The current runner-up of VTV Binh Dien Long An suffered a 1-3 defeat to the Information Corps in the semi-finals of the Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup 2025 (evening of March 7). This is a surprising result when the Western team is considered superior in both strength and form.
Under the leadership of coach Pham Van Long, the Information Corps women's team showed a fast, tight playing style and all positions achieved high efficiency. According to statistics from the organizing committee, libero Luu Thi Ly Ly had a much more impressive performance than previous matches when she reached about 80% of her first-step handling efficiency.
In attack, Nguyen Thi Phuong shined with 27 points (4 blocks, achieving an efficiency of 47.9%), diverse and skillful attack.
On an impressive day, VTV Binh Dien Long An showed a completely opposite face. In the recent match, coach Thai Quang Lai did not have the service of foreign player Natalia due to the Polish hitter being sick.
On the field, Thanh Thuy, Tra My and Ngoc Hoa are still the main attackers. However, the shortcomings in the playing style still caused VTV Binh Dien Long An to suffer a defeat against a fateful opponent.
According to observations, the first pass was an important factor, but VTV Binh Dien Long An did not perform well in the last match. Opposite Nguyen Thi Tra My had to take the first step with 19 saves.
Playing in attack, it is difficult to require Tra My's first-step catches to be of good quality and beautiful. Meanwhile, libero Khanh Dang has a very low first-step and defensive performance.
In addition, the ball passes of setter Kim Thoa mostly belonged to the main striker Tran Thi Thanh Thuy. This makes the team's playing style less diverse in terms of pieces like in previous matches.
In addition, poor defense and low blocking range in most cases made VTV Binh Dien Long An helpless against attacks from the opponent.
After the match, a member of the coaching staff of VTV Binh Dien Long An also revealed that the players did not have the best physical condition in the semi-final match. Accordingly, libero Khanh Dang had problems with his ankle after two times when rushing to save the ball, causing his speed to break through and change direction to be less flexible; setter Kim Thoa suffered back pain that affected the decisive passes; opposite setter Tra My suffered a right knee injury in the match; main striker Tran Thi Thanh Thuy was overloaded with a banana so her steady and poor jumps.
In addition, this person also said that VTV Binh Dien Long An played with lack of explosive power, did not have a decisive reflex speed, especially when it needed to turn and get up quickly after the falls to save the ball.
The loss to the Information Corps is a lesson for VTV Binh Dien Long An to look back at the shortcomings to overcome, preparing for the first phase of the 2025 National Volleyball Championship.
In the immediate future, coach Thai Quang Lai and his team have a third-place match in the Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup 2025. VTV Binh Dien Long An's opponent is the team that lost in the second semi-final between LPB Ninh Binh and Vietinbank.
