Tianjin Women's Volleyball Sweeps Shandong for Third Consecutive Win, Li Yingying Impresses, Wang Yuanyuan Outshines Yang Hanyu
On January 7th at 19:30 Beijing time, the 2024-2025 season of the women's volleyball super league playoffs saw Shandong host Tianjin. In this match, Tianjin aimed to secure their third consecutive victory, while Shandong fought to secure second place in the group, keeping their hopes alive for a semi-final berth. Ultimately, Tianjin defeated Shandong 3-0, claiming victory in the match. Let's take a look at the game details:
Game Process
In the first set, Shandong started strong, using serves to attack Tianjin's reception. Tianjin was slow to heat up, with attackers not fully engaged and more offensive errors, resulting in Shandong leading 12-9. However, Tianjin quickly adjusted, with Li Yingying, Wang Yizhu, and Wang Yuanyuan unleashing powerful attacks. Tianjin also successfully blocked Shandong's main attackers and receivers at the net, eventually taking the first set 25-20. Notably, Yang Hanyu directly blocked Li Yingying in the first set, but such moments were fleeting. With Tianjin's multiple scoring points, Shandong found it increasingly difficult to defend.
In the second set, Tianjin entered the game quickly, with Li Yingying smashing diagonally from position 4, leaving Shandong with no effective blocking options. Wang Yizhu and Fetisova also broke through Shandong's defense, keeping Tianjin in the lead. Shandong's strategy mainly relied on quick attacks by Yang Hanyu and Wang Wenhao after successful receptions. When receptions were off, Du Qingqing and other flank attackers struggled to score, instead giving Tianjin counterattack opportunities. Shandong's main and receiving attackers scored mostly through smashes, which proved more effective. Tianjin took the second set 25-23, leading 2-0 overall.
In the third set, Tianjin led 9-7 initially, with Shandong fighting hard. However, there was a clear gap in overall strength between the two teams. Tianjin was well-prepared for the match, effectively countering the fast attacks of Yang Hanyu and Wang Wenhao multiple times. Shandong's main and receiving attackers had low scoring rates on direct attacks. By mid-game, the score widened. With a significant lead, Tianjin rotated in Liu Meijun and Fujii Riko to polish their lineup. Eventually, Tianjin secured the match victory with a 25-16 win in the third set.
Player Review
Tianjin's victory over Shandong is largely attributed to Li Yingying. In the second set, when both teams reached over 20 points with a close score, Shandong saw hope in winning a set. However, Li Yingying's powerful attacks emerged at this critical moment. Her attacks from position 4 and the back three-character line shattered Shandong's hopes of catching up. Having such a top-level attacker on the team indeed allows for direct problem-solving in key points and adjustment attacks. Yao Di continued to play a pivotal role in activating the entire team during the playoffs. If Meng Dou had been the main player this season, Tianjin might have faced many more challenges.
Chen Boya's performance in this match was not outstanding, with ups and downs in reception and offense. Liu Meijun played bravely and aggressively, showcasing the characteristics of a small main attacker. Wang Yizhu continued to leverage her strengths in offense, which is sufficient for domestic league matches. Wang Yuanyuan and Yao Di's cooperation has improved, and Fetisova performed well in both offense and blocking. After returning from the Club World Cup, Liu Liwen's confidence has changed significantly, supporting Tianjin's backline with her reception and defense.
What are your thoughts on Tianjin's 3-0 victory over Shandong? Does this match seem more like a warm-up for Tianjin's push into the top four? Feel free to leave comments, discuss, and thank you for reading!