Signal Corps women in command

High and mighty: Tran Thu Trang of Miliatary Signal Corps Command jumps for an attempt to spike during the match against Chinese Taipei. Signal Corps won 3-0. — VNS Photo Tien Thanh

GIA LAI — Volleyball team Military Signal Corps Command took a 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei at the international women’s volleyball tournament in Gia Lai Province yesterday.

The Military team beat Chinese Taipei 25-13, 25-19, 25-22 at the Pleiku City Gymnasium.

Entering the match as favourites at the tournament, Taipei played far below the expectations of nearly 2,000 spectators packed in the Gymnasium, making a series of reception and service errors.

With cheers from the enthusiastic audience, the Signal Corp started the match strongly and led 12-4 after a seven-point run before Taipei called for a time-out. The Viet Nam team went on to win the set after a Taipei player’s serve out.

After being trailed 3-1 in the second set, the Signal Corp team recovered to lead 15-11 after a four-point run before Taipei called for a time-out, but key spiker Pham Thi Kim Hue and setter Dao Thi Huyen helped the Signal Corp lead 20-16.

Japanese coach Norimasa Sakakuchi called for a second time-out, but Chinese Taipei only added three more points before Viet Nam win the set 25-19.

The visitors regrouped in the third and decisive set and led all the way through to 15-15, before Hue put the military team ahead at 16-15. The two teams fought hard until the score reached 21-21.

Ho Yen Chih’s spike flew out and Wushu Fen’s blocked spike helped Signal Corps move in front 23-21. Ho pulled back a point but Pham Thi Yen’s powerful spike and Ho’s unsuccessful drop sent Signal players circling the court.

“Our players played good game today, but Chinese Taipei has some young players and maybe they are just not familiar with the court,” Pham Van Long, head coach of the Military team said after the match. “This is not the Chinese Taipei national team, but it includes some national players. Our players also played a bad game today,” Sakakuchi said.

At the previous day of competition, with matches in Pool A, VTV-Binh Dien Long An overcame Thailand’s national youth team 3-2 while PV Oil Thai Binh also got past China’s Shandong with the same score.

In another match of Pool B, Vietsopetro also cruised China’s Nanjing in three straight sets with the same score of 25-20. — VNS