China marked its second loss yesterday in the six-day Women’s Volleyball Nations League 2024 Macao presented by Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) at the Galaxy Arena in Cotai, with the team this time losing to Italy.
Brazil ended the weeklong competition unbeaten.
The team’s first loss of the Macau-leg was to Japan on Friday, while their two wins were against The Netherlands and Thailand.
According to a Sports Bureau (ID) statement last night, the Italians took advantage of China’s “early errors” to lead in the first set. China managed to take a temporary lead by mid-set due to points by Gong Xiangyu and Li Yingying, the statement noted, but “lapses of concentration in defence” would allow Italy to win the opener 23-25.
In the second set, the statement pointed out, both teams traded points early, but powerful attacks by Paola Egonu gave Italy a two-set advantage, ending the second set 19-25. Italy then won the third set 16-25.
The next leg of the tournament is Hong Kong where China will play Bulgaria, Germany, Turkey and Poland in the round robin matches.
Meanwhile, yesterday’s two other matches were The Netherlands vs France and Brazil vs. Thailand. The Netherlands secured their fourth win in the event with a straight-set victory over France (25-17, 25-10, 25-21). Later in the day, Brazil won against Thailand in straight sets (25-22, 25-14, 25-17), marking their fourth victory in the six-day event. Brazil was the local leg’s only team to go through it unbeaten.
This handout photo provided by the Sports Bureau (ID) last night shows members of the China team (in red) playing against their Italian counterparts at the packed Galaxy Arena in Cotai yesterday.
