The 18th round of the Volleyball Super League will take place this afternoon at 3:30 PM. This round is also the fourth round of the first stage of the playoffs. According to the schedule, the first stage of the playoffs consists of six rounds, with four teams in each of the two groups playing a home-and-away round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. Currently, the ranking situation is as follows: In Group C, Jiangsu leads with three consecutive victories, Shanghai is second with 2 wins and 1 loss, Fujian is third with 1 win and 2 losses, and Shenzhen is at the bottom of the group with three defeats. In Group D, Tianjin tops the table with three wins in three matches, Liaoning is second with 2 wins and 1 loss, Shandong is third with 1 win and 2 losses, and Beijing has yet to win a match, becoming the hard-luck sister of Shenzhen at the bottom of the standings. As the competition progresses, the qualification situation for both groups will gradually become clear. Here are the matchups for today's eight teams:
15:30 Shenzhen Australian Dragon Tigers vs. Shanghai Bright Dairy
Shenzhen Zhongse Longhua seems to have little desire left this season. Their goal was to avoid relegation and remain in the A-level league, which they have already achieved. Winning or losing in the games doesn't affect them much anymore, and they've become a team that gives away points easily. They only won one out of 14 regular-season games, and it's doubtful if they can win any of the six playoff games. Shanghai, on the other hand, is fighting for a spot in the group advancement. They will surely spare no effort in this battle, even though they're playing away. Despite the departure of Xiaocaiwa, which had some impact on their strength, it's believed that Shanghai can still defeat Shenzhen without much difficulty.
15:30 Fujian Anxi Tieguanyin vs. Jiangsu Zhongtian Steel
Jiangsu has won all three of their matches so far and has basically secured a spot in the group advancement. With a complete lineup, Jiangsu's mentality is getting better and better. They showed incredible resilience by coming back from two sets down against Shanghai to win three straight sets and achieve a reversal. This kind of pressure resistance is quite terrifying. Fujian, of course, is also aiming for advancement, with the advantage of playing at home. Adding Zhuang Yushan and Zheng Yixin's offense and Zheng Xinyi's defense, they might just be able to compete with Jiangsu.
15:30 Liaoning Donggang Strawberry vs. Tianjin Bohai Bank
This is the top-of-the-table clash in Group D, with the two teams currently occupying the top two spots. Liaoning has been in good form recently. After finishing the regular season in a relegation battle, they quickly adjusted in the playoffs, and Ding Xia's form has been improving. Tianjin is traveling to Liaoning for this match, and both sides will surely engage in a fierce battle before a winner can be determined. Of course, Tianjin boasts national players like Li Yingying and Wang Yuanyuan, and others like Wang Yizhu, Yao Di, and Liu Liwen have also been performing consistently. It's difficult to predict who will come out on top in this match between the top two teams. In short, when brave warriors meet on narrow roads, the brave shall prevail.
15:30 Shandong Rizhao Steel vs. Beijing BAIC
Beijing BAIC has fallen to three rounds without a single victory, which is quite unexpected. Their chances of advancing are only theoretical at this point. In the first round of the playoffs, Beijing BAIC lost 2-3 to Shandong after winning the first two sets. This has left them with a grudge, and they must vent it in this match. Shandong has the advantage of playing at home, and their goal is undoubtedly to secure all three points.
Tomorrow, CCTV will live broadcast all four matches, and fans can choose to watch their favorite teams.