Qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games. Women
Ningbo, China
September 16. First round
China — Ukraine 3-0 (25:21, 25:18, 25:21)
Already in the debut match, the blue-yellow team met with the hosts of their group A, the Chinese. In the end, the home stands and the high class of the opponents affected the result.
The Ukrainians started the match on equal footing. Without any worries, they tried to impose their game on the opponents. In addition, Cai Bin's wards often made mistakes in the attacks, due to which our athletes led for some time - 7:9. Immediately after the time-out from China, Oleksandra Milenko increased the advantage to three points with a wonderful shot.
However, at such a high level, everything can change instantly, as the rivals clearly demonstrated. Soon, on the serve of Wang Yunxiang, who at that moment was distinguished by more than one ace, her team made a spurt - 16:11.
Ivan Petkov took advantage of two 30-second breaks in a short period of time. They broke the pace of the representatives of Asia and returned Ukraine's chances for triumph — 18:17. Our team fought until the last rally and believed in a comeback, but here the Chinese were still stronger - 25:21.
The blue-yellow team had a great run in the first half of the second set. Anastasiia Kraiduba and the company were angry for no reason. Yes, a productive shot and an opposite's ace provided our team with a comfortable margin of 4:7. It is interesting that on the opposite side of the net they did not understand, due to which they can turn the course of the match - 12:14.
But the Chinese volleyball players still found a gap in the block of Ukrainians and began to act more often at the first pace through Wang Yuanyuan. This moment became a turning point in the set because it is very difficult to get back into the game against a team of this kind of class - 25:18.
The development of the third set resembled the previous two. Once again, the Chinese women were in the status of those who catch up - 6:10. Quite quickly, at the equator, the national teams switched roles — 13:11. Subsequently, we witnessed a protracted rally, which was effectively won by the blue-yellow team. Of course, this gave them confidence and faith in their own abilities - 15:17. The "swing" continued, and in the end, the scales tilted in favor of the hosts - 25:21.
Starting line-up of the national team Ukraine: Daria Sharhorodska (1), Svitlana Dorsman (c) (6), Diana Meliushkyna (3), Oleksandra Milenko (14), Yuliia Dymar (5), Anastasiia Kraiduba (19), Krystyna Niemtseva (l).
