In a thrilling match on Tuesday, Shandong stunned defending champions Tianjin with a 3-1 victory in the China Women’s Volleyball Super League held in Tianjin Municipality. The unexpected win marked Tianjin’s fourth loss of the season and highlighted Shandong’s exceptional teamwork and resilience.
The first set saw Tianjin leading for most of the time, but Shandong displayed relentless determination, tying the score at 19-19. They edged out Tianjin in a high-scoring battle, winning the set 29-27.
The second set was equally intense. Despite Tianjin’s Li Yingying launching a series of powerful attacks to tie the game at 16-16, errors plagued the home team. Shandong capitalized and took the set 28-26, establishing a 2-0 lead.
Tianjin fought back in the third set, with Wang Yuanyuan’s dominant performance helping them secure a 25-22 win. Entering the fourth set with an early 8-4 lead, it seemed Tianjin might push the match to a decisive fifth set. However, Shandong rallied with aggressive plays, ultimately sealing their victory with a 25-21 win.
Li Yingying delivered an impressive 36 points for Tianjin but faced tough opposition as nine of her spikes were blocked. Despite her standout performance, it was Shandong’s cohesive teamwork that secured the upset, demonstrating that unity can triumph over individual brilliance.
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Shandong upset Tianjin in China Women's Volleyball Super League
cgtn.com
