Jiangmen, China, July 3, 2024 – Fired-up China powered their way past Australia in comfortable straight sets 25-13, 25-15, 25-13 to top Pool A and advanced to the round of last 8 in the 22nd Asian Women’s U20 Volleyball Championship at the Jiangmen Sports Center Gymnasium on Wednesday.
Opposite and skipper Wang Yindi delivered a match-high 16 points from 13 kills, one block and two aces for China, while outside hitter Guo Xiangling and fellow outside hitter Dong Yuhan contributed 9 and 7 points respectively. Ella Schubort scored 9 points, all in attack, on the Australia’s loss.
China, current world champions and silver medallists at the previous edition in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan two years ago, fielded a strong lineup led by opposite and skipper Wang Yindi and middle blocker Shan Linqian, both of them played in the gold-winning China team at the last year’s FIVB Women’s U21 World Championship in Mexico. Also strengthening the team were four players who joined the China team in the last year’s Girls’ U19 World Championship in Hungary including Guo Wailin, Li Chenxuan and Chen Houyu. Australia were led by the 189cm-tall outside hitter Ella Schabort.
China stormed into the match with a lot of power and confidence. A series of back-to-back points including aces by Guo Xiangling and Fan Boning gave the host side an early 16-9 advantage in the first set. The Aussies tried to bounce back, but failed to make their mark. The Chinese players capped their stellar show by each hitting deadly cross-court spikes to give the team an easy win 25-13 in the first set.
The second set was more thrilling as both sides traded points until 9-9. China broke away 18-14 and reached the set point 24-15, thanks to sub-in Dong Yuhan, who hit a powerful mid-court attack. To make short work of Australia, middle blocker Guo Weilin and setter Zhu Hangting effectively produced a solid block for an aggressive spike from Caitlin Whincup for China’s 25-15 win in the set.
The rhythm was with the Chinese side in the third set as they raced to a 20-12 lead and extended it to 23-13. China bagged the remaining two points following the Aussies’ unforced mistakes including the net fault in the last point, 25-13.
With great balance in blocks, where the Chinese had the edge by five to two, and points earned in opponent errors, where they had a 24-14 advantage, China dominated in kills (37 to 23) and aces (9 to 2) which was pivotal to their victory.
China advanced to round of last 8, while Australia, suffering their first loss at the hands of Kazakhstan, were relegated to classification round for 9th-12th places.
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