Players of China celebrate victory after the fourth round match of 2015 Women's Volleyball World Cup against South Korea in Matsumoto, Japan, Aug. 26, 2015. China won 3-1. (Photo: Xinhua/Ma Ping)
World runners-up China rallied past South Korea 3-1 here Wednesday evening for their third victory in four matches at the 2015 FIVB Women's World Cup.
Coming off Monday's 3-0 defeat to the United States and dropping the first set 25-23, the Chinese women came back to win the next three sets 25-15, 25-20, 25-23 in a repeat of the Asian Championship final, where China prevailed in straight sets.
Zhu Ting was replaced by teammate Liu Xiaotong after receiving a minor injury to her right foot when it was tied 2-2 in the fourth set, but she came back again in the middle of the set to finish with team-high 16 points for China. Zhang Changning, Zeng Chunlei had 14 and 13 for China respectively and Yang Junjing and Yan Ni added 11 apiece.
"It was a sprain to her right foot, but we are not quite sure how serious it is," said Jenny Lang Ping at the post-match press conference. "I had asked her about it and she felt not that bad. When we were trailing and having difficulties, she asked me to put her in. I was impressed by her fighting spirits."
South Korea had their two-game winning streak snapped and slipped to a 2-2 win-loss record despite Kim Yeon-koung's game-high 27 points performance.
World champions the United States and Serbia also improved to 3-1 after respective victories earlier on Wednesday while Russia recorded their fourth straight win to lead the standings of the 12-team round robin tournament.
