Determined to change history

The bright spots

In the first round of the SEA V.League 2025 in Ratchasima (Thailand), the Vietnamese women's team continued to finish second after beating Indonesia 3-0, surpassing the Philippines 3-1, then losing 2-3 to defending champion Thailand. This is the fifth consecutive time that coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and his team have won a silver medal in a round of the SEA V.League since 2023.

The Vietnamese girls had a good performance in the decisive match, but we lacked luck and courage at key moments. Meanwhile, the Thai women's team, although not having the strongest squad, still showed the courage of the number 1 team in the region, as well as regularly participating in world -class tournaments such as the FIVB Nations League or the World Championship.

The 2-3 loss in Ratchasima was also the first time in history that the Vietnamese women's team won 2 sets against the Thais on their home field. Previously, in the second round of the SEA V.League 2024, Bich Tuyen and her teammates also did this, but it took place at home at Vinh Phuc Stadium (formerly Vinh Phuc province). Clearly, the Vietnamese women's team has made a lot of progress and gradually narrowed the gap in their confrontations with the Thais.

Not only that, the players' psychological warfare is also guaranteed despite having to compete under the tremendous pressure of fans in the stands and the strength of the opponents on the field. On an individual level, middle blocker Bich Thuy is the biggest highlight of the Vietnamese women's team in stage 1. Not only does she block the ball well and attack effectively, Bich Thuy also supports the defense very well.

The title of “best middle blocker” is a worthy reward to recognize the efforts of the female player born in 2000. Meanwhile, Bich Tuyen still maintained a good scoring performance and continued to be honored as the “best opposite player of the tournament”, while Khanh Dang continued to prove his class as the team’s number 1 Libero.

Will the debt be recovered?

But against Thailand, the Vietnamese women's team continued to show weaknesses in the first step. The opponent was a very brave team, they served the ball very well, knew how to exploit the opponent's weaknesses, this limited the attacking power of the Vietnamese women's team. The Thai defense not only locked down the "detonator" Thanh Thuy, but also organized "care" very carefully against Bich Tuyen's smashes.

Along with that, the team's lack of innovation in the setters also made the hitters predictable. In the match against Thailand, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet used two setters Lam Oanh and Kim Thoa alternately, but the results did not meet expectations. "In the match against Thailand, we and the other team had moments of tug-of-war. We will learn from this match for the players when we return to Vietnam to prepare for the second round of the SEA V.League 2025," said coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet.

In fact, the Thai women's volleyball team is no longer superior to the Vietnamese girls as before. The "Land of the Golden Pagoda" team is only slightly better in terms of stability, uniformity, and battle spirit, especially mentality. Not only that, the fact that they have just competed in the FIVB Nations League 2025 as well as the absence of two key players, Chatchuon and Wimonrat, has affected the strength of this team in the SEA V.League 2025.

This is a very suitable time for the Vietnamese women's team to change the history of losing all matches against their opponents. Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and his team almost did that in Ratchasima and they will certainly be determined and make double efforts when they return to Ninh Binh in the second leg. "In 5 days, the second leg will take place at home, at that time the Vietnamese women's volleyball team will get revenge on Thailand", Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet affirmed after the match with Thailand in the first leg.

The Vietnamese women's team has made remarkable progress recently, continuously setting historical milestones in international tournaments, including 3 AVC Nations Cup championships (2023, 2024, 2025) or the bronze medal at the FIVB Challenge Cup 2024. The next goal of Vietnamese women's volleyball is to conquer regional tournaments, including the 33rd SEA Games.

To do that, the Vietnamese girls need to defeat Thailand, which is also the top goal that the coaching staff set for the players. If they beat the Thais in the second round of SEA V.League 2025, the Vietnamese girls will not only change history but can completely think about the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games on the opponent's home field.

The Vietnamese women's team has finalized the list of 14 official athletes competing in the second round of SEA V.League 2025, including: Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Nguyen Thi Uyen, Vi Thi Nhu Quynh, Tran Thi Phuong (main attacker); Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh (opposite setter); Nguyen Thi Trinh, Le Thanh Thuy, Tran Thi Bich Thuy, Pham Thi Hien (middle attacker); Doan Thi Lam Oanh, Vo Thi Kim Thoa (setter); Nguyen Khanh Dang, Luu Thi Ly Ly (Libero). The only change compared to the first round is that main attacker Tran Thi Phuong returns to replace the Libero position of Nguyen Thi Ninh Anh. In the second round, coach Tran Tuan Kiet and his team will compete with the Philippines (August 8), Indonesia (August 9) and Thailand (August 10).

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/quyet-tam-thay-doi-lich-su-159091.html