Lausanne, Switzerland, March 22, 2017 – Emiliya Nikolova of Bulgaria scored 35 points on Saturday and another 30 on Sunday to lead NEC Red Rockets of Kawasaki to the women’s Japan V.Premier League title after back-to-back wins over defending champions Hisamitsu Springs of Kobe in the best-of-two final series of the competition.

NEC Red Rockets beat Hisamitsu Springs twice in five sets 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23, 20-18) and again 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 25-19, 18-25, 15-6). It was the seventh Japan championship title for NEC Red Rockets. Only Hitachi Belle Fille (a club disbanded in 2001) have more with 18.

The two teams will be playing at the 2017 FIVB Club World Championship, May 14-18 – Hisamitsu Springs as hosts and NEC Red Rockets as reigning Asian Club champions. They are joined by the current South American champions Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro and the European champions that will emerge after the Final Four of the Champions League, April 22-23 in Treviso.