Ayaka Araki

In this Japanese name, the surname is Araki.
Ayaka Araki
Personal information
Full nameAyaka Araki
NationalityJapanese
Born (2001-09-02) 2 September 2001
Onojo City, Fukuoka, Japan
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight78 kg (172 lb)
Spike300 cm (118 in)
Block292 cm (115 in)
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle blocker
Current club Saga Hisamitsu Springs
Number2
Career
YearsTeams
2017–2020
2020–present		 Higashi Kyushu Ryukoku High School
Saga Hisamitsu Springs
National team
2017– Japan
Honours
Women's Volleyball
Representing  Japan
Nations League
2024 Bangkok Team
Asian U18 Championship
2017 Chongqing team
U20 World Championship
2019 Mexico team

Ayaka Araki (荒木 彩花, Araki Ayaka; born 2 September 2001) is a Japanese professional volleyball player. She plays in the SV.League for Saga Hisamitsu Springs.

Personal Life

She wears goggles while playing because she was hit in the eye by Foluke Akinradewo while jumping to block during training session. During interview with Erika Araki, she said, "... when I put the ball out with an incomplete hand, it hit my right eye directly, leaving me blind for about a week. I was told that if I was hit again, I would go blind, so I started wearing goggles."[1]

Career

Early Years

Araki started playing volleyball in junior high school. By her second year, she was selected for the JOC (National Inter-Prefectural Junior High School Volleyball Tournament) and also named a promising Olympic athlete. In her third year, she was selected as the best player and attended Higashi Kyushu Ryukoku High School, a strong volleyball school. It was the former team of Miyu Nagaoka whom she admired.[2]

In January 2020, the team won the 72nd All Japan High School Volleyball Championship (Haruko). She was named as the best 6. In the same year, she won the U20 World Championship, alongside Mayu Ishikawa, Nichika Yamada and Minami Nishimura.[3]

Professional Years

On January 24, 2020, she was accepted to join Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical (now Saga Hisamitsu Springs).[4] As she debuted into professional league, she injured her right knee and underwent a surgery.[5]

Although she didn't play much games in the 2021-22 V.League Division 1 Women season, she was outstanding in the 2022-23 V.League Division 1 Women's season. She won the Spike Award, Block Award, and named as the best 6.[6][7]

Araki was selected for Japan women's national volleyball team in 2023. She also selected as a member to compete in Volleyball Nations League. She was a starting member in 8 of 12 qualifying matches.

However, on July 1, her brilliant debut must stop there. Midway through the second set of the match against Thailand, she stepped on an opponent foot while landing a block, she injured her right ankle and was substituted. She left the venue with a wheelchair because she unable to stand by herself.[8]

The injury occurred at her prime time when she made strong impression in the Nations League. She had to withdraw from the team and missed the chance to play in the OQT. She stated that this was the most painful injury and mentally draining she has ever had.[9][10]

On November 26, 2023, she stepped on the court for the first time in about five month towards the end of the second set against JT Marvelous (now Osaka Marvelous).[9]

On January 6, 2024, she made her first starting member in the match against NEC Red Rockets. Unfortunately, she injured her left ring finger. She was benched in the match against Denso Airybees the next following day. On January 11, the team announced that she underwent surgery for a fractured metacarpal bone in her left ring finger.[11]

Awards

Individual

High School Team

  • 2017-18 All Japan High School Championship - - Runner-up, with Higashi Kyushu Ryukoku
  • 2018-19 All Japan High School Championship - - Runner-up, with Higashi Kyushu Ryukoku
  • 2019-20 All Japan High School Championship - - Champion, with Higashi Kyushu Ryukoku

Club Team

National Team

References

  1. ^ "バレーボール日本代表・荒木彩花はなぜ、ゴーグルをつけるのか？「自分の蒸気ですごく曇ります」プレーへの支障は…荒木絵里香が直撃！（NumberWeb編集部）". Number Web - ナンバー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  2. ^ "バレーボール日本代表・荒木彩花はなぜ、ゴーグルをつけるのか？「自分の蒸気ですごく曇ります」プレーへの支障は…荒木絵里香が直撃！（NumberWeb編集部）". Number Web - ナンバー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  3. ^ "バレー日本代表・荒木彩花 "人生で最も苦しい怪我"からの復活 「代表経験がクソガキだった自分を変えてくれた」【前編】 | TBS NEWS DIG (2ページ)". TBS NEWS DIG (in Japanese). 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  4. ^ https://vbm.link/38044/
  5. ^ "バレーボール日本代表・荒木彩花はなぜ、ゴーグルをつけるのか？「自分の蒸気ですごく曇ります」プレーへの支障は…荒木絵里香が直撃！（NumberWeb編集部）". Number Web - ナンバー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  6. ^ "歴史に残る激闘のファイナル制しNECが優勝 －中央日土地 2022-23 V.LEAGUE DIVISION1 WOMEN V.FINAL STAGE FINAL 最終結果－ News". SV League/Japan Volleyball League JVL Official website MEN (in Japanese). 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  7. ^ "V1女子 NECが6年ぶり7度目の優勝 最終順位と個人賞が決定 | 月バレ.com【月刊バレーボール】". 月バレ.com【月刊バレーボール】 | 月刊バレーボールが運営するバレー情報サイト (in Japanese). 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  8. ^ 勝部晃多. "【バレー】荒木彩花が足負傷で途中交代…バランス崩し転倒、自力で立ち上がれず - バレーボール : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  9. ^ a b "バレー日本代表・荒木彩花 "人生で最も苦しい怪我"からの復活 「代表経験がクソガキだった自分を変えてくれた」【前編】 | TBS NEWS DIG (1ページ)". TBS NEWS DIG (in Japanese). 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  10. ^ "バレー日本代表・荒木彩花 "人生で最も苦しい怪我"からの復活 「代表経験がクソガキだった自分を変えてくれた」【前編】 | TBS NEWS DIG (2ページ)". TBS NEWS DIG (in Japanese). 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
  11. ^ Shimbun, The Nishinippon. "久光スプリングスに再びショック…復帰したばかりの荒木彩花が左手骨折で手術 日本代表でもブレークの逸材【Vリーグ女子】：「おっ！」でつながる地元密着のスポーツ応援メディア 西スポWEB OTTO!". 「おっ！」でつながる地元密着のスポーツ応援メディア 西スポWEB OTTO! (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-26.
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