U17 Women's Volleyball Worlds: Taiwan narrowly loses to Puerto Rico despite Chan Tzu-yun's 23 points

Taiwan's U17 women's volleyball team narrowly lost to Puerto Rico in a five-set thriller during the preliminary round of the 2026 World U17 Girls' Volleyball Championship. The final score was 25:23, 21:25, 24:26, 25:18, and 12:15, leaving Taiwan with a preliminary record of 1 win and 2 losses.

“

After the first three preliminary matches, our teammates' understanding has gradually improved.

The team showed strong offensive performance, with Chan Tzu-yun leading all scorers with 23 points, including two aces. Chen Ting-yi contributed 22 points, and Chang Yun-chen added 20. Taiwan's squad also served 12 aces throughout the match.

Despite the defeat, Chan Tzu-yun expressed optimism about the team's growing chemistry. "After the first three preliminary matches, our teammates' understanding has gradually improved," she said. She also highlighted the importance of adjusting offensive strategies against taller opponents, focusing on speed, angles, and placement to exploit weaknesses.

“

Every point is important; we cannot let the previous mistake affect the next ball.

Chan Tzu-yun acknowledged that the team needs to improve its mental fortitude and focus, especially in close matches. "Every point is important; we cannot let the previous mistake affect the next ball," she stated. The team is committed to learning from this experience and applying the lessons to their next match against Algeria on August 11, as they continue to pursue a top-four finish in their group to advance to the knockout stage.

“

Today I can get 23 points, I feel very happy, but I think the most important thing is that the team can play the game well together.