Yuan Xinyue (2nd L) of China spikes during the 2023 Volleyball Nations League match against South Korea in Suwon, South Korea, July 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)
SUWON, South Korea, July 1 (Xinhua) -- China overwhelmed hosts South Korea 3-1 (25-13, 25-21, 21-25, 25-15) here on Saturday, taking their seventh victory in the FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) preliminary round.
The win lifted China to fourth place in the 16-team table and secured Cai Bin's side a spot in the eight-team final round later this month.
The three-time Olympic champions easily grabbed the first set with a dominant performance.
Gong Xiangyu (L) of China saves the ball during the 2023 Volleyball Nations League match against South Korea in Suwon, South Korea, July 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)
South Korea fought back in front of home crowds in the second set to level the score at 16-16, but then failed to turn the tide.
The lead went back and forth in the third set, swinging from 16-15 in South Korea's side to 17-16 in favor of China and back to 24-20 in South Korea's way.
China fought back from 11-10 down in the fourth set, reclaiming the lead with two firm blocks at 15-14 and keeping it to the end of the match.
Yang Hanyu (R) of China spikes the ball during the 2023 Volleyball Nations League match against South Korea in Suwon, South Korea, July 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)
China outperformed South Korea in kills (54-52), blocks (10-3), aces (6-5) and opponent errors (26-14).
China's Yuan Xinyue, Wang Yunlu, Li Yingying, and Gong Xiangyu scored double digits with 17 points, 15 points, 14 points and 12 points respectively.
China will face the United States on Sunday. ■
