China shift balance of power at women's VNL

China have brought in the 'big guns' at the 2021 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League with Zhu Ting heading a group of six players (including Ding Xia, Li Yingying, Gong Xiangyu, Yan Ni and Yuan Xinyue) that arrived in Rimini to lead the team's drive in the latter part of the competition for a semifinal spot.

And China promptly took care of their match with the Netherlands in straight sets, as the competition resumed on Saturday with Day 10.

Zhu Ting resumed captain duties but only played for the first two sets (bringing in 10 points with 10/18 for 56% in attack).

This maybe gave a bit of respite to the Netherlands, who after finding themselves trailing 23-18 in the third, reacted with a five-point run to tie the score. China were still first to reach match point at 24-23, but had to fend off seven Dutch set points before Li Yingying served an ace on Nika Daalderop, who then conceded an attacking error to end the epic set.

Li bagged the match high score of 19 points with Yan Ni adding four blocks to lead China who improved their record to 5-5 (while the Netherlands dropped to 7-3).

China could sill make it to the Final Four, but they still have a lot of catching up to do - and it may very well come down to the very last match of pool play when they face off with defending champions USA.

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USA denied Belgium their favourite format of five-setters, sweeping the European side in under an hour and a half to stay undefeated and on full points at the top of the standings - now two wins clear of their closest opponents.

USA came from (slightly) behind in the second set and saw their first set point cancelled before a kill by Jordan Thompson (top scorer of the match on 21 points) and a spike from Helena Gilson that went wide got the job done.

Without Britt Herbots (who sat this one out in anticipation of tomorrow's match against Turkey) to get the ball on the floor, and up against the most formidable opponent so far in the VNL, Belgium's attacking efficiency was reduced to 22% (21/94), but the European side also committed 23 unforced errors.

Despite not playing, however, Herbots continues to lead the list of the tournament's best scorers.

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Brazil now lead the teams at 8-2 and chasing USA, after shutting out Poland following a great performance by Carol Gattaz, the tournament's oldest player at almost 40. Gattaz contributed three blocks, as did also Gabi Guimaraes and Tandara Caixeta, of their team's total 13.

Gabi was top scorer of the game on 15 points.

The South Americans reached set point in the first with six to spare. But then Magdalena Stysiak stepped up to serve delivering two direct aces as Poland closed in to 24-22 before a foot-fault put an end to their run.

And in the third Brazil came from behind and finished it on the first chance they got when Macris Carneiro delivered an ace that Martyna Czyrnianska could not keep in play.

Japan, meanwhile, extended their winning streak to three matches after upsetting Turkey in four sets, which now has the two teams on par in the standings at 8-2 (Japan enjoying a slight advantage of one point).

A great performance by Sarina Koga with her match high 18 points and some good blocking that yielded 11 points (four from Erika Araki alone) were decisive for Japan's win - but they also did take advantage of almost a set's-worth of points (24) from Turkey's unforced errors.

This was in addition to Japan showcasing their famous defending skills which ultimately frustrated Turkey.

Meanwhile, Thailand started Week 4 with their first win of the tournament, coming from behind to beat Germany in four.

Thailand were undeterred by Germany's blocking, with setter Tomkom Nootsara producing an inspirational performance.

Sittirak Onuma scored a match high of 20 points to lift Thailand as the Asian side persevered after dropping a tight first set.

And Russia returned to victories with a sweep of Korea on the back of 20 points from Irina Voronkova and another from their teenage star Arina Fedorovtseva - alongside Korea's Jeong Jiyun (11) the only players of the game to score in double digits.

In other VNL action on Saturday, Canada overwhelmed Serbia in four sets with pressure from the service and Kiera van Ryk back at her usual top-scoring duties for a match high of 21 (including three aces).

Emily Maglio and Jennifer Cross added four blocks each for Canada, as Serbia struggled without their captain Katarina Lazovic who was out due to a sprained muscle.

And the Dominican Republic served a total of ten aces (three by Bethania de la Cruz) as they stopped Italy in four sets.

The 'Queens of the Caribbean' enjoyed a three-point lead at 23-20 in the fourth set, as Italy launched a last-ditch attempt at forcing a tie-break. But all the hosts could do was tie the score and then cancel one match point of the Dominicans, before Camilla Mingardi stepped on the three-metre line in her last back-row attack.

Mingardi was the high scorer of the game on 26.

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