Arlington: The final week of the Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) group stage continued in Arlington, Texas, where China defeated Canada 3-1 (25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 25-23) in a hard-fought encounter.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Zhuang Yushan led China with 21 points, while Wu Mengjie and Gong Xiangyu contributed 18 and 14 points, respectively. On the Canadian side, Abagayle Guezen and Anna Smrek each scored 14 points, with Emily Maglio and Andrea Mitrovic adding 12 and 11.

The match began with a tightly contested opening set, as Canada stayed close before China's Gong delivered a decisive spike to secure a 25-22 win. In the second set, China turned the tide after trailing 10-8, with Zhuang Yushan delivering three consecutive jump-serve aces. This forced a Canadian timeout, and Chen Houyu added to the pressure with three spikes, leading China to a dominant 25-15 set win.

Canada rebounded in the third set, showcasing effective attacks and defense to claim it 25-22. The fourth set was tense, with Canada narrowing the gap to 24-23 after a successful challenge. However, Wu Mengjie's spike sealed the set 25-23, securing the match for China with a 3-1 victory.

Head coach Zhao Yong commended his young team's resilience and adaptability in an interview with Xinhua. With 20 points from seven wins and three losses, China has secured its place in the Final Phase of the 2025 VNL tournament, set to be held in Lodz, Poland, from July 23-27.

Earlier on Friday, the Dominican Republic swept Thailand 25-21, 25-18, 25-23.