The Vietnam women’s volleyball team faces significant challenges in defending their title at the VTV International Women’s Volleyball Cup 2024, as they encounter strong opponents.
In the final match of Group A, held on August 27 at Ninh Binh, Vietnam secured a straightforward 3-0 victory over the Philippines-based team, Paint Masters, who were considered the weakest in their group.
Head Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet took the opportunity to rest key players such as Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, Doan Thi Lam Oanh, Nguyen Thi Trinh, and Tran Tu Linh. Instead, he gave starting roles to Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh, Pham Thi Nguyet Anh, Dinh Thi Tra Giang, and Vo Thi Kim Thoa. Even with this secondary lineup, Vietnam dominated the game, winning the first set 25-11. The Filipino team managed to avoid a wider margin in the second set, which ended 25-21 in favor of the host nation. Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen was brought into play in the third set, where her outstanding performance helped secure a 25-21 victory.
The overall 3-0 win against Paint Masters allowed the Vietnam women’s volleyball team to finish third in Group A. This result sets up a quarterfinal clash against the second-place team from Group B, China’s Henan Club. Henan is a formidable opponent, having displayed an explosive style of play, highlighted by a crucial win over Japan’s Aranmare in their battle for second place in their group. Thus, the upcoming match against Henan is seen as a significant challenge for the Vietnamese team in the quarterfinals.
Vietnam will need to return to their best form to have a chance of defeating Henan. Moreover, if they manage to overcome the Chinese side, they are likely to face South Korea’s Expressway team in the semifinals, a team they have previously competed against in this tournament. The quarterfinal match between Vietnam and Henan is scheduled for 5:00 PM on August 29.
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