Bangkok, Thailand, November 2, 2022 – The 2022 Laos National Volleyball Championships at Army Indoor Stadium (Main 5) in Vientiane reached fever pitch on Thursday when top four teams in the men’s and women’s events will have to fight full force in the do-or-die semifinals.
The championships were organised by Laos National Volleyball Federation and kicked off on October 29, featuring a total of 10 men’s teams and 6 women’s squads to vie for the top honour in each category.
The official opening of the country’s topflight competition was held on Monday, with all participating teams marching into the competition court. Generous supporters and sponsors including Lao Milaco, Beer Lao, Lao Skyway and Mr Khamphat Surinphoumy, former Laos national player, also attended the ceremony to present supporting cash to the organisers, making the championships a smooth run.
In the men’s event, Grow Up VC, University of Education, Lao Skyway, Bokeo Province and Vientiane Club are in Pool A, while Pool B comprises Ministry of Defense, Vientiane Capital, Aotdy Sport, Began VC and Life Factory.
The women’s competition saw Vientiane Capital join Vientiane Club and Master Seven in Pool A, with Army Politics, Diverse Girls and reigning champions Ministry of Defense contesting Pool B.
The pool round-robin preliminaries took place from October 29 to November 2, with only top two teams after the first round advancing to the cross semifinals in both categories on Thursday.
At the end of the preliminaries on Wednesday, Lao Skyway collected 12 points with unbeaten record and without dropping a set to their respective rivals to top Pool A, followed by Grow Up VC with 9 points from 3 wins against one loss.
Bokeo Province (2 wins, 2 losses) finished third with 6 points, while Vientiane Club (1-3) with 3 points and winless University of Education with no point awarded came in fourth and fifth places respectively in Pool A.
In Pool B, undefeated Ministry of Defense captured the top spot with 12 points from four straight wins, followed by Vientiane Capital with 9 points from 3 wins against one loss.
Life Factory came in third place with 6 points from 2 wins against 2 losses. Aotdy Sport (1-3) and winless Began VC finished fourth and fifth positions respectively.
In the women’s event, Vientiane Capital maintained their top position in Pool A with 6 points from two straight wins. Vientiane Club with 3 points (1-1) and winless Master Seven finished second and third places.
Army Politics topped Pool B with 5 points from two successive wins, while title-holders Ministry of Defense with 4 points (1-1) and winless Diverse Girls came in second and third places respectively.
Only top two teams from each pool in both men’s and women’s events advanced to the Thursday’s cross semifinals.
As a result, 1A-Lao Skyway are due to take on 2B-Vientiane Capital in the men’s first semifinal clash, with 1B-Ministry of Defense testing their mettle against 2A-Grow Up VC in the second encounter.
In the women’s semifinals on Thursday, 1A-Vientiane Capital will be pitted against 2B-Ministry of Defense and 1B-Army Politics will battle it out with 2A-Vientiane Club.
The two winning teams in the men’s event on Thursday will fight it out for the men’s title on Friday, the last day of the championships. The two winners in the women’s competition will also set up the Friday showdown for the eventual crown.
In both categories, the semifinals losers will fight it out in the third-place playoff for the bronze medal.
RESULTS OF POOL ROUND-ROBIN PRELIMINARIES
MEN
POOL A
October 29
Grow Up VC beat University of Education 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-17)
Lao Skyway beat Bokeo Province 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-17)
October 30
Bokeo Province beat Vientiane Club 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-14)
Lao Skyway beat University of Education 3-0 (25-17, 25-9, 25-12)
October 31
Vientiane Club beat University of Education 3-1(25-17, 25-20, 15-25, 25-14)
Lao Skyway beat Grow Up VC 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-21)
November 1
Lao Skyway beat Vientiane Club 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-13)
Grow Up VC beat Bokeo 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-22)
November 2
Grow Up VC beat Vientiane Club 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 24-26, 25-22
Bokeo Province beat University of Education 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-19)
POOL B
October 29
Ministry of Defense beat Vientiane Capital 3-1 (25-14, 20-25, 25-17, 25-21)
Life Factory beat Aotdy Sport 3-1 (25-17, 25-16, 21-25, 25-23)
October 30
Ministry of Defense beat Aotdy Sport 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-14)
Vientiane Capital beat Began VC 3-0 (25-22, 25-11, 25-17)
October 31
Ministry of Defense beat Life Factory 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-22)
Aotdy Sport beat Began VC 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-19)
November 1
Ministry of Defense beat Began VC 3-0 (25-17, 25-4, 25-14)
Vientiane Capital beat Life Factory 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-23)
November 2
Life Factory beat Began VC 3-1 (26-28, 25-22, 25-10, 25-16)
Vientiane Capital beat Aotdy Sport 3-0 (25-10, 25-10, 25-21)
WOMEN
POOL A
October 29
Vientiane Capital beat Vientiane Club 3-1 (25-13, 20-25, 25-19, 25-22)
October 31
Vientiane Capital beat Master Seven 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-13)
November 2
Vientiane Club beat Master Seven 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-11)
POOL B
October 29
Army Politics beat Divers Girls 3-1 (25-16, 25-11, 22-25, 25-20)
October 30
Army Politics beat Ministry of Defense of 3-2 (25-20, 9-25, 27-25, 16-25, 15-12)
November 1
Ministry of Defense beat Diverse Girls 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-10)
STANDINGS AFTER POOL ROUND-ROBIN PRELIMINARIES
MEN
POOL A
1. Lao Skyway 12 points (4-0)
2. Grow Up VC 9 points (3-1)
3. Bokeo Province 6 points (2-2)
4. Vientiane Club 3 points (1-3)
5. University of Education 0 point (0-4)
POOL B
1. Ministry of Defense 12 points (4-0)
2. Vientiane Capital 9 points (3-1)
3. Life Factory 6 points (2-2)
4. Aotdy Sport 3 points (3-1)
5. Began VC 0 point (0-4)
WOMEN
POOL A
1. Vientiane Capital 6 points (2-0)
2. Vientiane Club 3 points (1-1)
3. Master Seven 0 point (0-2)
POOL B
1. Army Politics 5 points (2-0)
2. Ministry of Defense 4 points (1-1)
3. Diverse Girls 0 point (0-2)
MATCH SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2022
SEMIFINALS
MEN
Lao Skyway vs Vientiane Capital
Ministry of Defense vs Grow Up VC
WOMEN
Vientiane Capital vs Ministry of Defense
Army Politics vs Vientiane Club
Related links of AVC
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: www.twitter.com/AsianVolleyball
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation