Volleyball Nations League: jubilant China fight back to stun Turkey – ‘we stayed together’
- Li Yingying hails ‘the spirit of Chinese volleyball’ after her team’s recovery from two sets down to win at a deafening Hong Kong Coliseum
China came back from the dead to upset world No 1 team Turkey 3-2 on a night of high drama at a rocking Hong Kong Coliseum.
The pressure appeared to be mounting on under-fire head coach Cai Bin when his team surrendered the opening two sets of their Volleyball Nations League (VNL) encounter on Saturday.
Cai’s players came roaring back, however. The 25-21 third-set scoreline did not accurately reflect their superiority, then momentum completely swung in set four. The previously imperious Turkey opposite hitter Melissa Vargas mislaid her radar, while accomplished China held their nerve to capitalise on their first set point, at 24-23, and force the decider.
Turkey appeared to have regained the upper hand at 6-3 up in the final set, but China staged their last, decisive comeback to win it 15-13.
The victory guarantees Cai’s team a spot at the VNL finals, which begin in Bangkok on Thursday.
In a further boost, the world ranking points gained from toppling the Turks moved China within touching distance of fifth-placed USA.