Long Son Thanh Hoa Cement
In the second phase of the 2024 National Volleyball Championship, Thanh Hoa will not have the service of foreign player Cai Xiaoqing when this player has to return to his home team Henan (China) to compete in the national championship. In return, the Thanh Hoa team has a supplement, even considered to be of higher quality, that is Liu Yanhan - a former star of Chinese volleyball.
The appearance of Liu Yanhan has helped Thanh Hoa's playing style become more fluid and cohesive. They had a difficult start to the second phase when they narrowly defeated Hanoi with a score of 3-1 (24-26; 26-24; 25-12; 25-19). However, after this start, the Chinese foreign player played better and better. Liu Yanhan is the number 1 scoring star of the Thanh team.
Besides, with the excellence of setter Le Thi Dung, captain Doan Thi Xuan and Hoang Thi Thao were also the strikers who continuously shined to help Thanh Hoa win VietinBank (3-0) and Thai Binh (3-1) respectively.
This result brought Thanh Hoa to the semi-finals with the top spot after the 5th day of competition. 6 wins, 2 losses, and 18 points in both stages are enough to prove that the Thanh girls are the dark horses of this year's tournament.
VTV Binh Dien Long An
The return of middle blocker Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa has helped the spirit of the girls of VTV Binh Dien Long An change significantly. Besides, young hitters like Nhu Anh, Khanh Vy, Tra My... also played confidently.
Having Ngoc Hoa on the field and in the center of the front row helps the defense at the net and the quick finishing through the ball situations coordinated with setter Kim Thoa of VTV Binh Dien Long An become more effective. The remaining task for young hitters like Tra My, Nhu Anh or Khanh Vy, Lan Vy is to calmly hit the ball in each arranged attack phase, together scoring points.
Coach Thai Quang Lai's team won against the Information Corps (3-1) and LPB Ninh Binh (3-0) to take second place after the 5th day of competition. They have 17 points after 6 wins and 1 loss.
Today (November 12), the Western team will have one more match in the second phase against Hanoi. Against a young team struggling to stay in the league, an easy victory will not be beyond the ability of Ngoc Hoa and her teammates.
Duc Giang Chemicals
In phase 2, Duc Giang Chemicals had additional personnel when they brought in foreign player Sharon Chepchumba, and libero Le Thi Thanh Lien returned to compete. Under the guidance of coach Pham Van Long, almost every position on the field of Duc Giang Chemicals played at over 200% strength, with clear progress through each match.
They beat the Information Corps (3-0), LPB Ninh Binh (3-1), and Hanoi (3-0). Tran Tu Linh and Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy were the two best domestic players of the home team. However, the bright spot of this team must be foreign player Sharon Chepchumba. Although she had just arrived in Vietnam, the African player quickly integrated into the team's playing style. She actively defended and attacked and was the number 2 scorer of Duc Giang Chemicals.
Currently, Duc Giang Chemicals has 14 points with a total of 5 wins and 2 losses. Today, coach Pham Van Long and his team will have another match against VietinBank at 7:00 p.m.
LPB Ninh Binh
The defending champion LPB Ninh Binh was the team that caused a surprise in the second stage. Despite having a highly rated squad, especially with the presence of opposite setter Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, the Ancient Capital team did not play well and could only win a ticket to the semi-finals in a dramatic way.
Coach Thai Thanh Tung's students barely won against Quang Ninh with a score of 3-2 in the opening match, then lost to Duc Giang Chemicals (1-3) and VTV Binh Dien Long An (0-3). Only in the final match of the second stage to decide the ticket to the semi-finals, Bich Tuyen and her teammates tried more than 100% of their strength to come back to win 3-2 against the Information Corps.
The Ancient Capital team has 14 points after 5 wins and 3 losses, and is the last team in the top 4 teams competing for the championship.
However, to successfully defend the title, Bich Tuyen and her teammates must make changes in the semi-finals in the context that the remaining 3 teams have made changes and shown their strength that cannot be underestimated.
