VC Nagano Tridents

VC Nagano Tridents (VC長野トライデンツ) is a Japanese men's volleyball team based in Nagano prefecture.^[1] Currently it competes in the V.League Division 1, the highest volleyball league in Japan.

VC Nagano Tridents

Founded	2008
Chairman	Seiya Sasagawa
Manager	Shinji Kawamura
Captain	Kota Ikeda
League	V.League Division 1
2022–23	9th
Website	Club home page

History

VC Nagano Tridents was founded in April, 2008, the original name is VC Nagano Growth.^[2] They changed team's name into VC Nagano Trident in April 2010. In 2015, they participated in V Challenge League II. A year later, they won the title of V Challenge League II and promoted to V Challenge League I.

In 2018, they were eligible to compete in V. League Division 1 due to V.League expansion.

In 2022, VC Nagano Trident as the first team in V.League to launch "Token" programme in order to support their team's activities.^[3]

In July 2023, it's announced that Melco Group will acquire the whole club as the club is facing bankruptcy in August.There will be no changes in the employment and business continuity of the employees belonging to VC Nagano Tridents and the continuation of the competitions belonging to VC Nagano Tridents.The new company will rebuild the management to enter the S-V League under the new system.^[4][5]

Team

Current roster

Team roster – season 2023/2024
No.	Player Name	Date of birth	Position
1	Koki Yamada	(1999-10-07) October 7, 1999 (age 26)	Middle Blocker
2	Shohei Ono	(1999-04-25) April 25, 1999 (age 26)	Outside Hitter
3	Sota Ikeda	(1998-10-08) October 8, 1998 (age 27)	Outside/Opposite Hitter
4	Nakano Ryu	(1998-08-28) August 28, 1998 (age 27)	Outside Hitter
5	Ryo Shimokawa	(2000-01-12) January 12, 2000 (age 25)	Setter
6	Xiu Chengcheng	(1999-08-23) August 23, 1999 (age 26)	Outside Hitter
7	Hiroki Koto	(2000-04-14) April 14, 2000 (age 25)	Libero
9	Shota Fujiwara	(1998-07-14) July 14, 1998 (age 27)	Outside Hitter
12	Kazuma Sonae	(1998-01-06) January 6, 1998 (age 27)	Libero
13	Meguru Tsubaki	(1995-02-02) February 2, 1995 (age 30)	Setter
14	Ryoma Yanuki	(1995-12-24)December 24, 1995	Middle Blocker
15	Taihei Hazama	(1997-04-08) April 8, 1997 (age 28)	Middle Blocker
16	Trent O'Dea	(1994-05-11) May 11, 1994 (age 31)	Middle Blocker
17	Keito Nakamura	(1999-07-15) July 15, 1999 (age 26)	Outside Hitter
22	Taiga Itoyama	(2001-01-12) January 12, 2001 (age 24)	Setter
Head coach: Shinji Kawamura

Former roster

Team roster – Season 2022/23
No.	Player Name	Date of birth	Position
1	Koki Yamada	(1999-10-07) October 7, 1999 (age 26)	Middle Blocker
2	Yusuke Sugai	(1997-09-10) September 10, 1997 (age 28)	Opposite Hitter
3	Sota Ikeda	(1998-10-08) October 8, 1998 (age 27)	Outside/Oppostie Hitter
4	Nakano Ryu	(1998-08-28) August 28, 1998 (age 27)	Outside Hitter
5	Ryo Shimokawa	(2000-01-12) January 12, 2000 (age 25)	Setter
6	Tatsuki Ito	(1998-01-02) January 2, 1998 (age 27)	Outside Hitter
8	Carlos Alberto Araujo	(1992-04-29) April 29, 1992 (age 33)	Oppostie Hitter
9	Kota Ikeda (c)	(1997-02-08) February 8, 1997 (age 28)	Outside Hitter
12	Kazuma Sonae	(1998-01-06) January 6, 1998 (age 27)	Libero
13	Meguru Tsubaki	(1995-02-02) February 2, 1995 (age 30)	Setter
14	Ryoma Yanuki	(1995-12-24)December 24, 1995	Middle Blocker
15	Taihei Hazama	(1997-04-08) April 8, 1997 (age 28)	Middle Blocker
16	Kenshi Morisaki	(1992-07-25) July 25, 1992 (age 33)	Middle Blocker
17	Keito Nakamura	(1999-07-15) July 15, 1999 (age 26)	Outside Hitter
19	Hiromasa Miwa	(1999-12-17)December 17, 1999	Middle Blocker
20	Doni Haryono	(1999-02-21) February 21, 1999 (age 26)	Outside Hitter
24	Tsubasa Osada	(1993-04-30) April 30, 1993 (age 32)	Setter
Head coach: Shinji Kawamura

League results

  Champions    Runners-up

League		Position	Teams	Matches	Win	Lose
V.League Division 1	2018–19	10th	10	27	1	26
	2019–20	10th	10	27	3	24
	2020–21	9th	10	36	4	32
	2021–22	10th	10	36	5	31
	2022–23	9th	10	36	5	31