PLDT High Speed Hitters
Professional women's volleyball team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The PLDT High Speed Hitters are a Philippine professional women's volleyball team owned by PLDT. The team competes in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), where they have been a member of since 2021, and previously took part in the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) from 2018 to 2020. They are also the sister team to the Cignal Super Spikers.
| |||
| Short name | PLDT | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | High Speed Hitters | ||
| Founded | 2018 | ||
| Head coach | Rald Ricafort | ||
| Captain | Kath Arado | ||
| League | Philippine Super Liga (2018–2020) Premier Volleyball League (2021–present) | ||
| 2025 Reinforced | 4th place | ||
| Championships | 2 2025 PVL on Tour 2025 Invitational | ||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
The team was originally known as the Smart Giga Hitters when they began play in the 2018 PSL Grand Prix. Later that year, their sister team in the PVL, the PayMaya High Flyers (who themselves previously competed in the PSL under the PLDT banner), was merged into this team, prompting a name change to the PLDT Home Hibr Power Hitters in 2019. In 2021, they, alongside Cignal, moved to the PVL as part of Cignal TV's broadcast partnership with the league. In 2022, the team rebranded once more, this time to their current moniker.
Until 2025, despite consistently finishing in the top six, the team was only able to reach the podium once, which came in the 2019 PSL Grand Prix. Their streak of middling results came to an end when the new PLDT franchise won back-to-back championships in 2025 with the core of Majoy Baron, Kath Arado, Mika Reyes, and Savi Davison. They became one of three teams to win multiple titles in the PVL after the Creamline Cool Smashers and Petro Gazz Angels.
History
The team debuted in 2018 as the Smart Prepaid Giga Hitters.[1] The team was owned by Smart Communications.[1]
For the 2018 PSL Invitational Cup, the team partnered with the Philippine Army Lady Troopers and competed as the Smart–Army Giga Hitters.[2]
In September 2018, the PayMaya High Flyers, their affiliate team in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), was merged with the team.[3] In February 2019, the Smart Prepaid Giga Hitters changed its name to the PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters.[4]
The team transferred to the PVL in February 2021, following the league's professionalization.[5] The team changed their name to the High Speed Hitters in January 2022, in a lead up to the upcoming PVL season.[6]
PLDT won the 2025 PVL on Tour tournament, its first ever league title.[7] They followed it by winning the 2025 Invitational Conference defeating Japanese guest team Kobe Shinwa University in the final.[8]
Names
- Smart Prepaid Giga Hitters (2018 Grand Prix)
- Smart–Army Giga Hitters (2018 Invitational)
- Smart Giga Hitters (2018 All-Filipino)
- PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters (2019)
- PLDT Home Fibr Hitters (2020)
- PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters (2021)
- PLDT High Speed Hitters (2022–)
Current roster
| PLDT High Speed Hitters roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Pos. | Height | DOB | From |
| 1 |  |
Maria Nieza Viray | Libero | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | February 12, 1999 | San Beda |
| 2 | |
Shiela Mae Kiseo | Outside Hitter | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | October 20, 2000 | Far Eastern |
| 3 | |
Mika Reyes | Middle Blocker | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | June 21, 1994 | De La Salle |
| 5 | |
Alleiah Jan Lina Malaluan | Outside Hitter | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | June 24, 2001 | De La Salle |
| 6 |  |
Savi Davison | Outside Hitter | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | January 4, 1999 | Oklahoma |
| 7 | |
Zenneth Irene Perolino | Middle Blocker | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | April 8, 2001 | Enderun |
| 8 | |
Kath Arado (C) | Libero | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | May 22, 1998 | UE |
| 9 | |
Kim Fajardo | Setter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | September 30, 1993 | De La Salle |
| 10 | |
Majoy Baron | Middle Blocker | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | December 10, 1994 | De La Salle |
| 11 | |
Kim Kianna Dy | Opposite Hitter | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | July 26, 1995 | De La Salle |
| 13 | |
Dell Palomata | Middle Blocker | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | November 1, 1995 | USLS |
| 14 | |
Kiesha Dazzie Bedonia | Outside Hitter | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | December 29, 2002 | Far Eastern |
| 15 | |
Angelica Legacion | Setter | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | August 15, 1993 | Arellano |
| 16 | |
Angelica Alcantara | Setter | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | November 25, 2000 | Adamson |
| 17 | |
Seth Rodriguez | Middle Blocker | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | September 22, 1998 | UE |
| 18 | |
Jessey Laine de Leon | Opposite Hitter | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | December 18, 1994 | UST |
| 19 | |
Jovie Prado | Outside Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | July 30, 1996 | Arellano |
| Updated as of: January 31, 2026 | Source: PVL.ph | ||||||
|
Coaching staff
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Team staff
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Medical staff
|
Season-by-season records
Domestic league
Philippine Super Liga (2018–2020)
| Season | Conference | Preliminary round | Final round | Ranking | Source |
| 2018 | Grand Prix | 8th (0–10, 3 pts) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. F2 Logistics, 0–3 | 8th place | |
| Invitational | 2nd (3–1, 9 pts) (Group B) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Generika–Ayala, 3–0 Lost in semifinals vs. Petron, 0–3 Lost in third place match vs. Cignal, 1–3 |
4th place | ||
| All-Filipino | 6th (2–5, 5 pts) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. Generika–Ayala, 0–3 | 6th place | ||
| 2019 | Grand Prix | 3rd (8–6, 22 pts) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Generika–Ayala in two games[a] Lost in semifinals vs. F2 Logistics, 0–2[b] Won in third place match vs. Cignal, 3–2 |
3rd place | |
| All-Filipino | 6th (6–8, 17 pts) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. Foton, 1–3 | 6th place | ||
| Invitational | 3rd (1–2, 3 pts) (Pool C) | Did not qualify | 5th place | ||
| 2020 | Grand Prix | Conference cancelled | |||
Premier Volleyball League (2021–present)
| Season | Conference | Preliminary round | Final round | Ranking | Source |
| 2021 (team) |
Open | 7th (3–6, 9 pts) | Did not qualify | 7th place | [9] |
| 2022 (team) |
Open | 3rd (1–2, 3 pts) (Pool B) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. Choco Mucho, 2–3[c] Won in fifth place match vs. F2 Logistics, 3–2 |
5th place | [10] |
| Invitational | 2nd (4–2, 12 pts) | Finished 3rd in semifinals (2–2, 8 pts) Lost in third place match vs. Cignal, 2–3 |
4th place | [11] | |
| Reinforced | 6th (3–5, 10 pts) | Did not qualify | 6th place | [12] | |
| 2023 (team) |
First All-Filipino | 3rd (6–2, 18 pts) | Lost in semifinals vs. Petro Gazz, 1–2[b] | 4th place | [13] |
| Invitational | 2nd (3–1, 8 pts) | Finished 5th in final round (2–3, 6 pts) | 5th place | [14] | |
| Second All-Filipino | 5th (7–4, 21 pts) | Did not qualify | 5th place | [15] | |
| 2024 (team) |
All-Filipino | 5th (8–3, 23 pts) | Did not qualify | 5th place | [16] |
| Reinforced | 4th (6–2, 19 pts) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Chery Tiggo, 3–2 Lost in semifinals vs. Akari, 2–3 Lost in third place match vs. Cignal, 1–3 |
4th place | [17] | |
| Invitational | Did not participate[d] | ||||
| 2024–25 (team) |
All-Filipino | 4th (8–3, 23 pts) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. Choco Mucho, 0–2[b] | 5th place | [18] |
| PVL on Tour | 1st (5–0, 15 pts) (Pool A) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Zus Coffee, 3–0 Won in semifinals vs. Creamline, 3–2 Won in championship vs. Chery Tiggo, 3–2 |
Champions | [19] | |
| Invitational | 1st (5–0, 14 pts) | Won in championship vs. Kobe Shinwa, 3–1 | Champions | [8] | |
| Reinforced | 3rd (6–2, 18 pts) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Cignal, 3–1 Lost in semifinals vs. Zus Coffee, 0–3 Lost in third place match vs. Akari, 2–3 |
4th place | [20] | |
- Notes
- Team had twice-to-beat advantage.
- Best-of-three series.
- Opposing team had twice-to-beat advantage.
- Although PLDT qualified for the 2024 Invitational Conference, the team declined the invitation to participate in the conference.
AVC Women's Volleyball Champions League
| Year | Preliminary round | Final round | Ranking | Source |
| 2025 | 2nd (1–1, 4 pts) (Pool D) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. Zhetsyu, 0–3 | 7th place | [21] |
Individual awards
Premier Volleyball League
| Season | Conference | Award | Name | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Invitational | 1st Best Middle Blocker | Mika Reyes |
[22] |
| 2nd Best Middle Blocker | Dell Palomata | |||
| 2023 | 1st All-Filipino | Best Libero | Kath Arado |
[23] |
| Invitational | Best Libero | Kath Arado |
[24] | |
| 2024 | Reinforced | 1st Best Middle Blocker | Mary Joy Baron |
[25][26] |
| 2024–25 | All-Filipino | 1st Best Outside Spiker | Savi Davison |
[27] |
| PVL on Tour | Most Valuable Player (Finals) | Mika Reyes |
[28] [29] | |
| 2nd Best Middle Blocker | Majoy Baron | |||
| Best Libero | Kath Arado | |||
| Invitational | Most Valuable Player (Conference) | Savi Davison |
[30] [31] | |
| Most Valuable Player (Finals) | Kath Arado | |||
| Best Libero | ||||
| Reinforced | 2nd Best Outside Spiker | Savi Davison |
[32] |
Philippine Super Liga
| Season | Conference | Award | Name | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Grand Prix | Best Middle Blocker (foreign) |  Grace Lazard |
|
| Best Opposite Spiker (local) | Aiko Urdas |
Team captains
Janet Serafica (2018)- Ging Balse (2018)
- Aiko Sweet Urdas (2018)
- Grethcel Soltones (2019)
- Jerrili Malabanan (2019)
- Rysabelle Devanadera (2019–2020)
- Rhea Dimaculangan (2021–2022)
- Mika Reyes (2023)
- Kath Arado (2024–present)
Former players
- Aiko Sweet Urdas
- Aiza Maizo-Pontillas
- Alyssa Eroa
- Alyssa Valdez
- Celine Domingo
- Charo Soriano
- Christine Agno
- Czarina Grace Carandang
- Eli Soyud
- Erika Santos
- Fiola Ceballos
- Genie Sabas
- Gretchel Soltones
- Heather Guino-o
- Honey Royse Tubino
- Isa Molde
- Jaja Santiago
- Janet Serafica
- Janine Marciano
- Jasmine Nabor
- Jerrili Malabanan
- Jorelle Singh
- Joyce Sta.Rita
- Jules Samonte
- Kath Villegas
- La Rainne Fabay
- Lhara Clavano
- Lizlee Anne Gata-Pantone
- Lutgarda Malaluan
- Maria Angelica Cayuna
- Mariella Gabarda
- Marist Layug
- Mary Anne Mendrez
- Mary Jean Balse
- Maureen Penetrante-Ouano
- Michelle Morente
- Rachel Austero
- Rhea Dimaculangan
- Royse Tubino
- Rubie De Leon
- Ryssabelle Devanadera
- Suzanne Roces
- Toni Rose Basas
- Venice Puzon
- Vira Guillema
- Wendy Anne Semana
- Ysabel Jimenez
Foreign players
Cuba
France
- Maeve Orle
Russia
- Elena Savkina-Samoilenko
- Anastasia Bavykina
UK
- Grace Lazard
USA
- Kendra Dahlke
Draft history
| Season | Pick No. | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | Angelica Alcantara |
| 2025 | 9 | Alleiah Malaluan |
| 21 | Zenneth Perolino |
Coaches
- Ronald Dulay (2018 Grand Prix)
- Emilio Reyes Jr. (2018 Invitational)
- Roger Gorayeb (2018–2021)
- George Pascua (2022)
- Rald Ricafort (2023–present)
Imports
- Gyselle Silva[33] (2018)
Marija Jelic[33] (2018)- Grace Lazard (2019)
- Kendra Dahlke (2019)
- Maeva Orle (2020)
- Elena Savkina-Samoilenko (2022)
- Elena Savkina-Samoilenko[34] (2024)
- Wilma Salas[35] (2025 AVC CL)
- Anastasiia Bavykina[36][37] (2025)
