The South Korea women's volleyball team secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by defeating Vietnam.
Under the guidance of head coach Cha Sang-hyun, South Korea (ranked 28th in the world) triumphed over Vietnam (32nd) with a set score of 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 26-28, 25-18) in their final group match held on September 18 at the Park Arena Komaki in Aichi, Japan.
Previously, South Korea had dominated Hong Kong (127th) and Qatar (107th), winning both matches 3-0. With the victory over Vietnam, South Korea finished first in Group D with a perfect record of three wins.
This match was crucial in determining the quarterfinal matchups. A loss to Vietnam would have pushed South Korea to second place in the group, resulting in a matchup against China (7th), a strong contender for the championship. By defeating Vietnam, South Korea avoided facing China and secured a more favorable quarterfinal draw.
South Korea will face Kazakhstan (42nd) on the 20th for a chance to advance to the semifinals.
Key players in the victory included Kim Da-in (Hyundai Engineering & Construction), whose sharp serves and six service aces disrupted Vietnam's reception, and Kang So-hwi (Korea Expressway Corporation), who led the team with 27 points. Additionally, Lee Da-hyun (NEC Red Rockets) contributed 16 points, Na Hyun-soo (Hyundai Engineering & Construction) added 14 points, and Yuk Seo-young (IBK Industrial Bank) scored 12 points.
South Korea faced a challenge in the first set, trailing 20-21. However, Kim Da-in's consecutive service aces turned the tide to 22-21, and the team capitalized on a series of errors and blocks to win the set 25-21.
The second set was also closely contested, with Kim Da-in's serving and Lee Da-hyun's blocking shining through. After overcoming a tough stretch, South Korea took the second set 25-21.
Although South Korea lost the third set in a close finish, 26-28, they regrouped in the fourth set. Midway through, Lee Da-hyun's quick attacks and Kang So-hwi's scoring widened the gap, and a final error from the opponent at match point sealed the victory.
This win also served as redemption for South Korea, which had suffered a 2-3 defeat to Vietnam in the group stage of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games three years prior, ultimately failing to reach the semifinals and finishing without a medal.
With this victory, South Korea continues its pursuit of a medal at the Asian Games for the first time in eight years.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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