FIVB OQT: Dominican R 3-1 China, Nears Olympic Qualification

On September 23, 2023, in Ningbo’s Pool A of the FIVB Olympic Qualification Tournament, the Dominican Republic clinched their fifth victory, defeating China 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-14, 25-14). This loss marked China’s third defeat in the tournament, ending their direct qualification hopes for the 2024 Olympics.

In a post-match interview, Niverka Marte, captain of the Dominican Republic, praised her team’s strength and composure on the court. She highlighted their thorough preparation and year-round competition as contributing factors to their physical readiness. She noted that the team’s success, including winning the NORCECA Championship and accumulating only one loss in the Olympic Qualification Tournament, was a result of a step-by-step process rather than major changes.

Chinese outside hitter Li Ying Ying admitted in a separate interview that the team struggled with tactical decisions and mindset when trailing in the match. She expressed dissatisfaction with her own performance, acknowledging she had not met the coach’s expectations. Ying Ying also identified instability in the team’s mentality as one of their current challenges.

Regarding their final match against Serbia, Ying Ying voiced hope that the team could fully showcase their potential, especially given that they have little left to lose after three consecutive defeats.

Chinese setter Ding Xia commented on the importance of the Olympic Qualification Tournament and acknowledged the heightened pressure of playing at home. When asked about the substantial point gaps in the third and fourth sets, she said that it couldn’t be attributed to a single factor. However, she noted that the Dominican Republic’s had strong blocking and attacking, observed the considerable pressure they exerted on China’s reception, and mentioned their challenges in finding ample offensive options.

Following the match, Serbia secured their qualification for the 2024 Olympics. The Dominican Republic, with an equal number of wins and points as Serbia but a lower set ratio, still has a shot at qualification. If they win at least two sets against the Netherlands in their final match tomorrow, they will qualify for the Olympics. However, a 3-0 or 3-1 loss to the Netherlands will secure the remaining Pool A ticket to the 2024 Olympics for the Dutch team.

(Reported by Boris CHUNG Bok Man)