The Reality of the Quality of the Indonesian Women's National Volleyball Team

HANOI, SATURDAY — For more than two decades, Indonesia may have been "comfortable" as part of the top three women's volleyball powers in Southeast Asia. However, this comfort has led to neglecting fundamental aspects such as preparation when participating in tournaments, including lengthy training camps and a squad with maximum strength, putting that position at risk.

The results of the AVC (Asian Volleyball Confederation) Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup 2025 in Vietnam, held from June 7 to 14, reveal the current reality of the Indonesian women's national volleyball team's quality. Not only is Indonesia struggling to compete with Thailand and Vietnam, but it has also been surpassed by the Philippines in Southeast Asia.

Indonesia secured a fifth-place finish in the AVC Nations Cup 2025 after defeating Iran 3-1 (25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 25-20) at the Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Saturday (14/6/2025) afternoon. This positive result avenged Indonesia's 2-3 loss (25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 19-25, 12-15) to Iran in their first meeting during the group stage last week.

Not only that, the victory over Iran also allowed Indonesia to collect four wins out of a total of seven matches during the AVC Nations Cup 2025. With this achievement, Yolla Yuliana and her teammates rose six places to the 48th position in the world rankings.

"I would like to thank the team for their excellent work. Alhamdulillah, our ranking has improved; this is about us continuing to get better," said Dony Adhitama, assistant coach of the women's national team.

"In the end, we have found the right composition, that's what makes us more confident. We know who can be placed as a hitter, who can be a middle blocker," said Dony about the key to victory against Iran.

Iran is Indonesia's first opponent in the group stage of the AVC Nations Cup. After losing to Iran in their initial meeting, the team coached by Octavian suffered two additional defeats, namely against the Philippines (1-3) and Kazakhstan (0-3).

With a total of three consecutive defeats, Indonesia failed to meet the target of reaching the top four and competing in the semifinals. Indonesia had to settle for finishing in fourth place in Group B. Only the two best teams from Group A and Group B can advance to the semifinals.

Dony does not deny that the tight preparation time has made it difficult for the coaching team to arrange the appropriate squad composition. He mentioned that the preparation time they have is only about two weeks.

While other teams, such as the U-21 men's and women's teams, have been training at the Jenderal Polisi Kunarto Volleyball Padepokan in Sentul, Bogor Regency, West Java, on May 22, 2025, the players of the senior women's national team have yet to appear. Coach Octavian stated that his squad is not yet complete. Several players are still engaged in various events with their clubs.

At that time, Octavian estimated that the new players would be complete and training could begin on May 26, 2025. Indonesia will depart on June 5. This means they only have about 10 days of effective training in the country.

On the other hand, Indonesia did not compete with full strength. Players who have shown positive performance in recent years, such as Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi and Arsela Nuari, were both absent. In fact, these two players are key players and the driving force of the team's offense.

Both Megawati and Arsela were forced to be absent because they had to undergo injury recovery. Megawati also took leave for personal reasons. With that condition, Indonesia's strength is lopsided. Moreover, there is no pure opponent in the squad.

Indeed, the Chairman of the Central Board of the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PP PBVSI), Imam Sudjarwo, while releasing the players, stated that the squad is already quite complete and competitive. The team is also prepared in terms of tactics, techniques, strategies, and mental readiness.

However, the first three matches showed otherwise. One positive aspect is that debutant players like Ersandrina Devega Salsabilah were able to demonstrate their potential. Alongside regular national team player Mediol Yoku, Devega frequently performed well and became a point scorer for the national team.

In the match against Iran for the fifth-place playoff, for instance, Devega was able to contribute the second highest points for Indonesia with 15 points. He was only one point behind Mediol.

Deputy Head of Development and Achievement of PP PBVSI Management Loudry Maspaitella agreed that the squad that went to Vietnam was not the best. The lack of outside hitter and opposition stock was his focus.

"Putri (Agustin) was more of a back up for Ajeng (opposite), while Afifah was not yet at her best in attacking, but her blocks and serves were good," Loudry said before playing against Iran.

Loudry, who was also appointed as the manager of the women's national team, stated that there is actually an option for Indonesia's strength to approach its maximum potential. One of them is by combining senior and junior players, particularly from the U-21 players.

The idea to create that combination was once proposed. However, the PP PBVSI ultimately decided to keep senior and junior players separate, especially since the U-21 team is being prepared for the World Championship in August, with Indonesia as the host.

With limited preparation, an incomplete squad, and without any friendly matches, Indonesia ultimately finished outside the top four. Meanwhile, two other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam and the Philippines, advanced to the final.

The AVC Nations Cup 2025 is the new name for the AVC Women's Challenge Cup, an annual international volleyball tournament organized by AVC. As the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) restructures its format and eliminates the Challenger Cup as a direct qualification to the tournament, the AVC Nations Cup becomes a platform for countries that are currently not participating in the VNL to accumulate world ranking points.

This world ranking point is useful as a capital to pursue a ticket to the VNL. In addition, the champion of this tournament will qualify for the 2026 Asian Championship.

In the three editions it has participated in, Indonesia has never emerged as champion. However, Indonesia finished as runner-up in the 2023 edition held in Gresik, East Java. Indonesia lost to Vietnam in the final match.

At that time, Indonesia fielded its best squad, including the presence of Megawati Hangestri and the experienced veteran player, Wilda Siti Nurfadhilah. Even with the best squad, Indonesia still found it difficult to compete with Vietnam.

In the 2024 edition, Indonesia's results were even worse, finishing in 7th place out of 12 participating teams. However, at that time, Indonesia was reinforced by junior players with limited experience.

With the results in this year's AVC Nations Cup, Indonesia is at risk of not only falling behind Thailand, which dominates Southeast Asia, and Vietnam, but also from the Philippines. Moreover, the Philippines has managed to reach the final stage.

Indonesia may be "comfortable" as a regular in the top three in Southeast Asia. Looking at the SEA Games, since the 2007 edition in Thailand, Indonesia has always been on the podium alongside Thailand and Vietnam. Thailand has consistently emerged as the champion, while Indonesia has only managed to be a contender in the final once.

The remaining team is always Vietnam, which can advance to the final and compete for the title with Thailand. Meanwhile, Indonesia alternates with Myanmar and the Philippines in the match for third place.

However, the Philippines, which once dominated in the 1970s and subsequently "disappeared" from the list of titleholders, is beginning to rise again. The resurgence of the Philippines has already been evident from the SEA V League 2024, a tournament among Southeast Asian countries, when Indonesia lost in the battle for third place.

The Indonesian Volleyball Association (PP PBVSI) through its Chairman Imam Sudjarwo stated that the AVC Nations Cup is an important series of momentum in the next six months. After the AVC Nations Cup, Indonesia will participate in the SEA V League, culminating in the SEA Games Thailand 2025.

If the preparations made are the same as those leading up to the AVC Nations Cup, it is not impossible that the reality of the women's national team's quality will remain the same and the results obtained will be similar. Do not be surprised if Indonesia not only faces tough competition from Thailand and Vietnam, but also from the Philippines, ultimately ending up without any medals.