Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, April 27, 2023 – Devastating Tran Thai Thanh Thuy and young talent Vi Thi Nhu Quynh methodically tore the Hasamitsu Springs’ defence into shreds with their spectacular attacks to steer hosts Sport Center 1 to dramatic 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-21, 25-15) win against the 2002 and 2014 champions in the Pool A clash of the 2023 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship, much to the delight of home spectators packing the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium on Thursday.
The 193cm-tall Thanh Thuy, who tallied 39 points in the previous match against Iran’s Paykan, chipped in with 20 points including 17 attacks for the host side, while up-and-coming Vi Thi Nhu Quynh, 21, and Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh, 22, kept good company to add 19 and 17 points respectively. Outsider hitter Ayane Kitamado led Japan’s Hisamitsu Springs with 17 points including 14 attacks and 2 aces.
The Vinch Phuc Gymnasium was full to its capacity of 3,000-seater on Thursday as home fans thronged into the competition venue to show support for their favorite team.
In their first match earlier, Hisamitsu Springs succumbed to 2-3 loss to well-established Chinese Taipei’s King Whale Taipei the previous day, while Sport Center 1 cruised past Iran’s Paykan 3-2.
Sport Center 1 and Hisamitsu Springs started with the similar fashion in the first set, which saw both sides fight neck and neck making leads change hands from the very beginning. The Japanese side made use of exceptional attacks from Sae Nakajima and Mika Yoshitake, while the home team were spearheaded by the promising Thanh Thuy, who has been playing professionally with PFU Blue Cats in the Japanese League Division 1, Hong Thi Kieu Trinh and the 21-year-old sensation Vi Thi Nhu Quynh.
Hisamitsu Springs trailed 6-8, but the Vietnamese side, backed by the cheering home fans, bounced back to level it at 12-12 and went on their excellent teamwork, consistency and resilience to break away and take control.
The visitors held their nerves, but still found Sport Center 1 uncatchable. Thanh Thuy was on fire to unleash a series of spectacular attacks for the hosts’ back-to-back points. The Vietnamese delivered the set point at 24-19, handed the visitors one more point following the Tran Thi Bich Thuy’s erratic play at the net before a spike from Mika Yoshitake went wide. Sport Center 1 grabbed the first set 25-20.
Holding 0-1 disadvantage, Hisamitsu Springs brought in their improved tactics in the second set and led with a five-point clear at 7-2. However, Sport Center 1 gradually pulled their game together, hit back bravely before their cheering home crowds to narrow the gap to 14-16. Still, the Japanese intensified their defence and reacted for consecutive points, making use of the Vietnamese unforced mistakes. Hisamitsu Springs took the commanding 23-16 and denied the hosts’ comeback to finally close out the set 25-17.
Both teams poured everything to win the third set, but the Vietnamese played better on defence and attacks, with the 190cm-tall middle blocker Ly Thi Luyen overpowering the small blockers with some thundering fast attacks and Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh carrying out sharp cross-court spikes. Leveling at 12-12, Sport Center 1 maintained their good show to overtake the visitors 16-14 and widen the gap to 23-19 before winning the hard-fought set 25-21.
The fourth set turned out to be one-way traffic, with the host side entertaining home audience with their great play, never-give-up attitude and spirit to stay in front 21-15. Dinh Thi Tra Giang hammered an overpass kill to advance it to 22-15, two attacks from Ayaka Araki and Mika Yoshitake went wide to give the Vietnamese side the match point at 24-15 before Kieu Trinh and Tra Giang produced a scintillating block for a spike from Sae Nakajima to completely end the Japanese challenge in this match. Sport Center 1 captured the set 25-15 and match.
The Vietnamese side celebrated their victory. Players jumped for joy and hugged each other, some in happy tears. Fans at the grandstands also shouted in great joy, clapping hands nonstop, some waving flags in their hands and others dancing happily.
After the match, Hisamitsu Springs head coach Shingo Sakai said, “The Vietnamese team played well with good defence. Thanh Thuy played in Japan and she came up with markedly improved performance. The home crowd support also boosted their confidence. It’s unfortunate that Megumi Fukazawa, one of my key players, has an injury, while Ayane Kitamado, who replaced her, is still young with only 19 years of age. Also, we made several mistakes today including the passing and defense. However, we still have one more match against Paykan from Iran and we have to try our best in that match.
Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, who became the top scorer with 20 points in this match, was also delighted with the win in front of home fans. “We are very happy as we all know that Japan are a very good team with high level. We did well today and I’m so proud that we can keep this as the energy for the next game. We next play King Whale Taipei, which are very strong team. We will find some ways to stop them because they play very fast and strong. We have to learn that and prepare. We have to keep fighting from today until the end of the tournament.”
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