China defeats Canada in final week of Women's VNL
ARLINGTON, United States, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The final week of the Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) group stage continued Friday in Arlington, Texas, where China defeated Canada 3-1 (25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 25-23) in a hard-fought encounter.
Zhuang Yushan paced China with 21 points, while Wu Mengjie and Gong Xiangyu chipped in 18 and 14, respectively.
Canada's attack was balanced, with Abagayle Guezen and Anna Smrek each scoring 14 points, while Emily Maglio and Andrea Mitrovic added 12 and 11.
The opening set was tightly contested, with Canada staying within striking distance before China's Gong delivered a spike to take it 25-22.
Trailing 10-8 early in the second set, Zhuang turned the tide with three straight heavy jump-serve aces, forcing a Canada timeout. Chen Houyu carried on the momentum with three spikes after Zhuang's serves continued to disturb the Canadian defense. China surged to a dominant 25-15 set win.
Canada produced its best volleyball in the third set, riding heavy swings from its quartet of scorers, gritty digs and timely blocks to claim it 25-22.
The fourth set became a nerve-jangling sprint to the finish. With a successful challenge, Canada narrowed the deficit to 24-23, but Wu's spike helped lift China at the last moment to seal the set 25-23 en route to a 3-1 win.
Head coach Zhao Yong praised his young squad's resilience and their ability to adjust to the match's ebb and flow.
The Final Phase of the 2025 VNL tournament will be held in Lodz, Poland from July 23 to 27. With 20 points from seven wins and three losses, China has secured its place in that competition with two matches to spare.
Earlier on Friday, the Dominican Republic swept Thailand 25-21, 25-18, 25-23.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
6 hours ago
- Global News
Lions pounce on Elks 32-14 for second straight win
The B.C. Lions looked like a team in complete control on Sunday. Nathan Rourke passed for 345 yards and two touchdowns as the Lions won the latest clash of the Canadian quarterbacks, emerging with an easy 32-14 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Sunday. 'We did some good things,' Rourke said. 'We definitely need to finish drives a little bit better, but I think we did a really good job really giving it to them in the run game, having some long times of possession and really putting some drives together, that was good to see. 'It's good to be playing good football and it's also good not to have played our best football yet.' James Butler also rushed for a career-high 172 yards and a touchdown for the Lions (3-3), who have won two straight. Story continues below advertisement 'I felt like I could have had more,' Butler chuckled. 'We were talking all week about putting four quarters together. We've had slow starts. I thought we got out fast in this game and kept on pushing.' Quarterback Tre Ford passed for only 34 yards as Edmonton was held to just 160 yards in net offence on the night, much of that coming when the game was already out of reach. 'It was a tough game,' Ford said. 'Obviously we got beat up and a lot of that was my fault. There was just a lot of missed throws today. It just sucks because I thought I was seeing the field really well. 'It just wasn't our day.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Elks dropped to 1-4. There was no scoring until late in the opening quarter when Sean Whyte nailed a 33-yard field goal. The Lions made it 10-0 five minutes into the second quarter when Rourke completed a short pass to Jevon Cottoy and he danced out of the clutches of a defender and dove into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown. Edmonton caught a break when a Rourke pass went off a helmet on the line and was caught by defensive lineman Jake Ceresna, who promptly fumbled it before teammate Tyrell Ford dropped on it on the B.C. 19. It would eventually lead to a one-yard TD plunge by backup quarterback Cody Fajardo. Story continues below advertisement The Lions came roaring back to restore their 10-point lead with two minutes left in the first half as Butler powered his way through for a 15-yard rushing TD. B.C. looked to have extended its lead on a massive 92-yard punt return touchdown by Seven McGee, but the play was nullified on an illegal block call. With just eight seconds left in the second quarter, however, Rourke completed a seven-yard TD pass to Stanley Berryhill III to take a 24-7 lead into halftime. In their first five games this season, the Lions had managed only three points in the first quarter and had been outscored a combined 72-32 in the opening half. 'Early execution was key for us and we've been lacking that the last number of weeks,' said Lions head coach Buck Pierce. 'So, to be able to come out and start a little faster was good to see.' After gaining two points on a safety on Edmonton's previous possession, Whyte kicked a 36-yard field goal with 3:24 remaining in the third. Whyte added a 31-yard field goal with five minutes left in the fourth. Fajardo replaced Ford at QB late in the fourth and completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. Story continues below advertisement NOTES It was the second game this season featuring a pair of Canadian starting quarterbacks, as the first game for both squads this season also had Ford going against Rourke, with the Lions winning that encounter 31-14. Before this season, the last time there was an all-Canadian quarterback matchup also featured these same two teams, taking place way back in August 1968 (the Lions' Pete Ohler against Edmonton's Frank Cosentino). … The two teams will meet a third time on Oct. 17 in Vancouver, the second-last week of the regular season … Ceresna suffered a leg injury in the third and was carted off the field. UP NEXT Lions: Host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, July 19. Elks: Visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday, July 25.
Vancouver Sun
6 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Lions 32, Elks 14: Not B.C.'s best, but still easily enough in Edmonton
EDMONTON — The B.C. Lions looked like a team in complete control on Sunday. Nathan Rourke passed for 345 yards and two touchdowns as the Lions won the latest clash of the Canadian quarterbacks, emerging with an easy 32-14 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Sunday. 'We did some good things,' Rourke said. 'We definitely need to finish drives a little bit better, but I think we did a really good job really giving it to them in the run game, having some long times of possession and really putting some drives together, that was good to see. 'It's good to be playing good football and it's also good not to have played our best football yet.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. James Butler also rushed for a career-high 172 yards and a touchdown for the Lions (3-3), who have won two straight. 'I felt like I could have had more,' Butler chuckled. 'We were talking all week about putting four quarters together. We've had slow starts. I thought we got out fast in this game and kept on pushing.' Quarterback Tre Ford passed for only 34 yards as Edmonton was held to just 160 yards in net offence on the night, much of that coming when the game was already out of reach. 'It was a tough game,' Ford said. 'Obviously we got beat up and a lot of that was my fault. There was just a lot of missed throws today. It just sucks because I thought I was seeing the field really well. 'It just wasn't our day.' The Elks dropped to 1-4. There was no scoring until late in the opening quarter when Sean Whyte nailed a 33-yard field goal. The Lions made it 10-0 five minutes into the second quarter when Rourke completed a short pass to Jevon Cottoy and he danced out of the clutches of a defender and dove into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown. Edmonton caught a break when a Rourke pass went off a helmet on the line and was caught by defensive lineman Jake Ceresna, who promptly fumbled it before teammate Tyrell Ford dropped on it on the B.C. 19. It would eventually lead to a one-yard TD plunge by backup quarterback Cody Fajardo. The Lions came roaring back to restore their 10-point lead with two minutes left in the first half as Butler powered his way through for a 15-yard rushing TD. B.C. looked to have extended its lead on a massive 92-yard punt return touchdown by Seven McGee, but the play was nullified on an illegal block call. With just eight seconds left in the second quarter, however, Rourke completed a seven-yard TD pass to Stanley Berryhill III to take a 24-7 lead into halftime. In their first five games this season, the Lions had managed only three points in the first quarter and had been outscored a combined 72-32 in the opening half. 'Early execution was key for us and we've been lacking that the last number of weeks,' said Lions head coach Buck Pierce. 'So, to be able to come out and start a little faster was good to see.' After gaining two points on a safety on Edmonton's previous possession, Whyte kicked a 36-yard field goal with 3:24 remaining in the third. Whyte added a 31-yard field goal with five minutes left in the fourth. Fajardo replaced Ford at QB late in the fourth and completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. NOTES It was the second game this season featuring a pair of Canadian starting quarterbacks, as the first game for both squads this season also had Ford going against Rourke, with the Lions winning that encounter 31-14. Before this season, the last time there was an all-Canadian quarterback matchup also featured these same two teams, taking place way back in August 1968 (the Lions' Pete Ohler against Edmonton's Frank Cosentino). … The two teams will meet a third time on Oct. 17 in Vancouver, the second-last week of the regular season … Ceresna suffered a leg injury in the third and was carted off the field. UP NEXT Lions: Host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, July 19. Elks: Visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday, July 25.
The Province
6 hours ago
- The Province
Lions 32, Elks 14: Not B.C.'s best, but still easily enough in Edmonton
Nathan Rourke passed for 345 yards and two touchdowns while James Butler rushed for a career-high 172 yards and a touchdown Published Jul 13, 2025 • Last updated 3 minutes ago • 3 minute read File photo: B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke throws a pass during first half CFL football action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal, Saturday, July 5, 2025. Photo by Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press EDMONTON — The B.C. Lions looked like a team in complete control on Sunday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Nathan Rourke passed for 345 yards and two touchdowns as the Lions won the latest clash of the Canadian quarterbacks, emerging with an easy 32-14 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Sunday. 'We did some good things,' Rourke said. 'We definitely need to finish drives a little bit better, but I think we did a really good job really giving it to them in the run game, having some long times of possession and really putting some drives together, that was good to see. 'It's good to be playing good football and it's also good not to have played our best football yet.' James Butler also rushed for a career-high 172 yards and a touchdown for the Lions (3-3), who have won two straight. 'I felt like I could have had more,' Butler chuckled. 'We were talking all week about putting four quarters together. We've had slow starts. I thought we got out fast in this game and kept on pushing.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Quarterback Tre Ford passed for only 34 yards as Edmonton was held to just 160 yards in net offence on the night, much of that coming when the game was already out of reach. 'It was a tough game,' Ford said. 'Obviously we got beat up and a lot of that was my fault. There was just a lot of missed throws today. It just sucks because I thought I was seeing the field really well. 'It just wasn't our day.' The Elks dropped to 1-4. There was no scoring until late in the opening quarter when Sean Whyte nailed a 33-yard field goal. The Lions made it 10-0 five minutes into the second quarter when Rourke completed a short pass to Jevon Cottoy and he danced out of the clutches of a defender and dove into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown. Edmonton caught a break when a Rourke pass went off a helmet on the line and was caught by defensive lineman Jake Ceresna, who promptly fumbled it before teammate Tyrell Ford dropped on it on the B.C. 19. It would eventually lead to a one-yard TD plunge by backup quarterback Cody Fajardo. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Lions came roaring back to restore their 10-point lead with two minutes left in the first half as Butler powered his way through for a 15-yard rushing TD. B.C. looked to have extended its lead on a massive 92-yard punt return touchdown by Seven McGee, but the play was nullified on an illegal block call. With just eight seconds left in the second quarter, however, Rourke completed a seven-yard TD pass to Stanley Berryhill III to take a 24-7 lead into halftime. In their first five games this season, the Lions had managed only three points in the first quarter and had been outscored a combined 72-32 in the opening half. 'Early execution was key for us and we've been lacking that the last number of weeks,' said Lions head coach Buck Pierce. 'So, to be able to come out and start a little faster was good to see.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. After gaining two points on a safety on Edmonton's previous possession, Whyte kicked a 36-yard field goal with 3:24 remaining in the third. Whyte added a 31-yard field goal with five minutes left in the fourth. Fajardo replaced Ford at QB late in the fourth and completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. NOTES It was the second game this season featuring a pair of Canadian starting quarterbacks, as the first game for both squads this season also had Ford going against Rourke, with the Lions winning that encounter 31-14. Before this season, the last time there was an all-Canadian quarterback matchup also featured these same two teams, taking place way back in August 1968 (the Lions' Pete Ohler against Edmonton's Frank Cosentino). … The two teams will meet a third time on Oct. 17 in Vancouver, the second-last week of the regular season … Ceresna suffered a leg injury in the third and was carted off the field. UP NEXT Lions: Host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, July 19. Elks: Visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday, July 25. Read More Vancouver Canucks Local News Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks News
