The SV League goes to Thailand: Nootsara and Hattaya open the season in Bangkok
On October 10, 2026, the SV League will stage an official match outside Japan for the first time.
The venue is Bangkok, Thailand. SAGA Hisamitsu Springs and Aleeza Aichi will open the 2026-27 season at Huamark Indoor Stadium, with the same matchup again on October 11.
Thailand is not simply a host country for the league. Thai stars have been part of Japanese volleyball for years, and many have already produced major numbers in the SV League.
Looking back at official SV.League data from the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, their impact is clear.
Thatdao Nuekjang (PFU) — 904 points in two seasons, then an Asian title
The biggest two-season total belongs to Thatdao Nuekjang of PFU BlueCats Ishikawa Kahoku: 91 matches, 301 sets, 904 points, 678 attack kills and 199 blocks, with a 48.4% attack percentage.
Her 2025-26 season was even stronger: 327 kills from 633 attempts, a 51.7% attack percentage, 440 total points and 97 blocks. That was nearly six percentage points higher than the previous season, and she was selected to the season Best 6.
Her year did not end in Japan. At the 2026 Asian Championship, Thatdao played a major role as Thailand stopped Japan and won the title, securing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
After producing 51.7%, 440 points and 97 blocks in the SV League, she returned to the Thai national team and climbed to the top of Asia. In 2026-27, she remains with PFU.
Chatchu-on scored 568; Wimonrat added 121 points year over year
Thatdao is not the only Thai player with major SV numbers. Chatchu-on Moksri produced 568 points for Victorina Himeji in 2024-25, alongside 1,380 attack attempts, 510 kills and 753 receptions in 32 matches and 111 sets.
Her 2025-26 playing time was limited, but she moves to Saitama Ageo Medics for 2026-27. The question is whether the “568-point Chatchu-on” can re-emerge in a new environment.
Wimonrat Thanapan also made a major jump. She went from 150 points, 40 blocks and 30.1% attack efficiency in 2024-25 to 271 points, 84 blocks, 27 aces and 36.9% in 2025-26 — an increase of 121 points in one season.
She has 421 points and 124 blocks across the first two SV seasons and stays with Aranmare. Saitama Ageo also adds libero Jidapa Nahuanong, bringing the number of Thai players in the 2026-27 SV League to six.
Then on October 10, the SV League goes to Thailand
The 2026-27 women’s season starts in Bangkok with SAGA Hisamitsu Springs against Aleeza Aichi. And this is not just any opening match: SAGA Hisamitsu are the reigning 2025-26 SV League champions.
Across the net, two Thai figures will stand at the center of the occasion — first, one of the greatest setters in Asian volleyball history.
Nootsara Tomkom (Aleeza Aichi) — the legend respected by Japanese players
Nootsara Tomkom needs little introduction to long-time Thai volleyball fans. Her influence is respected far beyond Thailand, including by top Japanese players. She remains one of Asia’s defining setters.
She appeared in 19 matches and 47 sets for Kariya Queenseis in 2025-26, but points and attack percentage barely begin to describe her value. Her career has always been about choosing the right attacker, the right moment and the right tempo.
She stays with the renamed Aleeza Aichi in 2026-27. Her first opponent is the reigning champion, SAGA Hisamitsu. And the setting is not Japan, but Bangkok.
A Thai legend will open a new SV season in her home country while running the offense for a Japanese club.
Hattaya Bamrungsuk (SAGA Hisamitsu) — back home with the champions
Hattaya has spent the first two SV seasons with SAGA Hisamitsu, totaling 79 matches, 193 sets, 414 points and 95 blocks, with a 39.7% attack percentage.
She scored 305 points in 2024-25. Her playing time fell in 2025-26, but she still recorded 35 blocks — and that season ended with SAGA Hisamitsu winning the SV League title.
On October 10, Hattaya returns to Thailand as part of the reigning Japanese champion. She will not be wearing the Thai national-team jersey, but the uniform of the SV League champions.
Across the net will be Nootsara Tomkom.
Nootsara vs Hattaya
Nootsara will lead a Japanese club in her home country against the reigning champions. Hattaya will return home as a member of the team that won Japan’s top league. The 2026-27 SV season begins with these two Thai stars facing each other in Bangkok.
Thatdao has 904 points across the first two SV seasons. Chatchu-on once scored 568 in one season. Wimonrat posted 271 points and 84 blocks last year. Hattaya has 414 points across two seasons.
Now the league itself goes to Thailand. October 10 and 11 at Huamark Indoor Stadium: SAGA Hisamitsu Springs vs Aleeza Aichi, the first official SV League matches ever staged overseas.
A Thai legend will run one Japanese team. Hattaya will return home with the Japanese champions. It is a fitting way to connect what Thai players have already built in Japan with what comes next in Bangkok.
JVDB will continue following the numbers of all six Thai players throughout the 2026-27 season.