Volleyball

Vietnamese players (in blue) seen in action during the match against theCanada Elite U21 team at the Future Stars 2024 on July 22 in China. Việt Nam won 3-2. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam secured their first win after a dramatic 3-2 victory against Canada U21 Elite at the Future Stars 2024, a friendly volleyball tournament in China on July 22.

Việt Nam, the AVC Challenge Cup champions, made a strong start taking a 25-20 lead in the first set.

Young players Đặng Thị Hồng and Nguyễn Thị Trà My shone along with their senior teammates Nguyễn Thị Trinh, Đinh Thị Trà Giang, Vi Thị Như Quỳnh and Võ Thị Kim Thoa.

Canada changed up their line-up and tactics and gradually caught up with the game's pace. They successfully blocked many Vietnamese attempts and won the second and third sets, 25-22 and 25-20, respectively.

Coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt put his key player Nguyễn Thị Bích Tuyền on the court in the fourth set, hoping that the captain would help change the situation.

Tuyền who was the MVP of the 2024 FIVB Challenger Cup took charge of the Vietnamese front line. Her powerful spikes simply could not be matched. Việt Nam won 25-19 and forced the match to be decided by the fifth set.

Tuyền continued her outstanding performance that saw her attempts tear the Canadian defence into pieces. It was an easy 15-9 win for Việt Nam.

In the next match tonight, Việt Nam will play Shanghai's youth team.

The Future Stars event lures eight teams to compete from July 22-28 in Shanghai.

Việt Nam are in Group B with U21 Elite, Red Sparks of South Korea and the hosts.

Group A features China's U17, France's U22, Air Asian Club of Thailand and Sesi VC from Brazil.

Teams will compete in round-robin format in the group stage. The top strongest ones will advance to the semi-finals. — VNS