?Lin Li (Bottom) of China makes a save during the semifinal match between China and the United States at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Women's Finals in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, June 30, 2018. China lost 1-3. (Xinhua/Han Yuqing)
NANJING, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Olympic champions China were defeated by the USA 3-1 (25-23, 25-20, 18-25, 25-18) in Volleyball Nations League semifinals on Saturday.
Wing spiker Michelle Bartsch-Hackley was an unstoppable force for USA, finishing with a match-leading 24 points, including 22 kills from 52 attempts. The reigning champions were also lifted by the veteran middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo, with 14 points, and opposite spiker Kelly Murphy with 13 points.
China created plenty of issues for their opposition, led by their superstar Zhu Ting who garnered 18 points, which were all coming from kills. The 18-year-old opposite Li Yingying showed her force to help China win the third set but the Americans soon regrouped and dismantled the reversing trend.
"Our players fought hard today. It's a pity we lost the game. But the young players played better than yesterday. Hope tomorrow we can have a better performance," said China's head coach Lang Ping.
Sunday will see the third-fourth placing finals between China and Brazil, before the whistle set to sound as USA and Turkey fight for the VNL title.
