# Victorina Himeji

Victorina Himeji (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. The club was founded in 2016.
Himeji entered the V.League in 2018 playing in V.League Division 2 and won the 2018–2019 season Championship which automatically promoted them to Japan's top level V.League Division 1.

## History

The team registered with the Japan Volleyball association in March 2016. Three months later Yoshie Takeshita was announced as head coach. In November 2016 Masayoshi Manabe, who was born in Himeji, was appointed general manager.
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. If successful it would be the first time in Japan that one club team had transferred to another. The team's goal was to enter the V.Challenge League II for the 2017–2018 season. By August 3 Himeji had reached an agreement with only two Sendai players. 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.
In March 2018 the Japanese V.League announced Himeji Victorina will play the 2018–2019 season in the newly organized V.League Division 2
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. As 2018-2019 V2 Champions they are automatically promoted to play the 2019–2020 season in V.League Division 1.
Masayoshi Manabe is currently the team owner and Kiyoshi Abo is the team's general manager.

## Honors

V.League Division 2
* Champions (1): 2018–2019
* Runners-up:
Emperor's Cup and Empress' Cup All Japan Volleyball Championship
* Champions (1): 2024

## League results

| League | 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 |
| V.League Division 1 | 2020-21 | 10th | 12 | 21 | 4 | 17 |
| V.League Division 1 | 2021-22 | 11th | 12 | 33 | 8 | 25 |

## Current squad

2024-2025 Squad
* Head coach: Avital Selinger
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth | Height (m) |
| 2 | Miki Sakurai | Setter | (1996-05-01) 1 May 1996 (age 28) | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| 3 | Saki Tanaka | Outside Hitter | (1996-09-21) 21 September 1996 (age 28) | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| 4 | Chihiro Sasaki | Middle Blocker | (1997-11-17) 17 November 1997 (age 27) | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| 5 | Mika Shibata (C) | Setter | (1994-06-07) 7 June 1994 (age 30) | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| 6 | Mari Morita | Libero | (1997-09-18) 18 September 1997 (age 27) | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) |
| 7 | Minja Osmajić | Middle Blocker | (2003-02-12) 12 February 2003 (age 21) | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| 8 | Akiho Matsumoto | Outside Hitter | (1997-06-29) 29 June 1997 (age 27) | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| 9 | Kaya Watanabe | Outside Hitter | (1998-06-09) 9 June 1998 (age 26) | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| 10 | Arisa Inoue | Outside Hitter | (1995-05-08) 8 May 1995 (age 29) | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| 11 | Airi Miyabe | Outside Hitter | (1998-07-29) 29 July 1998 (age 26) | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| 12 | Karen Moriki | Setter | (1999-09-11) 11 September 1999 (age 25) | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| 13 | Mao Ito | Middle Blocker | (2000-06-23) 23 June 2000 (age 24) | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| 14 | Runa Adachi | Middle Blocker | (2000-11-03) 3 November 2000 (age 24) | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| 15 | Asuka Nozu | Outside Hitter | (2000-05-23) 23 May 2000 (age 24) | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| 16 | Mana Yoshida | Libero | (2001-02-01) 1 February 2001 (age 24) | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| 18 | Ana Luiza Rüdiger | Outside Hitter | (2003-01-02) 2 January 2003 (age 22) | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| 19 | Chatchu-on Moksri | Outside Hitter | (1999-11-06) 6 November 1999 (age 25) | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) |