Preparing for the second phase of the 2025 National Volleyball Championship, Signal Corps Brigade 19 conducted a 10-day training camp in Shanghai, China, starting mid-September. This was regarded as an important lead-up to help Coach Pham Van Long’s team enhance their fitness, tactics, and competitive mindset before entering the critical stage of the season.
After returning home, the team quickly regrouped at their main base and welcomed Russian foreign player Irina Voronkova to join the squad. This 1.90m tall athlete is a member of the Russian national team and has competed in numerous international competitions.
Coach Pham Van Long said: "Regarding foreign player Irina Voronkova, she has been on our radar for a long time. Her form has been quite stable recently, especially during mid-year. Irina arrived early in Vietnam and has integrated well with the entire team. We hope she will be energetic and contribute positively to Signal Corps in this second phase."
Right after securing this quality addition, Signal Corps Brigade 19 traveled down to Ninh Binh, the tournament’s host city, to get accustomed to the playing conditions. In their opening match on October 8th against the host team LPBank Ninh Binh, the soldier girls showed an impressive performance.
With a proactive, connected, and experienced style of play, Signal Corps BĐ19 quickly overwhelmed their opponents. Attackers from main hitters to secondary hitters performed effectively, while the blockers demonstrated solid defensive capabilities. As a result, Coach Pham Van Long’s team secured a 3-1 victory (25-18, 15-25, 25-15, 25-14), a smooth start to their campaign for the national volleyball crown.
Irina Voronkova is a significant reinforcement for Signal Corps Brigade 19 in the second phase of the 2025 National Volleyball Championship. Photo: Hai Duong
Setter Doan Thi Lam Oanh, captain of Signal Corps, shared: "Currently, the team’s morale is very high. Everyone is determined to play well in round 2 because this tournament is important and holds special significance for our group."
Following the win against LPBank Ninh Binh, Signal Corps will face Geleximco Hung Yen in the last group stage match. The goal of securing another victory to ensure a Top 4 spot is within reach. Nevertheless, the soldiers’ team’s ambitions do not stop there.
In 2025, the year Signal Corps Communications celebrates its 80th anniversary, the team was also honored with the Second-Class Labor Medal, while the youth teams captured all three national championship titles. Therefore, fans have every reason to expect the first team to finish the season with a deserved title.
Coach Pham Van Long affirmed: "All teams have prepared very carefully, and we have too. Signal Corps’ objective is to perform well and aim for the final, where the team has frequently stood on the highest podium."
In fact, at the Hong Vuong Cup earlier this year, Signal Corps Brigade 19 lost 0-3 to LPBank Ninh Binh in the final. However, at the Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup, Coach Pham Van Long’s players forced the home team to fight hard for a win after a tough 5-set battle.
This progress, combined with the "new weapon" Irina Voronkova, provides a basis for fans to believe in a breakthrough by the soldier girls on their quest to win their 13th national championship after a 4-year wait.
With discipline, unity, and resilience honed in the military environment, Signal Corps Brigade 19 is steadily affirming its position as one of the most traditionally rich women’s volleyball teams in Vietnam, ready to reclaim the throne in the 2025 season.