It has been over two months since the start of the 2025–26 season of the DAIDO LIFE SV.LEAGUE.
Currently, 66 world -class international players from 27 countries and regions are participating in the league.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the featured athletes from both the men’s and women’s divisions.

*Statistics referenced in the articles are based on data available as of December 25, 2025.

Rosamaria Montibeller (BRA)

She is sometimes called the “Queen of Brazilian Volleyball” – standing out in Brazil’s team of stars is not easy, but outside hitter Rosamaria Montibeller manages to do so with ease, for her style, her personality, her enthusiasm and her brilliant game. She’s one of those players who always seems to know exactly what to do in any given situation and can execute her planned shots and blocks perfectly. Since 2023, she has been a key member of the DENSO AIRYBEES based in Fukushima Prefecture in northern Japan, having changed clubs a lot before reaching Japan – five teams in Brazil and four in Italy. Despite some success with Brazilian club teams and a gold medal with Brazil at the World Grand Prix in 2017, the big prizes have eluded her, winning silver (2020) and bronze (2024) Olympic medals and silvers in the World Championship, Grand Champions Cup and FIVB Nations League. At the SV.LEAGUE awards last May, she was named the “Most Impressive Player” and selected as the Regular Season Best6 Outside Hitter. The 185-cm Montibeller averaged over 21 points per game last season and is ranked in the top 8 attackers in the SV.LEAGUE this season. She believes in the risk-taking philosophy of Brazil’s legendary coach Ze Roberto. “Playing a game without taking risks is not a real game,” she says. “I will never forgive myself if I lose a game without trying and believing in myself. Even if I make mistakes, it’s better that I have the courage to always try.” 

Sylvia Chinelo Nwakalor (ITA) 

To say that Sylvia Chinelo Nwakalor has had an impact in Japan would be an understatement. Last season, playing for TORAY ARROWS SHIGA, she was the SV.LEAGUE’s top scorer and named Regular Season Best6 Opposite. She averaged over 24 points per game and became the first player in the SV.LEAGUE WOMEN to score over 1,000 points in a single season. She was also the top scorer in the final season of the V.LEAGUE (2023-24). This season, she changed teams in the SV.LEAUGE, switching from TORAY ARROWS SHIGA to NEC RED ROCKETS KAWASAKI, who were runners-up the first season of the SV.LEAGUE (2024-25). Nwakalor is currently sixth in scorers and 10^th in blocks per set and Nwakalor and her sister, Linda, have both played for the Italian national team, who are currently Olympic champions (2024), world champions (2025) and Nations League champions (2024, 2025). Nwakalor – nickname Sisso – is an all-around player with terrific jumping power. While known for her intelligent and powerful spikes, she also is a strong blocker and has even been selected as libero for the Italian national team. She describes her playing style as “instinctive.” She says volleyball means a lot to her. “When I was a child, I was really shy, and through volleyball I was able to build relationships. Volleyball taught me loyalty, respect, sharing, and discipline. Because of volleyball I have the chance to meet a lot of people and make a lot of friends.”

Lise Van Hecke (BEL)

Belgian opposite Lise Van Hecke once said she expected volleyball to be a sideline to her life. Clearly, she was too good to be a part-time player, but being a full-time player meant moving abroad and she’s been a player on the move all her career, from Belgium to Italy to Brazil to Turkey and in 2022 to Japan. “Volleyball has taken me to so many interesting places,” she says. Even in Japan, she hasn’t stopped moving. She is, she says, a player who puts pressure on herself and she has always looked for new challenges. She stayed for a year at her first Japanese club, Hisamitsu Springs, and a year at Toyota Auto Body Queenseis, before moving on to OSAKA MARVELOUS in 2024 at the start of the SV.LEAGUE. It was a good move. The OSAKA MARVELOUS clinched the inaugural SV.LEAGUE title, overcoming NEC RED ROCKETS KAWASAKI 2-0 in the finals. Van Hecke was the top scorer for the team with 648 regular-season points (more than 16 per match), including 67 blocks.  After winning the SV.LEAGUE title, Van Hecke said of her team, “Our greatest strength in the 2024-25 season was that we overcame difficult situations by never giving up and continuing to work towards the same goal. We really had a great group. Off and on the court, we really supported each other. I think it's always an amazing feeling when you win a title and to be the first in history, it makes it only more beautiful.”

Danielle Cuttino (USA)

Danielle Cuttino has returned to Japan for the 2025-26 season with QUEENSEIS KARIYA in central Japan, having previously spent one season (2022-23) with its predecessor Toyota Auto Body Queenseis when she was top scorer in the league. The 194-cm opposite hitter, who has also played in the United States, Italy, Brazil and Turkey, packs a big punch in her spikes but is also a fast mover and accomplished blocker. The US national team player has already made a huge contribution to QUEENSEIS KARIYA, averaging nearly 20 points per game this season, including an impressive 31 blocks and 10 service aces. Cuttino said she had to change the way she approached volleyball to play in Japan. “I have to find really different ways to attack and put the ball away. They are very technically sound, and I was able to learn a lot of different things and get better at so many different things. I would love to incorporate more of the Japanese style of play into my game.” She learns as she plays: “If I remember doing something in practice or a match well, then I like to go back to the moment. What did I do? What exact moment was it? How did I feel when I felt my best? If I hit a really good shot, I like to look at everything – my first step, my approach, what adjustments I made – so I can recreate it later.” She says she wants to be remembered “as someone who really looked like they enjoyed playing as much as they really did. Because volleyball is an exciting sport.” She says there’s always room for improvement. “We're never going to be perfect. I think that once I took that off of my shoulders of striving for that perfection, I just felt more relaxed. I think that if you are willing to put in that work, that time, and even if you get 1 percent better each day, it's worth it and you will see results.” 

Ajcharaporn Kongyot (THA)

Thai star Ajcharaporn Kongyot is known as “Pure” and she lives up to her nickname. While she smiles a lot, she is also known for crying a lot, showing her emotions especially when happy, sad or talking about her teammates. This year she cried tears of sadness after losing the SV.LEAGUE Championship Finals and again after Thailand lost to Turkey in the Volleyball Nations League, a match in which she struggled to find her best form. The smiles returned in December when she captained Thailand to victory in the Southeast Asian Games. Her first season with NEC RED ROCKETS KAWASAKI in the SV.LEAGUE ended with disappointment after a 2-0 loss in the Championship Finals. This season she is playing for Aranmare YAMAGATA alongside compatriot Wimonrat Thanapan and is averaging 12 points per game. “For me, this is not just a new start, but an important opportunity to learn, grow and further improve myself,” she says. The 30-year-old Thai recognizes that it’s her duty to nurture younger players and is happy to lead by example. Her style is proving popular with volleyball fans as she has over half a million followers on Instagram.