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SCMP Sport

China produced a stunning upset in the last eight of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals in Macau on Thursday, beating the top-seeded USA in a five-set thriller.
More than 4,000 fans roared the home team through a roller-coaster victory, with China taking a 2-1 lead, only for the Americans to drag themselves level, before a deciding set that had everyone in the Macau East Asian Games Dome on the edge of their seats.
The 15-25, 25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 15-13 victory took China to the last four for the first time since 2023, and maintained their dominance over a side that sits four places higher in the world rankings.
In a one-sided first set, Dana Rettke and Jordan Thompson guided the US to a comfortable lead that they never lost.
In a far more even second, the two sides were tied at 18-18 until China pulled away for a 23-20 advantage, with outside hitter Zhuang Yushan helping to close it out.
The third set was close until 13-13, when China piled on the points and took themselves to the verge of a famous win. But the US fought back, and took the fourth after opening up a four-point lead at 13-9.


Twice in the fifth set, China had to come back from a three-point deficit. After 11-11, they took control of the scoreboard and finished the match off with a kill through the middle by 18-year-old Wang Aoqian for 15-13.
Zhuang contributed a team-high 17 points, including one ace and one kill block. Another three of her teammates reached double digits in scoring – opposite and captain Gong Xiangyu with 15, 22-year-old outside Tang Xin with 13 and middle blocker Wang Yuanyuan with 12.
“I am so happy we advanced to the semi-finals! We didn’t do well enough in previous five-set matches, so this match today is a boost to our confidence,” Zhuang said.
The US, meanwhile, will miss the semi-finals for the third consecutive time, despite Thompson scoring a game-high 24 points.
“I think we were not at our best today and that’s a bummer. In moments like this, you need to show up, but I don’t think we executed to the best of our abilities,” Thompson said.
“I think China played an amazing game. They are obviously incredibly talented and a very strong team.”
Earlier, Turkey qualified for the semi-finals after coming from a set down to beat a spirited Canada side 3-1, winning 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-17.
It is the first time the Europeans have reached the last four since 2023.
Melissa Vargas hammered out a merciless 27-point match high, including four aces. She registered a 54 per cent success rate in attack.
Hande Baladin added another 14. Middle blocker Zehra Gunes put away three kill blocks and two aces to finish with 12 points, while Ilkin Aydin signed off with 11.
“Every day, we learn something new about our team, and every day, I feel like we are improving, we are showing some good stuff and I am really proud of this team,” Baladin said.


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China’s Wang Mengjie celebrates a score against the United States in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals in Macau. Photo: Getty Images

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Head coach Zhao Yong (second left) admits his team face a tough test against the US. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

China

Thousands roar on home team to victory at Macau East Asian Games Dome. Turkey beat Canada in other quarter-final on Thursday.


China stun top seeded US in Women’s Volleyball Nations League, win 5-set thriller

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Thousands roar on home team to victory at Macau East Asian Games Dome. Turkey beat Canada in other quarter-final on Thursday.

Thousands roar on home team to victory at Macau East Asian Games Dome. Turkey beat Canada in other quarter-final on Thursday.