Lalima Hai Duong beat Bai Bang Paper Mill 3-0 to reach the semi-finals of the annual Women’s Top Volleyball Clubs Tournament yesterday.
Hai Duong dominated the match from the start, leading 25-21 in the first set.
The team, who have contracted Thai player Jutharat for this year’s championship, held a strong defence against the powerful attackers of Bai Bang, and Jutharat scored most of the points in the second set.
Bai Bang sustained their tactic to narrow the score when Hai Duong were leading 10-6.
The set was coming to a draw at one point when Bai Bang was on 20-19, but the team lost their co-ordination which gave Hai Duong the chance to increase their gap and defeat them 25-22.
Hai Duong kept the momentum to score 25-13 in the third set thanks to using good side attacks and a strong performance by Jutharat.
Hai Duong will compete against the Military Signal Corps-Trust Bank, who beat Bao Long Ha Tay 3-0, in the semi-final today.
The annual Women’s Top Volleyball Clubs Tournament has drawn eight high-ranking teams, including the Military Signal Corp-Trust Bank, Bai Bang Paper Mill, Industrial and Commercial Bank (Incombank).
The tournament will also provide a chance for women to warm up before playing at the National Top Volleyball Clubs Championship next month.
The winning team will receive a bonus of VND50mil (US$3,100), while the two runners-up will get VND30mil ($1,800) and VND15mil ($900), respectively.
The organisers will also present eight performance awards to individual players.
It will be the first time since 1998 that Thanh Hoa fans will have the chance to welcome a qualifying volleyball championship team to their home town.
