China has developed a knack for raising their game when facing the United States on the grandest stages of women's volleyball. Even when they come up short, they often give their American counterparts a run for their money. Despite the U.S. having won the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) three times and securing a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, in their most recent five encounters, China hold a slight advantage with three victories and two losses.
In a classic showdown last year in Suwon, South Korea, China exhibited their incredible resilience by coming back from being down a set twice, ultimately emerging with a sensational victory. As the new season of the VNL shifted to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, China and the U.S. once again found themselves on a collision course. China displayed their astonishing tenacity once more, overcoming the precarious situation of dropping the first set to mount a fightback and eventually outclassing the mighty U.S. with a 3-1 win.
Due to the deep familiarity between the two powerhouses, both sides swiftly found their groove. The U.S. capitalized on their swift and aggressive attacking plays to gain an early edge, while China relied on their unwavering defense to keep the scores tight. However, China's offensive performance displayed some inconsistency, resulting in a lower success rate.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com