Russian Ilia Saveliev slammed home the winning point in the final set Sunday as the JT Thunders defeated the V-League kingpin Suntory Sunbirds for the men's title in the volleyball national championships.
Saveliev rolled up 18 points and Yusuke Kawano chipped in 16 as the Hiroshima-based JT club won its first title with a 25-27, 25-19, 25-21, 25-23 win over defending champion Suntory at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.
In the women's final, the NEC Red Rockets, behind the hard-hitting attacks of Miyuki Takahashi, beat the Toyobo Orchis 25-19, 25-19, 25-21 for their first championship in four years and second overall.