The Explosion of Potential of Female Volleyball Player Junaida Santi

New talents in Indonesian women's volleyball are emerging. Not yet overshadowed by the era of Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi (27), a young player and potential future star, Junaida Santi (17), has arrived. In the PLN Mobile Proliga 2025, Santi has begun to shine and demonstrate her great potential.

On Saturday night (10/5/2025), Junaida Santi could not stop smiling. A champion medal from Proliga 2025 hung around her neck. Santi had just led Jakarta Pertamina Enduro to triumph once again in the highest tier of volleyball competition in Indonesia.

Santi was a key player in the convincing victory of Jakarta Pertamina Enduro over Jakarta Popsivo Polwan in the final match at GOR Amongrogo, Yogyakarta. She was the driving force behind the team's attack, leading to a 3-0 win (25-23, 25-22, 25-16).

Despite her young age, Santi is quite dominant and confident. In the final match, her powerful strikes contributed 12 points to Pertamina Enduro, the second highest on the team after the foreign player and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, Jordan Thompson (15).

Santi's contribution was not limited to the final match. The player from Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, has also demonstrated her brilliance throughout the season and assisted the team's journey. In the regular season alone, Santi was able to score 181 points, consisting of 156 hard hits, 18 blocks, and 7 serves.

Santi has the highest point collection among other local players in Proliga 2025. Santi is competing with foreign players, including Erica Staunton, who strengthened Pertamina Enduro during the regular phase (198 points).

That impressive performance was maintained when Pertamina Enduro advanced to the final four and finally the final. In total, during the season, Santi scored 298 points. It makes sense when the player born on August 12, 2007 was named the best player or most valuable player (MVP).

"Until now, I do not believe I can become the MVP and play better. But every day I tell myself, I must be able to bring home a medal because I did not return home for Eid yesterday, so I want to give a gift to my family," said Santi.

Two months ago, during the preparation for the final four, Santi had firmly stated that he wanted to lead Pertamina Enduro to victory. Moreover, the club had been waiting for seven years.

The last time Jakarta Pertamina Enduro won the championship, Santi had not even taken up volleyball. Pertamina Enduro secured the championship title at the Proliga 2018, two years before Santi entered the sport at the age of 13.

Santi's talent attracted the interest of the Indonesian Navy team who eventually recruited her to compete in the 2022 Livoli Premier Division. Although she failed to bring her team to the final four, Junaida succeeded in becoming the team's second highest point contributor.

I always get motivation and additional training from the coach. In every practice, there is always additional practice for me, whether it's spike, receive, defend.

A year later, Santi made her debut in the Proliga with Jakarta Electric PLN. At that time, Electric PLN was indeed composed of young players. Santi, who was still in the third grade of junior high school, became the youngest among them.

Santi's talent was not particularly prominent at that time. This was also the case when she joined Pertamina Enduro in the 2024 Proliga. Moreover, she spent most of her time warming the bench.

This season, Santi has had a lot of playing time after consistently being the first-choice player for the team. Santi has repaid that trust by being able to deliver impressive performances. She stated that her development is not only in terms of technical skills but also in her mental approach to the game.

"I always get motivation and additional training from the coach. In every practice, there is always additional training for me, whether it's spike, receive, defend," said Santi about his significant development.

That development has also fostered optimism in Santi to achieve better results with JPE this season. This confidence has materialized with Santi winning the championship title and MVP at a young age.

Santi is nurturing her dream of breaking into the national team and playing in foreign leagues such as Brazil. She has begun to realize this gradually by joining the Indonesian national team, which consists of U-21 players, during the AVC Challenge Cup 2024.

Santi is also one of the players called up for the national training camp of the Indonesia U-21 team. They will prepare for the World Volleyball Championship in Surabaya, East Java, next August.

Pertamina Enduro coach Bulent Karslioglu assessed that Santi is indeed a potential player. In addition to being able to adapt quickly, including changing roles from outside hitter to opponent since Jordan Thompson's presence starting in the final four, Santi is also always willing to try to show his best action.

"I always say that Indonesia needs many more Megawatis. Here is Santi, who in the final was a very important young player. God willing, she will strengthen the national team in the future," said Karslioglu, who also encourages Santi to explore a career abroad.

The Chef de Mission (CdM) of Jakarta Pertamina Enduro, Werry Prayogi, stated that Santi is a talent that emerges when given trust and continuously honed in potential. According to Werry, efforts to develop these talented young local players need to be increased for the benefit of the national team.

"I told Mr. Imam (Sudjarwo, Chairman of the Central Board of the Indonesian Volleyball Association), 'Santi is a gift from Pertamina Enduro for the national team,'" he said.

At a young age, Junaida Santi has become an explosion that not only ignites the Proliga stage but also sparks hope for the future of volleyball in Indonesia. If Megawati is the sun illuminating this era, then Santi is the dawn promising a new day.