It was a rollercoaster afternoon in Hong Kong SAR as 19-year-old Dong Yuhan lit up the court with 19 points, but China fell 3-0 (21-25, 30-32, 11-25) to Italy in the FIVB Women's Nations League.
Italy, the Paris Summer Olympics champions and the world's top-ranked team, edged the first set 25-21, then secured a nerve-testing 32-30 second set, before cruising through the third set 25-11.
Dong Yuhan stepped in for the injured Wu Mengjie and delivered a standout performance with powerful spikes and calm game sense. Teammate Tang Xin added 10 points, while Italy's star opposite hitter Paola Egonu topped the match with 21 points.
With this result, China closed the Hong Kong SAR leg with a 3-1 record, moving to 5-3 overall and sitting sixth in the standings. The team now heads to the USA for week three, aiming to regroup and climb back up the rankings.
For young fans tracking rising stars and shifting global powerhouses, this match proved that every point counts-and the USA leg promises another thrilling chapter on the world volleyball stage.
Reference(s):
China fall to Italy in Women's VNL as Dong Yuhan shines with 19 points
cgtn.com
