By Wang Leon
Xi’an, China, September 25, 2021 – Powerhouses Jiangsu and Tianjin will meet in the final showdown as they defeated Shanghai and Liaoning respectively in the semifinals of China National Games Senior Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Aoxiang Gymnasium of Northwestern Polytechnical University here on Saturday.
In the first semifinal, defending champions Jiangsu claimed a convincing 3-1 (25-19, 25-18, 12-25, 25-11) victory over Shanghai in 100 minutes.
Shanghai came into the match with a shocking 7-3 lead. Jiangsu requested a timely timeout and then they gradually found their rhythm to shorten the gap. Back-to-back attacks by Zhang Changning helped Jiangsu tie the score for the first time at 14-14 and turn the tide. Though Shanghai also called timeout and made some substitution, Jiangsu firmly controlled the situation and closed up the first set in 25-19.
Both sides stuck to each other until 5-5 in the second set before Jiangsu geared up to score 3 points in a row. Shanghai asked for timeout but in vain as Jiangsu earned scattering points from attacks and blocks. Jiangsu concluded the second set with a comfortable 25-18 win.
The third set saw Jiangsu in a sudden “blackout” as they were often blocked by Shanghai. Two timeouts request by Jiangsu at 3-6 and 5-12 behind failed to turn around. Shanghai kept up with tide to capture the third set 25-12.
Jiangsu found themselves back soon to start the fourth set with a commanding 9-4 lead. Zhang Changning had a hot hand and brought Jiangsu to the match point 24-10. A tricky second-touch ball by Diao Linyu helped Jiangsu smoothly win the totally lop-sided set 25-11 and match.
In the second semifinal encounter, Liaoning suffered a setback due to their key player Yan Ni’s injury and they yielded to Tianjin 0-3 (18-25, 13-25, 15-25) within only 70 minutes.
Tianjin started the match with a good 7-4 lead before they committed several attacking errors allowing Liaoning to come back with 4 points in a row. However, Tianjin reduced their mistakes in a short time and displayed their smooth combination. They took back the lead again and sealed the first set with a 25-18 win.
The second set saw Tianjin leave Liaoning behind after meeting the rivals at 3-3 and go on their remarkable run to an emphatic 25-13 victory.
Liaoning fought to their utmost in the third set to tail after Tianjin until 8-10. Tianjin’s Wang Yizhu emitted successive destructive service to help her teammates score 6 consecutive points. With their backs against the wall, Liaoning organised several efficient counterattacks to chase up to 15-18 behind. After a timeout requested by Tianjin, they raised another scoring tide and capped the third set 25-15 following an ace by Li Yingying.
Shanghai and Liaoning will fight against each other for the bronze medal at 3:00pm local time on Sunday followed by the final showdown between Jiangsu and Tianjin at 7:00pm.
Competition Schedule and Results
Thursday, September 16
Henan v Shanghai 0-3 (19-25, 21-25, 19-25)
Guangdong v Zhejiang 2-3 (25-20, 25-21, 18-25, 16-25, 7-15)
Jiangsu v Tianjin 3-2 (25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 18-25, 19-17)
Liaoning v Shandong 3-2 (15-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-17, 15-12).
Friday, September 17
Zhejiang v Jiangsu 1-3 (25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 24-26)
Shanghai v Shandong 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-21)
Tianjin v Liaoning 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-12)
Henan v Guangdong 1-3 (19-25, 16-25, 25-22, 19-25)
Saturday, September 18
Shandong v Tianjin 0-3 (24-26, 22-25, 16-25)
Liaoning v Zhejiang 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-20)
Guangdong v Shanghai 0-3 (17-25,16-25,20-25)
Jiangsu v Henan 3-1 (25-14, 25-22,23-25,25-16)
Sunday, September 19
Zhejiang v Shandong 0-3 (17-25, 16-25, 11-25)
Henan v Liaoning 0-3 (16-25, 16-25, 20-25)
Guangdong v Jiangsu 0-3 (23-25, 19-25, 6-25)
Shanghai v Tianjin 0-3 (18-25, 23-25, 25-27)
Monday, September 20
Rest Day
Tuesday, September 21
Liaoning v Guangdong 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-13)
Jiangsu v Shanghai 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 25-16)
Shandong v Henan 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-15)
Tianjin v Zhejiang 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-17)
Wednesday, September 22
Jiangsu v Liaoning 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-19)
Guangdong v Shandong 0-3 (18-25, 11-25, 17-25)
Henan v Tianjin 0-3 (10-25, 17-25, 13-25)
Shanghai v Zhejiang 3-0 (25-19,25-19, 25-18)
Thursday, September 23
Tianjin v Guangdong 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-14)
Zhejiang v Henan 0-3 (23-25, 20-25, 21-25)
Liaoning v Shanghai 3-2 (15-25, 25-17, 13-25, 25-15, 15-7)
Shandong v Jiangsu 3-0 (27-25, 25-14, 25-19)
Friday, September 24
Rest Day
Saturday, September 25
Shanghai v Jiangsu 1-3 (19-25, 18-25, 25-12, 11-25)
Liaoning v Tianjin 0-3 (18-25, 13-25, 15-25)
Sunday, September 26
15:00 Shanghai v Liaoning
19:00 Jiangsu v Tianjin
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