Evidence of Consistency of Female Volleyball Player Yolla Yuliana at the Highest Level

When the main spotlight was on the Jakarta Pertamina Enduro players who were receiving their medals and trophies for the 2025 Proliga championship, in one corner of the Amongrogo GOR field, Yogyakarta, a crowd of people gathered. It turned out that the presence of female volleyball player Yolla Yuliana, who had received her medal as runner-up earlier, was the magnet for the crowd.

Yolla Yuliana did not succeed in bringing Jakarta Popsivo Polwan to win the championship title. The middle blocker who contributed four points in the final match against Pertamina Enduro, Saturday (10/5/2025), had to be satisfied with second place again, like last season. Yolla and her friends lost badly 0-3 (23-25, 22-25, 16-25).

However, Yolla continues to attract the attention of fans. Yolla also received a warm welcome when her name was called by the announcer to enter the field before the final match. Her name echoed in the GOR every time she was about to serve.

It is understandable that Yolla has garnered the attention of fans. The career of this volleyball player, born in Bandung, West Java, has spanned a long way. The 2025 season marks Yolla's 16th season in the Proliga. Furthermore, the final against Jakarta Pertamina Enduro is her fourth consecutive final.

Although there was only one final that resulted in a championship title, the success of reaching the pinnacle match for four consecutive seasons serves as evidence of Yolla's consistency at the highest level. When asked about the key to her consistency, Yolla was puzzled and chose to be modest.

According to Yolla, rather than due to individual performance, the achievement of consistently reaching the finals seems to be attributed to luck. This is because Yolla often gets teams that truly deserve to advance to the final match. "Perhaps it is indeed her fortune to reach the finals, but the fortune for winning stopped in 2022," said Yolla.

"Actually, it is not just my effect; it is all because my team is always competent. I do not play alone; it is indeed my extraordinary team," he added.

Proliga 2022 marked the beginning for Yolla to achieve a consistent record of reaching the finals. At that time, Yolla successfully secured the championship title with Bandung BJB Tandamata. She led the team nicknamed "Mojang Bandung" to end a 16-year title drought, having last won the championship in the 2006 season when they were still known as Bandung Art Deco Bank Jabar.

My ambitions are still not over, one of them is still being curious about winning the Proliga again.

For Yolla, this marks her second title in Indonesia's top volleyball competition. In the 2014 Proliga, Yolla tasted her first trophy with Jakarta Electric PLN. It took her five years to achieve that title since Bogor Prayoga Unitas in the 2009 Proliga.

In the 2023 Proliga, Yolla has changed her uniform to Jakarta Pertamina Fastron. The player, who was called up to the national women's team for the first time in 2009, has reached the finals again. However, she was unable to taste victory once more after being defeated by her former team, Bandung BJB Tandamata, in the final match.

Yolla then moved to Jakarta Electric PLN in the 2024 season and again made it to the finals. Like the results of the previous season, Yolla had to be satisfied again as runner-up after Electric PLN lost to Jakarta BIN.

"My ambition is still not over, one of which is that I am still curious to win the Proliga again," said Yolla, who is now 30 years old.

Although no longer young, Yolla keeps her ambition alive, not only in the Proliga. The silver medalist with the women's national team at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games also still harbors the desire to pursue a career abroad. In fact, she has already tried her luck in that regard.

Last year, Yolla had participated in a tryout to enter the Asian draft to compete in the Korean Volleyball League. Yolla was not selected. However, she later joined a club that competes in the second tier of the Japanese Volleyball League, Tokyo Sunbeams.

Yolla became the second female volleyball player to pursue a career abroad after Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi. After strengthening Tokyo Sunbeams, Yolla returned to Indonesia to help Jakarta Popsivo Polwan navigate the 2025 Proliga final four.

Yolla was deliberately brought in by Popsivo to strengthen local players even though the team already had two middle blockers. "We want to show that local players are no less great than foreign players," said Popsivo Secretary Yudhi Hery Setiawan.

As for a career abroad, Yolla said that it is actually not easy for a player in the middle blocker position. Because, posture plays a very important role as a provision for a career abroad. A middle blocker must be above 180 cm tall, while Yolla's posture is 180 cm.

A similar sentiment was expressed by the legendary Indonesian female volleyball player who just retired last season, Wilda Siti Nurfadhilah. "Height is certainly not everything, but it clearly helps. If one does not have a tall stature, at the very least, they must have extensive experience. If that is the case, it is not impossible for a volleyball player to follow in Megawati's footsteps," Wilda stated some time ago.

However, along with her ambition still burning, Yolla does not want to stop to realize it. "I am still challenged. Especially in Japan yesterday, it was really fun. I learned a lot about discipline, training culture, sportsmanship, and felt different vibes. God willing, I will try again abroad even though I don't know exactly when," she said.

At the corner of the Amongrogo sports hall, Yolla was busy with requests for photos and autographs from fans. Yolla attended to all those requests one by one, with a smile still blooming on her face.

In fact, Yolla is the athlete who often receives criticism from fans, especially on social media. Last year, the criticism arose when her performance was not optimal due to a knee injury.

That moment even made her consider retiring. However, Yolla managed to rise and led the team to secure second place in the Proliga.

The taunts often do not only focus on her performance on the field. Yolla's personal life is also often targeted.

Recently, Yolla also became a target of harassment from content creators who often exploit female volleyball players. At that time, Yolla spoke out and condemned the content creator as almost all female volleyball players have become victims.

Meanwhile, regarding negative comments, Yolla prefers not to be bothered. "Close your ears, close your eyes, because if you engage with them, they will only be more pleased, and it will never end. Just remember that social media is not real life; it is merely a virtual world meant for entertainment, so there is no need to take it seriously," said Yolla.

Amidst the clamor of Proliga and the ripples of online criticism, Yolla remains steadfast. Yolla may not always be a champion, but she proves that consistency is more valuable than mere fleeting brilliance.