Players in action during the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League first round match between China (facing camera) and Thailand in Rimini, Italy, May 27, 2021. /Xinhua
China's national women's volleyball team clinched their second victory at the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, Italy on Thursday, defeating Thailand 3-0.
China now have two wins and one defeat out of three matches. They will next play Germany on May 31, followed by games against Canada and Turkey.
Thailand went through a last-minute adjustment before the tournament, as several players in their starting line-up tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, it was a newly formed line-up against China.
Meanwhile, the Chinese side fielded mostly young players looking to gain experience from international tournaments, with a few veterans leading the team and warming up for the Tokyo Olympics.
Thailand lost the first two sets but began to put up a fight in the third, as the score tied at 22-22. China eventually sealed the set with a spike from captain Zhang Changning, who bagged a game-high 18 points. The set scores were 25-15, 25-15, 25-23.
Also on Thursday, Germany defeated Belgium 3-0, Russia lost to the Netherlands 3-1, the Dominican Republic beat Canada 3-1, and Serbia overcame Italy 3-1.
(With input from Xinhua News Agency)