China survives Bulgarian match point in five-set thriller

In a thrilling five-set battle in Hong Kong, hosts China, spearheaded by 22-year-old outside hitter Wu Mengjie with a smashing 32 points, squeezed out a nerve-wracking victory over Bulgaria after wasting two match points in set four and surviving an opponent match point in set five of this incredible women’s Volleyball Nations League game on Thursday. The win lifted China to fifth place in the current VNL standings on a 4-2 win-loss record and 12 points, while Bulgaria stayed in 10^th place on 2-4 and 7. Meanwhile in Istanbul, the Dominican Republic swept their match with Belgium to climb to eighth place on 3-3 and 7 and push the opponents down to second from the bottom, 17^th place on 1-5 and 3.

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The fans in Hong Kong experienced a magical duel, with many ups and downs for both sides until the home team could finally celebrate a 3-2 (25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 24-26, 16-14) victory. China were well in charge of the first set, but Bulgaria stormed the second on an 11-2 run and eventually held up to level the score. The Asian side completely dominated set three and, in set four, it went back and forth until China reached a double match point. The Europeans reacted with four in a row as middle blocker Hristina Vuchkova controlled the net to score the last two points for Bulgaria. China had to play catch-up in the tie-breaker and Bulgaria came to within a point from a sensational win at 14-13, when it was the home side’s turn to mount a big turnaround. They put together three consecutive points, crowned by a Wu Mengjie spike for the match winner.

Wu Mengjie’s 32-point match high included two aces and two kill blocks. She spiked at a 51% success rate. The other 22-year-old Chinese outside Zhuang Yushan contributed 18 points. Another 11 came from yet another outside, who took part in the match, 21-year-old Tang Xin. Meanwhile, 16-year-old setter Zhang Zixuan impressed with three of China’s six aces in the match.

“I am very proud of the team! I may have scored the match point and it felt cool, but I owe this success to my team,” Wu told VBTV at the end.

Bulgarian star outside and captain Elitsa Atanasijevic led her team with 22 points, while middle blocker Nasya Dimitrova registered a 63% success rate in attack to finish with 20 points. The other middle Hristina Vuchkova, the other outside Aleksandra Milanova and substitute opposite Radostina Marinova all reached the double digits as well, with 17, 12 and 10 points, respectively.

“I think the most positive thing for us from this game was that we saw that we could play well against a team like China,” said Atanasijevic. “We did our best and we could play as equals to them… And let’s not talk about the negative things.”

Meanwhile, over in Istanbul, the competition day opened with the Dominican Republic’s 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 27-25) victory over Belgium. Outside Brayelin Martinez contributed a match-high 18 points, including three kill blocks. Opposite Gaila Gonzalez chipped in with another 17 points, while the other outside Yonkaira Pena added 11. 22-year-old opposite Pauline Martin led Belgium with 10 points, while the team’s usual scoring machine, outside Britt Herbots, finished with just seven.

A tight match between USA and Poland is currently being played in Belgrade. Later on Thursday, the program also offers games between Canada and Turkiye in Istanbul and between Germany and Serbia in Belgrade.

Volleyball Nations League 2025: full schedule and results

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