🇨🇳 CHINA vs USA 🇺🇸 | Highlights | Women's VNL 2024. Li shines in China’s comeback over the USA. The left-handed outside hitter tallied 20 points as the Asians prevailed 3-1.
China took another important step to qualify for the Paris Olympics on Thursday, when the Asians came from behind to defeat Olympic champions the United States in the Volleyball Nations League 2024 and add important points to their FIVB World Rankings total. Hosts Brazil also triumphed in the third day of matches at the Maracanãzinho stadium, sweeping Korea.
The Chinese, who had triumphed against continental rivals Korea on Tuesday, recovered from a first-set loss to walk away with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19) victory over the United States to remain undefeated in the VNL.
The four-set victory added 9.13 points to China’s total in the FIVB World Rankings, making them move two spots up, from seventh to fifth, and getting them closer to securing an Olympic spot. The Americans dropped the same amount and went from third to second, being passed by Brazil.
Outside hitter Li Yingying played a major role in the Chinese comeback, leading all scorers with 20 points, all in kills. Middle blocker Wang Yuanyuan and opposite Gong Xiangyu also had productive nights, with 18 and 16 points, respectively.
“I thought we played a very good match today,” China’s captain Yuan Xinyue commented. “The Americans play with passion and are very competitive, but we showed great unity and enjoyed ourselves on the court. I hope we can do even better in the next match. Every point is important for us here and we’ll try to do our best in each match.”
AI Generated·May contain errors
You know, some of these huge matchups are really big rivalry games for some.
And to set it up as to why that is.
The United States is number two in the world.
Brazil is number three down.
USA not only will it help their Olympic chances, but it also will boost.
Well, Doug, just pushing it to the back.
Larson handles it with ease.
Beautifully picked up.
Wang Wenjie, the Libro for China.
And shut down a huge block.
Wang Yuanyuan, I think, got all of that.
Zhou Guoser to the center.
They run the middle.
And there's the problem when you face China.
Carlini sends it long and we are seeing a lot of tipping.
That may have been an attempt to recycle, but China wasn't having it.
Setter is front court.
And they were on it.
Good identification.
Jordan Larson knowing that the setter's front row,
meaning if that ball is tight, she can go up and dump.
Pass Skinner in the middle.
What a dig. Beautiful dig.
Recycled, that's a tough angle.
She's got to keep this in another great dig.
United States not letting it drop and China's going to swing again.
Exclamation point by Li Yingying.
The connection has just got to go over.
And then look out below.
So many options.
Back out to Skinner.
It's tight and there is an absolute roof from Team China.
On the outside, the governor
will put it away for a set one win.
Outside, Larson keeps it in play.
Brought back in nicely.
Beautiful attack coming behind.
Extended roof.
Heavy awning.
Middle dug by Carlini.
Time and time again, China adding pressure
one more time and she does it again.
Another big dig.
I thought that one was going to be down.
Oh, trouble.
United States setting it up.
And it's the Chinese block that does it again.
Wong, Yuan, Yuan.
Keeping the ball on Skinner, as has been the game plan in this match.
Work in the middle to Anna Hall by China.
Right back at you.
Where they scrimmage.
They had three different courts going of scrimmaging.
They're not going to see Japan during the preliminary phase at all.
And so how did that help them?
It's important when you're playing a team like Japan is trying to put that one down.
Maybe even more than 12.
And they've got support nationwide.
We saw in the DNL finals last year when China was playing
a lot of Chinese fans in Arlington, Texas.
Absolutely. Worldwide.
Connection so strong to the middle.
And I don't know that the Americans have an answer.
Their stars said they are going back to the hotel and watching this match
as a team, because they are facing the United States next.
What do you think they're learning about attacking from the middle against the U.S.?
That they got to do it.
They got to get those meals involved, whether it's Jana or whoever it is.
Get them involved because Team USA has struggled against that middle attack.
Back again, long rally, big swing.
Another one along the net.
Larson begging for a backcourt attack at this point.
Avery Skinner, it's fatigue going to start playing a part.
Wow. Longest rally by far.
Exhaustion on the floor for everyone.
Sarah Parsons in again to serve for the United States.
She came in to serve last set.
Tight ball.
China winning every one of those jousts where they're not.
Instead, they keep it on Wang Yunlu.
Li Yingying. Blocked.
Service in. Wang Yunlu.
Tipped exactly where she put it last time.
China wins set number two.
United States has gone with the same game plan.
Wang Yunlu receives serve and she's nailing.
Wang Yunlu serve.
Oh, miscommunication. Free ball.
You got the big middle.
You absolutely have to go back to her.
Just a beautiful tap over by Yuan Xinyue.
Hit with a feather off the net.
Skinner reaches in, picks it up from the backcourt.
What a dig by Carlini.
Long rally again.
Change of pace will do it every time.
No question about it.
Li Yingying.
For the Olympics, they certainly do look Olympic ready.
The block continues to devastate.
And then run in the middle again.
Change of pace to the middle.
Larson, this time power.
We've seen her go cross court, off speed, tip and power.
Patino sets and just straight down block.
All brought back in.
Blocked. China will swing for the set.
And they get it.
China takes sets number two and three
to take control of the match over the United States.
Wow. And high.
Skinner pass.
Patino coming from the backcourt.
It's just so smooth.
It is so smooth.
It looks so good, whether it's serve, receive or transition.
Yeah. And you got to turn up the service pressure
to get the middles out of the game.
That is good.
From the backcourt, everything
put to the middle and then
Li Yingying.
Come on now.
Service pressure was what Karchkirai
called for in the last time out.
They wanted her to handle that, Yuan Xinyue.
Butler, this time saying, I'm not going to play against you right here.
Now we're all tied up.
China again, just response.
Li Yingying from the backcourt.
And the world rankings will make a seismic shift.
Italy is only in front of China by half a point.
Coutinho, Larson now in the backcourt.
Coutinho in the front.
They have been your most peripatetic
attackers, efficient attackers.
Hall, good swing.
It's something about Anna Hall is.
Service out. China does it.
They upset the United States
and the seventh ranked team in the world.
China is moving up.
Huge win for this China team.
