Hanoi, Vietnam, July 15, 2019 – Dang Thi Kim Thanh scored a game-high 14 points as hosts Vietnam tamed inexperienced, pint-sized Maldives in a totally one-sided battle 25-1 25-2 25-2 to top Pool A and advance to the top eight of the 3rd Asian Women’s U23 Volleyball Championship at Gia Lam Gymnasium here on Monday.
Dang Thai Kim Thanh scored from 10 attacks, 1 block and 3 aces, while Tran Thi Bich Thuy made good company to add 11 points including 10 attacks. Liva Hussain and Aminath Afaaf Nizam scored one point apiece for Maldives.
It was a lopsided contest which saw Maldives come up with dismal form including poor receiving and blocking and erratic spiking. Vietnam fielded a formidable lineup in the first set led by Tran Thi Thanh Thuy to beat Maldives 25-1.
They replaced many key players with substitutions in the second set including Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh, Tran Tu Linh, Luu Thi Hue and Doan Thi Lam Oanh to jump to the lead with an incredible 15-point clear at 15-0. Maldives bagged the first point in this set after a spike from Vietnam went wide. Still, Vietnam went on their spectacular attacks to widen the gap to 24-1, but Maldives requested a ball-in challenge and their effort was successful to trail by a wide margin 2-23. From that point, Vietnam never looked back to win both points for the eventual 25-2 win.
The third set remained unchanged for Vietnam as they went on back-to-back attacks to win several crucial points. After racing to a 8-0 lead, the host side made short work of Maldives to wrap up the lopsided side 25-2 and match.
“It’s an easy win for us. As far as I’m concerned, our first two matches were not that difficult, but a tough test awaits us in the next two matches as we will take on Chinese Taipei and China. Our target is not only the Asian Women’s U23 Championship, but we are preparing a brand new team in place of the senior one for the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam in 2021,” said Vietnam head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet.
“We had an easy match against Maldives. We have never played a team with poor form like this before. But after this, we will have tough matches. I hope my team will do their best,” added Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh, a player who came off the bench to play the second and third sets.
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