Thailand, 29 June 2026 – Vietnam’s U18 women’s volleyball team narrowly missed out on the championship title after falling to host nation Thailand in the final of the 2026 Southeast Asian U18 Women’s Volleyball Championship on June 28.
Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, Thailand faced a determined Vietnamese side led by head coach Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa, who fielded her strongest available lineup. Team captain Bui Thi Anh Thao started at outside hitter alongside Nguyen Cham Anh, while Nguyen Khanh Linh played opposite. Trinh Huynh Bao Ngoc and Le Thuy Linh anchored the middle, with Nguyen Huyen Trang directing the offense as setter.
Thailand, meanwhile, relied heavily on its three standout attackers—Natchaya, Parichat, and Chamikon—to maintain pressure throughout the match.
The opening set was a tightly contested battle, with both teams exchanging points in an entertaining display of attacking volleyball. Thailand capitalized on home-court momentum and produced several decisive offensive plays to edge ahead, while Vietnam created numerous scoring opportunities by exploiting errors in the Thai block. Despite their strong performance, Vietnam narrowly dropped the first set 25-23.
The second set followed a similar pattern. Vietnam responded with greater intensity, putting Thailand under sustained defensive pressure and staying level deep into the set. However, the hosts once again proved more clinical in the decisive moments, eventually claiming a dramatic 29-27 victory to move within one set of the title.
Refusing to give up, Vietnam continued to fight in the third set and matched the defending hosts point for point. Once again, the margin was razor-thin, but Thailand held its nerve to secure a 25-23 win and complete a straight-set victory.
Although Vietnam were defeated 3-0, the scoreline did not fully reflect the competitiveness of the match, with two sets decided by the narrowest of margins. The runner-up finish capped an impressive campaign for Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa’s young squad, whose performances throughout the tournament earned widespread praise from coaches, analysts, and fans alike.
Following the tournament, Vietnam will remain in Thailand to continue preparations for the 2026 Asian U18 Women’s Volleyball Championship, scheduled to take place from July 1 to July 7, where the team will look to build on its encouraging display at the regional competition.
VSN/RPT
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