MANILA, Philippines – Elena Samoilenko, a Russian import, will be returning to the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference, according to PLDT.

With her strong spikes, 6-foot-4 outside hitter Samoilenko is a towering addition to the club and a lot of expertise.

The much anticipated reunion between Samoilenko and the High Speed Hitters was announced on Friday.

“We just loved Lena Samoilenko’s quiet intensity so much that we had to bring her back for another tour of duty,” the statement said.

Even though the squad was unable to make it to the semifinals, Samoilenko’s prior experience with PLDT in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference left a lasting effect.

Samoilenko demonstrated her skill on the floor during that campaign, topping the league in scoring with an astounding 213 points in eight games.

Samoilenko now finds herself in a squad that has changed significantly since her leave as she prepares to make her comeback.

She will now be a part of a squad that has veteran players Majoy Baron, Kim Fajardo, and Kianna Dy as well as Fil-Canadian star Savannah Davison as head coach.

Read more about Elena Samoilenko

Russian volleyball player Elena Samoilenko was born on June 27, 1995, and has had a varied and exciting career. She is an outside hitter and is 194 cm tall. Her career started in 2010 with Luch Moscow and continued with periods with Municipal Olympique Mougins Volley-Ball (2018-2019), Proton-Saratov (2014-2017, 2019-2021), and Le Cannet Volley-Ball (2017-2018). After that, she performed with PLDT High Speed Hitters in the Philippines (2022–2023) and Mersin B.Şehir Bld. in Turkey (2021–2022). She most recently competed for Turan Turkistan (2023–2024) before joining PLDT again for the 2024–2025 campaign.

Samoilenko joined the Philippine Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference’s PLDT High Speed Hitters in 2022. Even though the club did not make it to the semifinals, ending the elimination phase with a record of 3-5, Samoilenko had a huge impact as the league’s top scorer, finishing with 213 points in eight games.

Because of Samoilenko’s significant influence, PLDT has chosen to recast her for a second season in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference. Both the team and the fans have been looking forward to this reunion, with PLDT praising her for her “quiet intensity” and significant contribution to the club. Since her previous stint, the team—now led by Rald Ricafort—has had substantial changes, gaining players including Savannah Davison, Majoy Baron, Kim Fajardo, and Kianna Dy.

Samoilenko has been adaptable and resilient throughout her career, making a substantial contribution to each squad she has joined. Her return to PLDT is a testament to her ability to motivate and encourage her colleagues in addition to her expertise and experience. Expectations are high for Samoilenko as she prepares for the 2024 season, believing that she can continue to lead the High Speed Hitters to even greater success.

Samoilenko is an invaluable member of any squad and an inspiration to young players because of her journey, which perfectly captures the commitment and skill needed to succeed in professional volleyball. Her career path, which has included travel and noteworthy accomplishments, is nevertheless proof of her abilities and tenacity on the volleyball field.