Xu Yixiao’s highly effective efficiency was key to China’s 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-18, 26-24) victory over the USA on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Video games ladies’s sitting volleyball match at North Paris Area on Friday.
Xu scored 25 factors, showcasing her dominance with 20 impactful assaults. Tang Xuemei contributed 18 factors, offering essential assist to the Chinese language offence. Regardless of a robust 21-point effort from Heather Erickson, the USA was unable to show the tide of their favour.
The match began with a tightly contested opening set, with each groups exchanging highly effective blows as they vied for management. USA managed to drag forward, capitalising on a sequence of errors from China and a vital block by Lora Webster. Regardless of China’s efforts, together with key performs from Tang, the USA maintained their edge.USA held a slim lead at 24-21 and Kathryn Bridge’s assault level secured the ultimate set level for USA at 25-21.
The second set was fiercely aggressive, with each groups demonstrating sturdy performs. China started to edge forward because the set progressed, capitalising on a sequence of errors by USA. Regardless of a robust effort by the USA aspect, China managed to keep up their lead by way of strategic assaults and constant serving.
Because the set neared its conclusion, China held a 24-20 benefit. A last assault level by Xu, following a dig error from Erickson, secured the set for China at 25-20, bringing the match degree at one set apiece.
Within the third set, China asserted their power early on, taking a commanding lead over USA. The set featured a mixture of strong serves and key blocks from the Chinese language aspect, significantly from gamers like Lyu Hongqin and Zhang Lijun. USA struggled to maintain up, regardless of some sturdy moments from Bridge and Erickson.
Zhang’s exact serves and Xu’s sturdy swings widened the hole. The ultimate blow got here when Lyu Hongqin’s block pressured an error from Bridge, sealing the set for China with a decisive 25-18 victory.
The ultimate set of the match noticed an intense back-and-forth between the 2 squads. USA initially constructed momentum, with Erickson contributing essential factors. Nonetheless, the Chinese language aspect steadily chipped away on the lead, with Zhang Lijun’s sharp assaults conserving them in competition. USA’s efforts to regain management, together with a vital block from Lora Jessica Webster that introduced them to a 24-24 tie, Xu finally delivered the decisive level, securing a hard-fought 26-24 win for China.
