Wikipedia

Manami Kojima

Manami Kojima (小島 満菜美, Kojima Manami; born 7 November 1994) is a Japanese professional volleyball player. She plays in the League One Volleyball for LOVB Salt Lake.

Manami Kojima
Personal information
Full nameManami Kojima
NationalityJapanese
Born (1994-11-07) 7 November 1994 (age 31)
Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan
Height1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Weight58 kg (128 lb)
Spike269 cm (106 in)
Block245 cm (96 in)
College / UniversityAoyama Gakuin University
Volleyball information
PositionLibero
Current clubUnited States LOVB Salt Lake
Number8 (national)
16 (club)
Career
YearsTeams
2010–2013
2013–2017
2017-2024
2024-
2024-		Japan Funabashi Municipal High School
Japan Aoyama Gakuin University
Japan NEC Red Rockets
United States LOVB Salt Lake
United States Athletes Unlimited
National team
2013– Japan
Honours
Women's Volleyball
Representing  Japan
Nations League
Silver medal – second place2024 BangkokTeam
Asian Championship
Bronze medal – third place2023 Nakhon RatchasimaTeam
FISU World University Games
Silver medal – second place2017 TaipeiTeam
Bronze medal – third place2015 GwangjuTeam
VTV International Volleyball Cup
Gold medal – first place2017 Hai DuongTeam
AVC Eastern Zonal Championship
Silver medal – second place2016 ZhangjiagangTeam
Gold medal – first place2014 Hong KongTeam
U20 World Championship
Silver medal – second place2013 BrnoTeam

Career

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Early years

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Kojima started playing volleyball in the third grade of elementary school. She said that she was invited by a friend. She then attended Funabashi Municipal High School. With the team, she excelled in the national tournament, such as the 2012 Inter-High School Championship. She was also selected as a member of the All-Japan High School Team.[1]

In 2013, she attended Aoyama Gakuin University. She won the Libero Award and Rookie of the Year Award at the Kanto University Division 1 Spring League.[2] She also selected as the member of Japan U20 National Team and participated in 2013 FIVB Volleyball Women's U20 World Championship held in Brno in June. She contributed to the team first runner-up in 28 years and also named as the Best Libero.

She also competed in AVC Eastern Zonal Championship in 2014 and 2016. She also selected for 2015 and 2017 FISU University Games. She performed very well in 2017 FISU held in Taipei where the team won silver medal for the first time in 11 tournaments.[citation needed]

Professional years

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On December 26, 2016, NEC Red Rockets announced that Kojima would join the team.

She was selected for the Japan women's national volleyball team. She also selected to compete in 2022 VNL. She joined training camp for 2022 World Championship.[3] However she wasn't selected as a member to compete in world championship.[4]

In 2022–2023 season, she helped NEC to won their first victory in six season and she won Best Receiver award.[5][6]

She was appointed as a captain of NEC in the 2023-24 V.League Division 1 Women's season.[7] NEC won consecutive trophy and she was named as the Best Libero Award.[8]

On March 11, 2024, NEC announced that she would leave the team at the end of the season and transferred to League One Volleyball in the US.[9][10] In July, it was announced that she would be joining LOVB Salt Lake.[11] In July, it was announced that she would be competing in the Athletes Unlimited tournament, which began in October.[12] The tournament is a competition based on individual points. She placed 7th out of 44 players and 2nd as a Libero. She was voted as the Best Libero by the players.[13]

In April 2025, she was awarded the Libero of the Year award at the LOVB's 2025 season.[14]

Awards

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Individual

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College team

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Club team

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National team

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References

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  1. ↑ 2021-22V.LEAGUE公式プログラム チームの顔 2021年 11 月号 [雑誌]: バレーボール 増刊. Nihon Bunka Publishing. November 2021. p. 169.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ↑ "関東大学バレー春季リーグ最終順位＆個人賞（男女1部・男女2部） 2013-05-20 - 排球博客". volley20090401.blog.fc2.com. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  3. ↑ "【バレー】世界選手権女子代表合宿メンバー16人発表「精度さらに上げて臨む」古賀紗理那主将 - バレーボール : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  4. ↑ "眞鍋ジャパン 世界バレーに挑む14人を発表 リベロに内瀬戸、宮部藍梨＆愛芽世が姉妹で代表入り | TBS NEWS DIG (1ページ)". TBS NEWS DIG (in Japanese). 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  5. ↑ "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 2026-02-27.
  6. ↑ "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 2026-02-27.
  7. ↑ "2023-24シーズン キャプテン・副キャプテン・チームスタッフ新体制のお知らせ | ニュース". NECレッドロケッツ川崎公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  8. ↑ "【V1女子ファイナル】NECが無敗のJTを下し初の連覇達成！最終順位・個人賞決定 News". SV League/Japan Volleyball League JVL Official website MEN (in Japanese). 2024-03-03. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  9. ↑ "2023-24シーズン勇退・退団選手のお知らせ | ニュース". NECレッドロケッツ川崎公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  10. ↑ 勝部晃多. "【バレー】Ｖリーグ連覇のNEC、退団６選手を発表 代表リベロの小島満菜美は米リーグに参戦 - バレーボール : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  11. ↑ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  12. ↑ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  13. ↑ Lewis, Alexandra (2024-11-02). "8 Athletes Named to the 2024 AU Pro Volleyball All-Position Team". Athletes Unlimited. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  14. ↑ "日本代表の小島満菜美がアメリカLOVBで年間最優秀リベロ賞を受賞！". バレーボールキング (in Japanese). 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
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