The U21 World Championship, held in Surabaya, Indonesia, from 7 to 17/8, features 24 teams. Vietnam is in Pool A with host Indonesia, Serbia, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Following their 3-0 win against host Indonesia on Monday, Vietnam faced Serbia in their second match. Serbia was considered a formidable opponent with a consistently tall team and superior skills, having already defeated Puerto Rico 3-0 in their opening match.
 |
Vietnamese players celebrate their victory against Serbia in the second round of Pool A at the FIVB Volleyball Women's U21 World Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia. Photo: Duc Dong |
Vietnamese players celebrate their victory against Serbia in the second round of Pool A at the FIVB Volleyball Women's U21 World Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia. Photo: Duc Dong
Undeterred, the Vietnamese players started the match confidently, playing effectively in both attack and defense. In the first set, the two teams were evenly matched at times. However, Dang Thi Hong and her teammates consistently found ways to create a difference. After tying at 17-17, the team surged ahead to 21-17 and ultimately closed the set at 25-21.
In the second set, Vietnam lost their rhythm, committing frequent stepping and serving errors. This allowed Serbia to take the lead at 6-4, 10-7, and then 16-10. After some personnel adjustments by coach Nguyen Trong Linh, the team narrowed the gap to 19-21 and 20-23. However, some controversial refereeing decisions and a blocked shot by Dang Hong led to a narrow 23-25 loss for Vietnam.
Despite the setback, coach Linh's team remained undeterred. Powerful spikes from Dang Hong, Quynh Huong, and Nhu Anh helped the team hold their ground and create a gap against Serbia, winning the next two sets 25-22 and 25-23.
After Nhu Anh's decisive winning point, the Vietnamese players rushed onto the court, embracing each other in celebration. This victory against a strong opponent marks a significant achievement for these young players in their first world championship appearance, opening up great possibilities for advancing further in the tournament.
Vietnam will play Canada tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Duc Dong
