VNL 2025

China all booked for Lodz

22-year-old Zhuang leads the Asian team to victory over Canada

Published 06:08, 12 Jul 2025

Canada (CAN) vs. China (CHN) women - Pool 8 - Preliminary Phase #51168212

China’s Zhuang Yushan and Ni Feifan ecstatic to qualify for the VNL Finals

China became the sixth team with a secure spot in the women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals in Lodz, along with hosts Poland, Italy, Brazil, Japan and Turkiye. After Friday’s four-set victory over Canada in Arlington, USA, the Asian powerhouse stands in sixth place in the current VNL table on a 7-3 win-loss record and 20 points and can no longer be pushed below the cut-off. Four teams – Germany, USA, rookies Czechia and the Netherlands – are still in contention for the remaining two vacancies. Meanwhile, on 2-8 and 7 in 16^th place, Canada are one of three teams still threatened by relegation, along with Thailand and Korea.

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22-year-old outside hitter Zhuang Yushan spearheaded China on the way to a 3-1 (25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 25-23) victory over Canada in Friday’s closing VNL match. She put away a match-high 21 points, including three aces and a kill block. Her cross-court teammate Wu Mengjie, also 22 years old, produced another 18 points, including the match winner. Opposite and captain Gong Xiangyu finished with 14 points.

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“I am very happy we made it to the Finals. It is my first time to play in the VNL and I am happy our team made the effort to achieve it,” Zhuang Yushan told VBTV. “We have been playing on fire, full of energy. We help each other and complement each other on the court.”

Four players reached the double digits on the Canadian side – 21-year-old opposite Anna Smrek with 14 points (including four blocks), 19-year-old outside Abagayle Guezen with 14 points, middle blocker Emily Maglio with 12, and outside Andrea Mitrovic with 11.