Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu VC completes perfect run to capture AVC Champions League crown

MANILA, Philippines – Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu VC capped off an immaculate run en route to the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League title after asserting its mastery against Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An, 25-14, 20-25, 25-23, 25-18, on Sunday, April 27, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Zhetysu finished the tournament with a 5-0 record and dropped just a single set throughout, becoming the fifth team from the landlocked country to win the meet.

From the loss, the team regrouped in the third, clawing back from a 17-19 deficit and turning it to a 25-23 win to take a commanding 2-1 set lead.

Yuliia Dymar’s kill ended things for the Kazakhs, capping off the match in just 87 minutes.

“We didn’t expect to lose just one set, but we already knew that the Vietnamese team was very good, and in the tip of my heart, we were better, and I thought it was going to go five sets,” Zhetysu head coach Marko Grsic, who won his second title, said after the game.

“We are very happy with the result,” he added.

Tournament Most Valuable Player and Second Best Outside Hitter Karyna Denysova topped Zhetysu VC with 23 points, while Tatyana Nikitina contributed 16.

Best Middle Blocker Valeriya Yakutina had 12 points, half of them from blocks, while Best Setter Daria Sharhorodska had 8 points.

Aside from the trophy, Zhetysu will take home a $20,000 cash prize.

Vietnamese superstar Tran Thi Thanh Thuy (T4)’s 28 attack points went for nuaught as the Southeast Asian powerhouse squad settled for silver and $15,000.

Teammate Vi Thi Nhu Quynh, the tournament’s Best Outside Hitter had 19 points, while Nguyen Khanh Dang was named as Best Libero.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C VC lorded over China’s BAIC Motor Volleyball Club in the bronze medal game, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19.

The Thais were able to claim third place once again as they were led by Greek import Eva Chantava and American reinforcement Anyse Marlee Smith.

Chantava poured in a team-high 22 points based on 19 attacks and 3 blocks, while Smith chipped in 14 attacks and 2 rejections.

Boonlert Tichakorn, the tournament’s Second Best Middle Blocker, had 10 points.

“This opportunity has shaped my life, but I feel like this opportunity has put my foot in the door and encourage young ladies to follow their dreams,” said Smith, whose team took home $10,000.

“My experience in the Philippines has been a 10 out of 10, I love the country… we didn’t reach our goal, but we reached something that made us feel good and feel accomplished,” she added.

Nakhon Ratchasima led by as many as 6 points in the fourth set, and the match concluded after 23 minutes following an attack error by Shan Lanfeng.

BAIC’s Ye Jin led the way on offense with 23 markers, while Shan added 17 as the Chinese settled for fourth place and $5,000. – Rappler.com