Vietnam's women's volleyball team dethroned at AVC Cup

Vietnam's reign as AVC Cup champions has ended after a semifinal defeat to South Korea, preventing a potential fourth consecutive title. The Vietnamese team, not fielding their strongest lineup, revealed significant weaknesses in reception, offense, and defense during the tournament.

The highly anticipated match against South Korea, who recently dropped from the Volleyball Nations League, saw Vietnam falter in the first two sets, losing 25-20 and 25-19. Even star player Tran Thi Thanh Thuy was substituted after struggling. The team showed a marked improvement in the third set, leading at points 17-14 and 20-17, but crucial errors in reception and defense allowed South Korea to rally and win 25-22, securing the match.

This loss marks the first time Vietnam has not won the AVC Cup since their debut victory in 2023. They will now compete against Kazakhstan for third place, a rematch of a group stage game where Kazakhstan emerged victorious. The team's performance highlighted persistent issues that proved insurmountable against a strong South Korean side.