On December 31st, the first round of the A-level playoffs for the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Women's Volleyball Super League is set to begin. The matchups have been announced: Tianjin will face Liaoning (with the home team listed first), Beijing Automotive (BAIC) will challenge Shandong, Shanghai will compete against Shenzhen, and Jiangsu will go up against Fujian. Analyzing the strength of the teams involved, it appears that reigning champions Tianjin will win without much suspense, while the other two strong teams, Shanghai and Jiangsu, will face challenges, with their chances of victory uncertain.
Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team
As defending champions, Tianjin started the season slow but picked up momentum under new coach Chen Fang, who took over from Wang Baoquan and began using the original starting setter Yao Di. The team has since changed its sluggish state, winning consecutive victories and once again showing championship potential. Tianjin finished the regular season in second place with a five-game winning streak. In the playoffs, Tianjin is grouped with BAIC, Liaoning, and Shandong. In the first round, they will play against Liaoning, who almost got relegated. With Li Yingying and Wang Yuanyuan leading the attack, Tianjin's victory seems assured.
Shanghai Women's Volleyball Team
Compared to Tianjin, both Shanghai and Jiangsu have experienced changes. Shanghai's strong support, Xiaocaiwa, left abruptly, and the main lineup had to be changed at the last minute, which will inevitably affect the team's performance. Meanwhile, opponent Shenzhen bolstered its roster before the playoffs, enhancing its strength. It is no longer easy for Shanghai to defeat Shenzhen as they did in the regular season. To secure a victory in the first round of the playoffs, Shanghai will need to bring out its best moves.
Diao Linyu and Ni Feifan
Jiangsu, supported by three national players - Gong Xiangyu, Zhang Changning, and Wu Mengjie - recalled Diao Linyu and Ni Feifan before the playoffs, strengthening the team's lineup. However, Diao Linyu and Ni Feifan have been out for some time, and rushing into action may pose issues with coordination with their teammates. On the other hand, Fujian boasts two national players, Zhuang Yushan and Zheng Yixin, making them a formidable opponent. Whether Jiangsu can achieve victory in the first round of the playoffs remains uncertain.
In another match, BAIC and Shandong are evenly matched, and either team's victory would not be surprising. All four first-round playoff games will kick off at 7:30 pm on the 31st. To ensure fans can enjoy the exciting matches in real-time, CCTV Sports Channel (CCTV5) will start live broadcasting the BAIC versus Shandong game at 7:30 pm. Volleyball enthusiasts are encouraged to tune in to the channel and cheer for their favorite teams!