Wikipedia

Kurashiki Ablaze

The Kurashiki Ablaze is a Japanese professional women's volleyball team from Kurashiki, Okayama.

Kurashiki Ablaze
Crest
Founded2019
ManagerHideo Suzuki
CaptainOhshima Kyoka
WebsiteClub home page
Uniforms
Home
Away
Championships
1
2023 PVL Invitational Conference

History edit

It 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 would join the Premier Volleyball League in the Philippines as one of the two foreign guest teams for the 2023 Invitational Conference.[4][5][6] They also beat the undefeated 6 year semi finals no loss place of Creamline Cool Smashers.[7][8] Kurashiki won their first title in the PVL against the Creamline Cool Smashers in five-set match.[9] After the awards ceremony, Kurashiki helped to clean the PhilSports Arena that caught the attention of the Creamline Cool Smashers team manager Alan Acero.[10]

Sports Vision president Ricky Palou and the head coach of Kurashiki Ablaze Hideo Suzuki confirmed that Kurashiki Ablaze will return in 2024 to defend their PVL Invitation Conference crown.[11][12]


Team image edit

The meaning of ABLAZE to the team refers to "passion", "excitement", and "burning".[13]

Current roster edit

Main article: 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference

These are the players for 2023/2024:

Kurashiki Ablaze
No. Player Position Height Birth date School
1   Wako Omura Setter 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) (2001-06-15) 15 June 2001 (age 22) Okayama Minami High School
2   Saya Taniguchi Opposite Hitter 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2000-08-12) 12 August 2000 (age 23) Kyoto Tachibana University
3   Kyoka Ohshima(C) Setter 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 26) Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education
4   Sayaka Tanida Outside Hitter 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) Seishin Girl's High School
5   Momoka Yashimiro Libero 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) (1998-09-20) 20 September 1998 (age 25) Chūgoku Gakuen University
7   Ayane Wanatabe Libero 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) (2002-11-03) 3 November 2002 (age 21) Seiei High School
9   Kaoru Takahashi Libero 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 25) Chūgoku Gakuen University
10   Yukino Yano Outside Hitter 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) (2000-03-01) 1 March 2000 (age 24) Nagasaki International University
11   Akane Hiraoka Middle Blocker 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1999-11-04) 4 November 1999 (age 24) Fukuyama Heisei University
12   Asaka Tamaru Opposite Hitter 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1998-08-04) 4 August 1998 (age 25) Kyoto Sangyo University
13   Miho Kawamura Middle Blocker 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1999-09-13) 13 September 1999 (age 24) Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences
16   Saki Tanabe Opposite Hitter 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) (1999-03-30) 30 March 1999 (age 25) National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya
17   Mihaya Hata Middle Blocker 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2002-09-11) 11 September 2002 (age 21) Eimei High School
18   Reina Fujiwara Opposite Hitter 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1997-10-25) 25 October 1997 (age 26) International Pacific University
20   Nana Fujimura Libero 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) (2004-12-14) 14 December 2004 (age 19) Okayama Minami High School
23   Honoka Okuda Libero 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) (2003-07-19) 19 July 2003 (age 20) Okayama Minami High School

Coaching staff

Previous roster edit

Players for 2022/2023 edit

Kurashiki Ablaze
No. Player Position Height Birth date School
1   Wako Omura Setter 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) (2001-06-15) 15 June 2001 (age 22) Okayama Minami High School
2   Saya Taniguchi Opposite Hitter 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2000-08-12) 12 August 2000 (age 23) Kyoto Tachibana University
3   Kyoka Ohshima(C) Setter 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 26) Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education
4   Sayaka Tanida Outside Hitter 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) Seishin Girl's High School
5   Momoka Yashimiro Libero 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) (1998-09-20) 20 September 1998 (age 25) Chūgoku Gakuen University
6   Asuka Kuwabura Libero 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) (1999-10-09) 9 October 1999 (age 24) Nagano Bunka Gakuen High School
7   Hikari Niguma Opposite Hitter 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) (1997-01-03) 3 January 1997 (age 27) N/A
9   Kaoru Takahashi Libero 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 25) Chūgoku Gakuen University
10   Yukino Yano Middle Blocker 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) (1999-11-04) 4 November 1999 (age 24) Nagasaki International University
11   Akane Hiraoka Outside Hitter 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (2000-03-01) 1 March 2000 (age 24) Fukuyama Heisei University
13   Miho Kawamura Middle Blocker 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1999-09-13) 13 September 1999 (age 24) Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences
14   Sachiyo Takahashi Middle Blocker 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (1983-11-04) 4 November 1983 (age 40) N/A
15   Asaka Tamaru Opposite Hitter 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 25) Kyoto Sangyo University
16   Kumiko Matsubara Libero 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) (1987-05-08) 8 May 1987 (age 36) N/A
17   Mihaya Hata Middle Blocker 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2002-09-11) 11 September 2002 (age 21) Eimei High School
18   Reina Fujiwara Libero 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1997-10-25) 25 October 1997 (age 26) International Pacific University
19   Ayane Watanabe Libero 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) (2002-11-03) 3 November 2002 (age 21) Seiei High School
20   Nana Fujimura Libero 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) (2004-12-14) 14 December 2004 (age 19) Okayama Minami High School
21   Carrie Ann Pronuevo Outside Hitter 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (1997-12-06) 6 December 1997 (age 26) Polytechnic University of the Philippines
22   Javen Sabas Outside Hitter 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (1999-01-31) 31 January 1999 (age 25) Polytechnic University of the Philippines
23   Honoka Okuda Libero 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) (2003-07-19) 19 July 2003 (age 20) Okayama Minami High School

Coaching staff

Players for 2021/2022 edit

Kurashiki Ablaze
No. Player Position Height Birth date School
1   Wako Omura Setter 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) (2001-06-15) 15 June 2001 (age 22) Okayama Minami High School
2   Ruka Matsushima Setter 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) (1997-12-17) 17 December 1997 (age 26) Kobe Shinwa Women's University
3   Kyoka Ohshima(C) Setter 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 26) Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education
4   Sayaka Tanida Outside Hitter 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) Seishin Girl's High School
5   Momoka Yashimiro Libero 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) (1998-09-20) 20 September 1998 (age 25) Chūgoku Gakuen University
6   Asuka Kuwabura Libero 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) (1999-10-09) 9 October 1999 (age 24) Nagano Bunka Gakuen High School
7   Hikari Niguma Opposite Hitter 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) (1997-01-03) 3 January 1997 (age 27) N/A
9   Kaoru Takahashi Libero 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 25) Chūgoku Gakuen University
11   Akane Hiraoka Outside Hitter 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (2000-03-01) 1 March 2000 (age 24) Fukuyama Heisei University
13   Miho Kawamura Middle Blocker 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1999-09-13) 13 September 1999 (age 24) Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences
14   Sachiyo Takahashi Middle Blocker 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (1983-11-04) 4 November 1983 (age 40) N/A
15   Asaka Tamaru Opposite Hitter 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 25) Kyoto Sangyo University
16   Kumiko Matsubara Libero 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) (1987-05-08) 8 May 1987 (age 36) N/A
17   Mihaya Hata Middle Blocker 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2002-09-11) 11 September 2002 (age 21) Eimei High School
18   Reina Fujiwara Libero 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1997-10-25) 25 October 1997 (age 26) International Pacific University
19   Ayane Watanabe Libero 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) (2002-11-03) 3 November 2002 (age 21) Seiei High School
20   Rina Okabayashi Libero 1.48 m (4 ft 10 in) N/A N/A
21   Carrie Ann Pronuevo Outside Hitter 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (1997-12-06) 6 December 1997 (age 26) Polytechnic University of the Philippines
22   Javen Sabas Outside Hitter 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (1999-01-31) 31 January 1999 (age 25) Polytechnic University of the Philippines
23   Honoka Okuda Libero 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) (2003-07-19) 19 July 2003 (age 20) Okayama Minami High School

Coaching staff

Imports edit

  Carrie Ann Pronuevo

  Javen Sabas

Honors edit

Team awards edit

2023 edit

Champion of 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference

Individual awards edit

2023

  Kyoka Ohshima – Finals MVP[14]

  Asaka Tamaru – 1st Best Opposite Hitter[15]

Philanthropy edit

Off the court, the Kurashiki Ablaze Women's team is actively involved in community outreach programs and charity events.[16] In fact, Kurashiki visited Barangay 158 in Tondo, Manila, to hold an outreach program with the community residents.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ "Kurashiki Ablaze » rosters". Women Volleybox. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "13th National 6-Person Final League & Grand Champion Match Awards". Women Volleybox. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. ^ Javier, Nikole. "Japanese, Vietnamese club teams join PVL Invitationals". Manila Bulletin.
  5. ^ Masoy, Niel Victor C. (25 July 2023). "Kurashiki moves on cusp of finals berth, boots out F2, Cignal, Kinh Bac". The Manila Times.
  6. ^ Basco, Karl Cedrick. "PVL: Kurashiki sets sight on last Finals berth vs PLDT". ABS-CBN.
  7. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (28 July 2023). "PVL: Kurashiki Ablaze end Creamline's unbeaten run ahead of their title showdown". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Kurashiki deals Creamline its first loss ahead of PVL title showdown". Spin.ph. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Kurashiki Ablaze dethrones Creamline in thrilling PVL finale". Spin.ph. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Kurashiki helps in Philsports cleanup after ceremony". pvl.ph. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  11. ^ Escarlote, Mark (3 August 2023). "Kurashiki returning next year – Welcome to Tribune Sports!". Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  12. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (4 August 2023). "Kurashiki Ablaze to return to PVL to defend Invitationals title next season". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (30 July 2023). "Kurashiki setter Kyoka Ohshima named PVL Invitationals Finals MVP". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  15. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (31 July 2023). "PVL: Creamline's Tots Carlos in awe of Kurashiki star Asaka Tamaru". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Kurashiki Ablaze Women". betsapi.com. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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