Vietnam U18 Women Dominate Chinese Taipei in Straight Sets at Asian Championship

The Asian Championship U18 Women witnessed a commanding performance from Vietnam U18 W on July 1, 2026, as they swept Chinese Taipei U18 Women 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-16) in a pool-stage encounter. The result underlined Vietnam’s growing strength in age-group volleyball and left Chinese Taipei with work to do in the tournament.

Match Overview

From the opening whistle, Vietnam imposed their rhythm with aggressive serving and sharp attacking through the middle. Chinese Taipei struggled to contain the visitors’ quick offense, particularly in transition. The first set saw Vietnam race to an 8-3 lead behind two service aces from opposite hitter Nguyen Thi Lan. Chinese Taipei fought back to 12-10, but a series of unforced errors handed Vietnam the set 25-18.

The second set was more competitive, with Chinese Taipei improving their blocking and forcing longer rallies. However, Vietnam’s defensive discipline and timely spikes from outside hitter Tran Minh Anh proved decisive. A crucial 4-0 run from 18-18 gave Vietnam a 22-18 lead, and they closed out 25-20.

In the third set, Chinese Taipei appeared to lose momentum. Vietnam sprinted to a 10-3 advantage, mixing powerful attacks with clever tips. Chinese Taipei’s coach called two timeouts but could not stem the tide. Vietnam sealed the match 25-16 on a block by middle blocker Pham Thi Hoa.

Key Performers

• Nguyen Thi Lan (Vietnam) – The opposite hitter recorded 18 points (15 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace) and was a constant threat from the right side.
• Tran Minh Anh (Vietnam) – Contributed 14 points with a high kill percentage and steady passing under pressure.
• Chen Yu-Hsuan (Chinese Taipei) – The libero made 17 digs to keep her team in rallies, but lacked sufficient support from the attackers.

Season and Tournament Context

The Asian Championship U18 Women brings together the continent’s best young talents, with the winner earning a spot at the FIVB U19 World Championship. Vietnam’s straight-set victory strengthens their position in the standings and builds confidence ahead of tougher matches against regional powerhouses like Japan and China. For Chinese Taipei, the loss means they must win their remaining group fixtures to advance to the knockout rounds.

Head coach Le Thi Hong of Vietnam praised her team’s focus: “We served tough and stayed disciplined in system. This is a young team, but they show maturity beyond their years.” Chinese Taipei’s coach Chen Wei-Lin acknowledged the gap: “We missed too many easy chances. We need to reset and come back stronger.”

The tournament continues with Vietnam facing Mongolia next, while Chinese Taipei take on Thailand in a must-win encounter.