Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and her teammates delivered a standout performance to help VTV Binh Dien Long An defeat Saipa Tehran (Iran) 3-1 and advance to the quarterfinals of the 2025 AVC Women’s Club Championship.

VTV Binh Dien Long An had suffered a disappointing 2-3 loss in their opening match against Beijing (China). To secure a place in the knockout stage, Thanh Thuy and her team needed a victory in their final group-stage match against Saipa Tehran.

The task was far from easy, as Saipa Tehran featured several Iranian national team players with strong physical presence. The club had previously placed 4th in the 2021 edition of the Asian Club Championship.

In the starting lineup, coach Thai Quang Lai fielded Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Ngoc Hoa, Nhu Quynh, Kim Thoa, Nhu Anh, Khanh Dang, and foreign player Natalia.

Struggling with first touches in the early stages, VTV Binh Dien Long An couldn’t find their rhythm. The Vietnamese side quickly fell behind by three points in the opening set. Although they rallied to take a 13-12 lead, they eventually lost the first set 22-25.

In the second set, substitute Lu Thi Phuong energized the team. VTV Binh Dien Long An surged ahead with leads of 8-4, 12-5, and 17-8, eventually winning 25-15. Nhu Quynh and Lu Thi Phuong stood out with impressive play during this set.

The third set saw both teams battle back and forth. With key points in the final moments, VTV Binh Dien Long An edged out their opponents 25-20, taking a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth set, Lu Thi Phuong continued to shine, while the experience of Thanh Thuy and Ngoc Hoa, along with the smart, steady performance of Nhu Quynh, helped the Vietnamese club close out the match with a 25-15 win, securing a 3-1 victory overall.

Photo caption: Thanh Thuy was instrumental in helping Vietnam’s representative advance to the next round.

With this result, VTV Binh Dien Long An qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2025 AVC Women’s Club Championship.

After the match, Tran Thi Thanh Thuy was awarded MVP honors, having scored 18 points. The team’s star outside hitter commented, “In the first set, we had trouble with our first touches due to their excellent serving. Our handling in some situations was also shaky, which led to the loss. I think we need to maintain stronger fighting spirit. As for tactics, our head coach and coaching staff made important adjustments.”

Dai Nam