitational crown". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Agcaoili, Lance (30 July 2023). "Cignal's Ces Molina crowned 2023 PVL Invitational MVP". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ Agcaoili, Lance (30 July 2023). "Kurashiki setter Kyoka Ohshima named PVL Invitationals Finals MVP". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ Agcaoili, Lance (12 September 2024). "Creamline's Michele Gumabao is PVL Invitationals MVP". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "No barrier too big for volleyball player Mei Cing as she spices it up in Japan". The Star. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.