After winning two consecutive games in the first round of National Volleyball Championships 2018, Sanest Khanh Hoa is getting a certain advantage in the race for a place in the finals of this tournament.
After winning two consecutive games in the first round of National Volleyball Championships 2018, Sanest Khanh Hoa is getting a certain advantage in the race for a place in the finals of this tournament.
Twenty male and female teams are competing in the group stage of the 2018 National Volleyball Championships, which is taking place at Gia Lam Competition House (Hanoi) and Hai Duong Provincial Competition House. This year’s championships has only one qualifying round before the final round instead of two rounds like the previous years. The top four of men’s event and top four of women’s event will qualify for the final round which is slated to be held in Ben Tre in December.
Sanest Khanh Hoa, the champion of the 2017 tournament, is in Group B together with Trang An Ninh Binh and Ho Chi Minh City besides Ha Tinh and Xo so kien thiet Vinh Long. This group is considered as the group of death because it has three strong candidates for the championship.
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Trang An Ninh Binh is having a strong line up with three athletes of the national team, namely libero Nguyen Xuan Thanh, setter Giang Van Duc, and middle blocker Nguyen Hoang Thuong. Trang An Ninh Binh played the opening match in men’s event of Group B and won Ha Tinh 3-0. However, in the second match, they lost 2-3 to Ho Chi Minh City which only has Nguyen Van Hanh, former outside hitter of the national volleyball team, as the most outstanding athlete in the line up.
Sanest Khanh Hoa takes part in this year’s tournament with new coach and new players. The team is trying to harmonize the play between the senior and junior players. In the past, the play of Sanest Khanh Hoa mostly depended on the form of outside hitters, which was easily known by their opponents. However, with new lineup, Sanest Khanh Hoa has diversified their play style with more players joining the attack. This new tactic seemed to surprise their opponents. Sanest Khanh Hoa got two 3-0 wins against Xo so kien thiet Vinh Long and Ha Tinh.
With these results, Sanest Khanh Hoa is having an advantage of points in Group B.
An Nhien
Translated by H.N
