Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, April 25, 2023 – China’s Liaoning Donghua VC registered their first win in the 2023 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship after powering past debutantes Mongolia’s Khuvsgul Erchim VC in comfortable straight sets 25-15, 25-13, 25-9 at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium here on Tuesday.
Sun Xizoxuan tallied 14 points including 11 attacks for Liaoning Donghua, while Shi Bingtong and Lin Xinyu kept good company to add 13 and 12 points respectively, while Khandsuren Gantogtokh led Khuvsgul Erchim with 8 points.
Making their debut in this championship, Khuvsgul Erchim VC of Mongolia got off to a good start with three points in a row including Khandsuren Gantogtokh’s effective drop shot for the very first point of the match and her solid block for an early 3-0 lead. Liaoning Donghua gradually pulled their game and stormed back with back-to-back points from opposite Sun Xizoxuan’s fierce attack and, her block, assisted by the tall and towering 198cm Cheng Wen. It was hard-hitting Shi Bingtong, who gave Liaoning a strong comeback as she attacked and blocked well to help the Chinese team keep adding break points to level it at 6-6, regain the lead and gradually extended it to 17-12.
Liaoning Donghua found their rhythm and started to take control of the set, with Sun Xizoxuan attacking the smaller blockers to widen the gap to 21-14. Khuysgul Erchim tried hard to fight back, but their attempts did not work out well as the Chinese side continued their attacking spree, allowing the opponents only one more point to take the first set 25-15.
The second set turned out to be a one-sided affair when Liaoning Donghua gained the upper hand initially for a commanding 5-1 lead. Powered by Shi Bingtong and Lin Xinyu, the Chinese team scored consecutive points to stretch it to 15-7, thanks to Shi Bingtong’s exceptional attacks at the net and their consistent play. Khuvsgul Erchim gathered their courage with high hopes to make a comeback, but Liaoning Donghua never looked back, tearing the Mongolian defence apart with their great attacks to win the comfortable set 25-13.
It was a similar script in the third set when Liaoning Donghua made use of their powerful attacks from Sun Xizoxuan and middle blocker Wang Lujia to race to a 9-4 lead and stormed on to advance to 23-8. Opposite Bayanjargal Jigjidkhorol spiked down the line to score one more point for Khuvsgul Erchim, but Ninjbolor Battur sent her serve to the net, handing the Chinese team the set point. The Mongolian challenge did not last long when Cheng Wen effectively blocked Enkhkhuslen Purevsuren for the Liaoning Donghua’s eventual 25-9 win in the set and match.
“For us, I think my team played very well. We fielded young players and they performed well in this first match of the tournament. We next play Altay VC tomorrow and we have to correct our mistakes we made in today’s match against Liaoning,” Khuvsgul Erchim’s head coach Kherlen Batdorj commented on her team’s loss.
Liaoning Donghua team head coach Mr Yoshida Toshiaki was delighted for his team’s first win in this championship.
“It’s our first match and I think my team did a pretty good job. However, in the beginning of the first set, my players seemed too excited to come up with mistakes, but after that we played with good defence and attacks. To bag 3 points in our first match is okay. We will have a rest day on Wednesday and will next take on Altay, the team with tall players. It will be one of the most difficult matches in our pool. However, we have to prepare for that match and do our best.”
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