In the second round of the Chinese Women's Volleyball Super League playoffs, Jiangsu and Shanghai faced off in what was expected to be one of the most exciting matches of the round. After the departure of Xiao Caiwa, Shanghai had to rely heavily on Zhong Hui for their main attacking line, as their foreign spiker Taina La did not possess the decisive scoring ability. This made Xiao Caiwa's absence particularly impactful for the team. Meanwhile, Jiangsu welcomed back their full-strength lineup for the playoffs, with all injured players returning to action. The playoffs are different from the regular season, as every match could determine whether they make it into the top four. The outcome of this direct confrontation could potentially decide the first place in their group, which would likely allow them to avoid Tianjin in the semi-finals.
Ultimately, Jiangsu staged a remarkable comeback after trailing 0:2, winning 3:2 and securing their second consecutive victory while handing Shanghai their first playoff defeat. In the first set, Jiangsu performed abnormally, making mistakes and being blocked frequently. Tang Xin's performance was less than satisfactory, while Shanghai's floor defense had improved significantly. In the second set, despite leading 10:6, Jiangsu allowed Shanghai to turn the tables and win 13:10, with coach Shi Hairong refusing to substitute the underperforming Tang Xin. The third set saw Jiangsu start strong with a 13:5 lead, but they also faced a dangerous injury situation.
At 9:5, Zhang Changning slipped during an attack and immediately left the court, appearing to have injured her leg. However, later footage showed that the injury was not severe. From the third set onwards, Jiangsu gradually found their rhythm, reducing their errors, while Shanghai struggled to score in crucial moments. Zhong Hui made three consecutive service errors, and Jiangsu targeted her, causing her mentality to falter due to the fluctuations in her serve. Unfortunately, Shanghai seemed unable to find a suitable replacement for Zhong Hui, as the players who came in were even worse.
Zhong Hui played a very respectable game, with 28 attacks resulting in 14 points, 3 blocks, and 2 serves, totaling 19 points with only 2 blocks against her. She also received 58 serves with a 62% reception rate, though there were 11 reception errors. It must be said that she gave it her all, but Jiangsu's focus on her took a significant toll, leaving her without much support. Zhang Changning scored 6 points with 4 attacks, 1 block, and 1 serve. Gong Xiangyu had 33 attacks, 17 successful, and 3 serves, totaling 20 points. Wu Mengjie had 31 attacks, 10 successful, 2 blocks, and 4 serves, but with 1 error and 4 blocks against her, indicating that she needs to improve her offensive game, although her overall performance was quite comprehensive. Gao Yi also played well in this match, with 18 attacks, 10 successful, and 4 blocks, and no errors. We hope Shanghai can continue to work hard and improve.
