China Beats United States 3-2 to Reach 2026 VNL Semifinals

A Hard-Fought Victory Over the United States

The quarter-final clash in Macau saw the United States dominate the opening set, taking it 25-15 as they quickly found their rhythm. However, China staged a significant recovery in the second set. After a competitive start that saw the teams tied at 7-7, the U.S. managed to pull ahead 16-13, but China responded by overcoming the deficit to win the set 25-23, according to reporting from the event.

China continued its momentum by taking the third set 25-20. The U.S. efforts in the fourth won 25-17 to push the match into a deciding fifth set. In the final frame, the U.S. led 10-8 before China clawed back to level the score at 11-11, eventually clinching the set and the match 15-13.

Zhuang Yushan, an outside hitter, stated that while the team did not adapt to the opponent’s rhythm at the beginning, they slowly found their own pace and utilized their own style to compete against them.

Zhuang Yushan led the Chinese team with 17 points, while team captain Gong Xiangyu contributed 15. Gong noted after the match that the squad had prepared for a difficult encounter and maintained their focus even when trailing.

Türkiye’s Path to the Semifinals

While China was battling the U.S., Türkiye secured its own place in the final four by defeating Canada 3-1. Playing in the same Macau venue, the Turkish side overcame a first-set loss—22-25—to win the following three sets 25-21, 25-21, and 25-17. According to official match records, Melissa Vargas led the effort with 27 points, while Hande Baladin added 14 points to the total.

This appearance marks the sixth time Türkiye has reached the VNL semifinals in the tournament’s history. The team’s consistency is notable, having reached the final round six times in eight consecutive final-round participations since 2018.

Tournament Landscape: Italy and Brazil

The other half of the semifinal bracket is set between Italy and Brazil. Italy, the defending champions, advanced by sweeping the Netherlands 3-0. Brazil earned their spot by defeating Japan 3-1, with Ana Cristina delivering a standout performance of 30 points, spiking at a 54 per cent success rate.

Ana Cristina, a Brazilian player, remarked that it was a very tough match, but she felt comfortable on the court with her teammates, noting that they helped each other significantly and are improving in that regard with every game.

The tournament schedule pauses for a rest day on July 24, with the semifinals slated for July 25. The winners of the China-Türkiye and Italy-Brazil matches will advance to the final round on Saturday.