Saitama Ageo's new captain Hirona Gonda: 10 blocks against a top rival
Hirona Gonda takes over as captain of Saitama Ageo Medics for the 2026-27 season.
Looking at her match-by-match numbers from 2024-25 and 2025-26, one opponent stands out for her blocking.
Ten blocks in three matches. She scored at least three block points in every one of them.
Which opponent was it?
How does that compare with other teams?
Gonda had seven blocks in three matches against Aranmare Yamagata and six in three against Astemo. She had five in three matches against SAGA Hisamitsu and five in five against Denso.
Against the team at the top of this list, she had 10 blocks in three matches and 12 sets: 0.83 per set.
Against all other opponents combined, she had 47 blocks in 41 matches and 153 sets, or 0.31 per set. The difference is hard to miss.
The opponent was NEC Kawasaki
That opponent was NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki, who finished second in the 2024-25 regular season and first in 2025-26.
Gonda recorded three blocks against NEC on February 9, 2025, four on November 30, 2025, and another three in the Championship match on April 11, 2026.
She reached at least three in all three appearances. Her 10 blocks were her highest total against any opponent over the two seasons.
The blocks, rather than the attack, stood out
Did she simply score more points overall against NEC?
Her 18 points across those three matches consisted of seven attack kills, 10 blocks and one service ace. Blocks accounted for more than half.
She converted seven of 29 attacks, a 24.1% success rate, below her combined 34.1% against other opponents. She served one ace from 41 attempts.
Her attack and serve did not produce unusually high point totals. Her blocking did: at least three points in each appearance.
Four meetings in the closing weeks
Saitama Ageo and NEC meet on February 20 and 21, 2027, at Fukaya Big Turtle. They meet again on March 27 and 28 at NEC's home venue in the final round of the regular season.
Four head-to-head matches arrive late in the campaign. If the standings remain close, those meetings could carry considerable weight.
Could the new captain's blocks help decide Saitama Ageo's position? After 10 blocks in her past three appearances against NEC, her next numbers will be worth watching.