Risa Sato
Filipina-Japanese volleyball player (born 1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Risa Sato (佐藤 理沙, Satō Risa) is a Filipina-Japanese professional volleyball player who is a middle blocker for the Akari Chargers of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). Currently living in the Philippines, she played in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) for the NU Lady Bulldogs.
| Risa Sato | |||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | October 4, 1994 Osaka, Japan | ||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb) | ||||||||||
| Spike | 275 cm (108 in) | ||||||||||
| Block | 269 cm (106 in) | ||||||||||
| College / University | National University (2016–2020) | ||||||||||
| Volleyball information | |||||||||||
| Position | Middle Blocker | ||||||||||
| Current club | Akari Chargers | ||||||||||
| Career | |||||||||||
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| National team | |||||||||||
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Early life
Career
Sato was brought to the Philippines in 2013 to play for the collegiate varsity team of the Ateneo de Manila University by Roger Gorayeb, who was then coach of the university.[3] She played for Ateneo as a guest player in the Shakey's V-League.[4] However she failed to get admitted to Ateneo due to failing the entrance examinations which was written in English. In August 2015, she underwent try-outs to play for the National University which by that time was already being mentored by Gorayeb.[3] By July 2017 she was already playing for the National University where she is a second year college student pursuing a degree in sports and wellness management. By the same time she was already playing for the BaliPure Purest Water Defenders of the Premier Volleyball League.[2] She won the Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Collegiate Conference championship with NU Lady Bulldogs.[5]
During her collegiate career, she won the following individual awards: 1st best middle blocker (2017 PVL reinforced conference),[6] 2nd best middle blocker (2017 PVL open conference)[7] and 2nd best middle blocker (2017 PVL collegiate conference)[8]
Sato also played for Creamline Cool Smashers from 2018 to 2024.[9] In 2025, she transferred to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.[10]
In July 2026, Sato returned from a hiatus caused by her pregnancy to join the Akari Chargers.[11][12]
National team
Sato made her international debut playing for the Philippine youth national team at the 2015 Asian Women's U23 Volleyball Championship which was hosted in Pasig. She was also part of the senior team squad that played in the 2015 VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup, an invitational tournament held in Vietnam.[2]
Personal life
Clubs
BaliPure Purest Water Defenders (2016–2017)- Creamline Cool Smashers (2018–2024)
- Chery Tiggo Crossovers (2025)
Awards
Individuals
Collegiate
- Shakey's V-League 12th Season Collegiate Conference –
Silver medal, with Ateneo Lady Eagles - Shakey's V-League 13th Season Collegiate Conference –
Champion, with NU Lady Bulldogs - UAAP Season 77 Women's volleyball tournament –
Bronze medal, with NU Lady Bulldogs - 2017 Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference – Champion, with NU Lady Bulldogs
Clubs
| Season | Tournament | Club | Title | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 PVL | Reinforced | BaliPure Purest Water Defenders | Runner-up | |
| Open | Champions | [15] | ||
| 2018 PVL | Reinforced | Creamline Cool Smashers | Champions | [16] |
| Open | Champions | [17] | ||
| 2019 PVL | Reinforced | Runner-up | [18] | |
| Open | Champions | [19] | ||
| 2021 PVL | Open | Runner-up | [20] | |
| 2022 PVL | Open | Champions | [21] | |
| Invitational | Champions | [22] | ||
| Reinforced | 3rd Place | [23] | ||
| 2023 PVL | 1st All-Filipino | Champions | [24] | |
| Invitational | Runner-up | |||
| 2nd All-Filipino | Champions | |||
| 2024 PVL | All-Filipino | Champions | ||
| Reinforced | Champions |