The Vietnamese national men’s volleyball team (left) compete in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Men's Nations Cup 2025 in Bahrain. — Photo laodongthudo.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese national men’s volleyball team have secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Men's Nations Cup 2025 in Bahrain, despite suffering a 3-0 defeat to South Korea in their final group stage match.

After a strong 3-0 victory over New Zealand in their opening match, Việt Nam faced a daunting challenge against world No 25 South Korea. Aiming to maintain their lead in the group, Việt Nam quickly realised the South Koreans were a formidable opponent.

In the first set, Việt Nam started confidently, capitalising on South Korea's reception errors to build a 5-point lead. However, the momentum shifted as South Korea tightened their formation and showcased their superior composure, ultimately winning the set 25-22.

The second set was a tense back-and-forth battle. Việt Nam remained competitive, thanks to the effective partnership between Công Đức and Quốc Duy. Despite closing the gap to just one point late in the set, Việt Nam fell 23-25, giving South Korea a 2-0 lead.

In the third set, psychological pressure began to take a toll on the Vietnamese players. South Korea unleashed a series of powerful attacks, quickly establishing a significant lead. Việt Nam struggled to regroup and faced a lopsided defeat of 12-25 in the set, marking their most one-sided loss of the match.

Finishing second in Group D, Việt Nam will face Group C winners Qatar in the quarter-final. — VNS