China mens volleyball team face relegation from elite Nations League as fans turn on coaching sta

China’s men are staring relegation from the FIVB volleyball Nations League in the face after a 3-1 defeat by Canada in the final match of the preliminary phase.

Following Sunday’s 23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-18 loss at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, China are bottom of the standings with two wins from 12 matches this season, and just six points to their name.

The victory ensured Canada avoid relegation. China must hope Cuba lose 3-0 to Iran in their pool match in Anaheim, California, where this week’s other third-round leg is being played.

If Cuba win a single game on Monday morning Beijing time, then China will go into the FIVB Challenger Cup to see if they will take part in next season’s Nations League.

“Obviously it’s a huge win. We needed this to stay in the VNL, but to also have our team win this game and put everything on the line and save ourselves was very emotional,” Canada’s Stephen Maar, who had 20 points, told Filipino media outlet Spin. “I’m really happy with how we performed with such pressure.”

China finished week three of the competition winless, also losing 3-2 to Japan, 3-1 to Slovenia, and 3-0 to Brazil.

The men’s campaign ended in stark contrast to the women’s team, who picked up two wins last weekend in South Korea to seal their place in the play-offs in the USA. China’s women face a quarter-final against Brazil on July 13.

Fans were quick to take their ire out on the men’s coaching team on social media after the defeat.

“This basically means relegation!” one user wrote on China’s Twitter-like platform Weibo. “The life-and-death battle of relegation has been fought like this, which really makes people feel sad and angry!

“The Chinese team that played in the World League this time is quite confused, but at least everyone can realise two points: one, is that the coaching staff can’t keep up with the situation at all, and the coaches and players are equally muddled.”

The performance of outside hitter Zhang Jingyin was perhaps the only high point for China – he was their top scorer against Canada, with 25 points on 24 attacks and one ace.

“The way out is to change the players!” one user wrote. “Zhang Jingyin has only been in for a few days, at least people can see the forward momentum.”

Another user said “the Chinese volleyball association will not take the blame” for the team’s poor performance, while another blasted the coaching team’s lack of “real-time data on-site” to help out the team, pointing to Canada’s bench in contrast.

China must also focus on the Olympic qualifiers, which take place in Brazil, China and Japan from September 30 to October 8.

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