What face will the Vietnamese women's volleyball team show in Leg 1 of the 2026 SEA V Cup?

Following unstable displays at the 2026 AVC Cup, what appearance will the Vietnamese women's volleyball team present in Leg 1 of the 2026 SEA V Cup while competing at home?

At 7:00 PM on July 31, we will kick off Leg 1 of the 2026 SEA V Cup with a match against the Philippines. Fans not only expect the Vietnamese women's volleyball team to win, but also to win convincingly, showcasing cohesive play, diverse attacks, effective back-row defense, and good first-touch reception.

We failed to defend our championship at the 2026 AVC Cup, finishing only in third place. In that tournament, Vietnam barely beat Indonesia 3-2, lost to Kazakhstan 2-3 in the group stage, and suffered a 0-3 defeat to South Korea in the semifinals.

Among the core players, only Thanh Thuy and Bich Thuy maintained high and consistent form, while Nhu Quynh and Khanh Dang unexpectedly declined.

Coach Tuan Kiet's players must perform much better than that to have a chance of winning Leg 1 of the 2026 SEA V Cup on home ground. Unlike the 2026 AVC Cup, where the team had very little preparation and training time, we now have ample time for technical preparation and physical conditioning for this year's SEA V Cup. We also have the advantage of playing at home, with the support of local fans.

In terms of personnel, Coach Tuan Kiet will be without opposite hitter Kieu Trinh (not fully recovered from a wrist injury) and middle blocker Nguyen Thi Trinh (due to family matters), but we still have Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Bich Thuy, Nhu Quynh, Khanh Dang, and Le Nhu Anh.

The middle blocker position has been reinforced with Luu Thi Hue (1.85m), while the opposite hitter position features Tra My, known for her deceptive shots, replacing Kieu Trinh.

In terms of squad composition, the Vietnamese team has not changed much compared to the end of 2025, when we played our best match in SEA Games history against Thailand and only lacked a bit of composure at the decisive moment to win the women's volleyball gold medal.

The real question now lies in the mentality, physical condition, and form of some players.

Can they regain the high level of performance they showed at the 2025 SEA Games? Can they improve their first-touch reception and back-row defense compared to what they displayed at the 2026 AVC Cup? Will Nhu Quynh and Khanh Dang return to their true selves?