In a thrilling start to the 2024-25 China Women’s Volleyball Super League (VSL) season, Fujian edged out Beijing in a nail-biting five-set match (25-23, 26-24, 24-26, 20-25, 15-10) on Saturday in Beijing. The closely contested game kept fans on the edge of their seats as both teams showcased exceptional skill and determination.
The league has introduced significant reforms this season, dividing teams into A and B tiers. Tier A comprises the top eight teams from last season, while Tier B includes the remaining teams, youth teams from Tier A clubs, and university teams. The new format aims to elevate the overall level of play and provide more opportunities for players.
China’s national team libero Wang Mengjie, who recently joined Beijing, expressed optimism about the changes. “I believe opportunities and challenges coexist,” Wang told CGTN Sports Scene’s Yuan Rui. “It provides new players and teams with chances and further promotes our improvement. For now, I need to catch up with the game’s pace and the team’s rhythm as soon as possible and adapt quickly.“
Fujian nearly squandered a 2-0 lead as Beijing mounted a fierce comeback, recovering from a 21-14 deficit to win the third set and then taking the fourth set to force a decisive fifth. Fujian’s 21-year-old national team player, Zhuang Yushan, led her team to victory with a game-high 29 points.
“My performance might have been a bit inconsistent,” Zhuang admitted. “I failed to step up when needed in the third set. But in the fifth set, my teammates helped me regain my form, and I’m very grateful to them. In the new format, we will challenge stronger teams, which is a good test for us. And we will try to stay in the top eight.“
Beijing’s lineup featured notable international players making their debut, including outside hitter Edina Begic from Bosnia and Herzegovina and opposite hitter Jelena Vulin from Serbia. Begic, who scored a team-high 27 points, shared her excitement about playing in the Chinese mainland.
“I was playing in Italy the majority of the time, and in Türkiye, Russia,” Begic said. “And I was really excited to come to China. I can see in the first game, there’s a lot of defense, a lot of rallies, and that’s what I heard about the Chinese league—that there is really a lot of rallies. It’s super exciting to be here. It’s going to be another learning process also for me, how to score, how to do shots, how to become a better player.“
The opening match sets the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating season for the China Women’s VSL, as teams adapt to the new format and players seize opportunities to showcase their talents.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
