China's women's volleyball team faced their first defeat at the FIVB Nations League in Beijing on Thursday, losing 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-19, 25-21) to Poland in a high-stakes match. The National Indoor Stadium witnessed intense rallies as Poland's Magdalena Stysiak and Martyna Czyrnianska dominated with 20 points each, supported by Agnieszka Korneluk's 17-point contribution.
After dropping the first set, China rallied in the second with strategic lineup changes. Young stars Tang Xin and Wu Mengjie spearheaded a comeback, with Tang scoring seven points in the set alone. "I started strong but lost focus as Poland adapted," admitted 21-year-old Tang, reflecting on the team's challenges against Poland's defensive adjustments.
Poland's coach Stefano Lavarini praised China's emerging talent: "Their younger players show remarkable technique and character." The third and fourth sets saw Poland regain control through tactical shifts, capitalizing on service consistency and targeted blocking.
The result leaves China with a 1-1 record in the Beijing leg, while Poland advances to 2-0. Both teams prepare for weekend matches after a rest day, with global fans anticipating China's response to this setback.
