Waiting for Thanh Hoa's 'dark horse' to take off

Thanh Hoa Club is the team that created the biggest surprise in the 2024 National Volleyball Championship taking place in Lao Cai. Fans of the Thanh Hoa women's volleyball team still do not forget the victory over Quang Ninh Club in the decisive match to successfully stay in the league last season. In this year's season, although there is innovation in both the coaching bench and the investment in personnel, the goal of Thanh Hoa Club is only to try to stay in the league.

Coach Bui Huy Son showed his "cool hand" when taking over the Thanh Hoa team, he united the domestic players who did not have any national team players into a stable and effective team. Chinese foreign player Liu Yanhan and veteran hitter Doan Thi Xuan were two prominent faces, contributing greatly to the achievement of winning 8 matches and losing only 1 match against VTV Binh Dien Long An team in the qualifying round. Coach Bui Huy Son said that not being highly rated from the beginning of the tournament helped Thanh Hoa Club relax mentally, the athletes competed according to the tactics given by the coaching staff. "Thanh Hoa players have shown their full potential, reaching the top 4 strongest teams of the national volleyball championship is an unexpected success. We will keep our spirits up to play a dedicated match in the semi-finals", Coach Bui Huy Son shared.

Lịch thi đấu bán kết bóng chuyền hôm nay: Chờ 'ngựa ô' Thanh Hóa tung vó - Ảnh 1. — Thanh Hoa Club promises to create a surprise in the semi-finals of the 2024 National Volleyball Championship

In the semi-final match against Duc Giang Chemicals Club taking place today, Thanh Hoa team was at a disadvantage when setter Le Thi Dung was not in the best physical condition due to a previous injury. The opponent was also very strong with a squad of Vietnamese volleyball players such as Tu Linh, Bich Thuy and foreign player Sharon Chepchumba (Kenya) who played effective attack. Although considered stronger, if they do not play focused and subjectively "underestimate the opponent", Duc Giang Chemicals Club risks paying the price.

The remaining semi-final match is a real battle between the defending champion LPBank Ninh Binh and VTV Binh Dien Long An Club. LPBank Ninh Binh Club has not achieved high performance in the second stage of the national volleyball championship, so it almost fell out of the top 4. However, as assessed by coach Thai Quang Lai of VTV Binh Dien Long An Club: "Ninh Binh Team is very strong when owning the main players of the Vietnamese women's volleyball team, Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, Nguyen Thi Trinh, Le Thanh Thuy. They did not play well recently, but when they escape danger and enter the semi-finals, they will become very formidable. In the first stage, we won LPBank Ninh Binh 3-0, but the rematch in the semi-finals will not be easy."

Coach Thai Quang Lai said he will use his defensive skills and take the lead to neutralize the powerful attacks of Ninh Binh Club. “I hope my players will use their full potential to achieve the goal of winning against Ninh Binh Club. The team’s strength is quite stable, the young players have also improved, so we are confident before the important match for the ticket to the final,” Coach Thai Quang Lai shared.