Vinh Long group stage ends: rotation, unexpected results and semifinal calculations

The group stage of the second phase of the 2026 National Women’s Volleyball Championship in Vinh Long has ended. Although the final rounds produced several unexpected results, the four semifinalists had already secured their places early: HCĐG Lao Cai, Hanoi, VTV Binh Dien Long An and Binh Chung Thong Tin. They had all avoided any real risk of missing out before the last round. The top teams were not only ahead on results but also quick to confirm their semifinal tickets. HCĐG Lao Cai and Hanoi secured their places with four rounds to spare. VTV Binh Dien Long An knew their fate with two rounds left, while Binh Chung Thong Tin qualified with one round remaining. As a result, the final group matches lost some of their competitive edge. The second-phase schedule in Vinh Long was heavier than in previous seasons. Teams had to play one match after another. When the leading sides had already qualified, the importance of the remaining rounds naturally decreased. That also made some results less predictable. As the group stage drew to a close, attention turned to the semifinal equation. The already-qualified teams were competing to finish first, second, third or fourth. In that situation, several results went against normal expectations. Hanoi in particular showed major inconsistency. Hanoi were excellent at the start of the season. They went eight matches unbeaten and looked like one of the strongest sides in the tournament. Their serving, blocking and attacking were consistent. Fans thought Hanoi could be the team to beat. But after securing a semifinal place, their form changed. After those eight unbeaten matches, Hanoi lost five of their next six. Their defence looked vulnerable and their attack lost sharpness. They dropped from the top of the table to fourth place. For a leading team, that fall was difficult to accept. Hanoi’s defeats included surprising losses to XMLS Thanh Hoa and Geleximco Hung Yen, both of whom were considered much weaker. On paper, Hanoi should have won those matches. On the court, however, they looked hesitant and inconsistent. The most talked-about result was Geleximco Hung Yen’s 3-1 victory over Hanoi in the final round. Geleximco had lost all of their previous 12 matches. The win allowed them to avoid a 100 percent losing record in the group stage. It was not just a victory but a statement of their presence in the tournament. The win will boost Geleximco Hung Yen’s morale. After a long losing run, they at least tasted victory in their last match. For Hanoi, however, it was a warning. They reached the semifinals in fourth place, but their foundation looked shaky. Hanoi’s decline raised questions about their form, fitness and team cohesion before the semifinals. Those questions will be answered in the knockout stage. But the final group matches showed that reputation alone will not be enough in the semifinals. HCĐG Lao Cai were relatively stable throughout the season. Their consistency earned them first place in the group. Their reception, defence and attack were well balanced. Their top finish was not luck but the result of hard work across the tournament. However, HCĐG Lao Cai also suffered an unexpected slip. Their loss to Binh Chung Thong Tin damaged their unbeaten image. They played below their usual level in that match. Still, one defeat could not completely overshadow their overall consistency. HCĐG Lao Cai’s success shows the importance of team balance. They tried to maintain a similar standard in every match and did not rely excessively on one player. That stability is their biggest strength before the semifinals. VTV Binh Dien Long An did not field their strongest line-up after securing a semifinal ticket. Their rotation was clear. They gave younger players opportunities in some matches and rested key players in others. Results were affected, but their intention to save energy for the semifinals was obvious. Binh Chung Thong Tin fought in every match. They entered the race for the top four late and were under pressure until the final rounds. Their fighting spirit deserves praise. In competitive terms, they eventually qualified in fourth place. The final group rounds were marked by victories for lower-ranked teams. When supposedly weaker sides began beating the top teams, it could have made the tournament more exciting. In reality, the opposite happened. The quality of play dropped, and fans were left frustrated. Some fans complained that the leading teams did not use full strength in the final matches. That damaged the image of the competition. Many argued that a weaker team’s win does not automatically make a tournament more attractive. If the top teams rest their best players, such results are understandable, but they do not send a good message for a national championship. Another group of supporters felt that the final group matches lost appeal because the standings were already clear. The matches should have decided the semifinal pairings, but many teams had already qualified. As a result, the last rounds felt partly formal. One major reason is the new format. In previous years, the eight teams in both the men’s and women’s categories played a single round-robin, amounting to seven rounds. This year, the Vietnam Volleyball Federation introduced a double round-robin, creating 14 rounds. The change made the tournament longer but increased the burden on teams. With twice as many matches, maintaining fitness and consistent form is not easy. Teams have to play a dense schedule, often moving straight from one match to the next. The risk of injury also rises. For coaches, rotation has become not only a tactic but a necessity. In such conditions, teams that qualified early began to think about resting key players. Saving energy before the semifinals is logical. But when rotation affects results, fans see it as contrary to the spirit of competition. Hanoi are the clearest example. In the final matches, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet repeatedly changed the line-up. Fans waited to see world champion Brankica Mihajlovic of Serbia. The star showed flashes in the match against Binh Chung Thong Tin but then largely disappeared. When a star player like Mihajlovic is available, fans naturally expect to see her. Hanoi’s rotation policy meant those expectations were not met. Supporters buy tickets to watch star players, but they cannot find them on court. That discontent became part of the debate over the final group rounds. The presence of a world champion can raise both the commercial and sporting value of a tournament. But if she is rested even in important matches, a gap opens between promotion and reality. That was the case with Hanoi. HCĐG Lao Cai and VTV Binh Dien Long An also rotated at various points. Saving energy may not have been the only reason. The calculation of semifinal opponents may also have influenced their decisions. That theory is now popular among fans. Under the tournament rules, the first-placed team meets the fourth-placed team in the semifinals, while the second-placed team faces the third-placed team. Teams that qualified early therefore had room to influence their opponent. This remains only a hypothesis, with no clear evidence. But not everyone dismisses the idea. On an online forum with more than 40,000 members, many fans said they believed it. Recent unexpected results deepened their suspicion. Questions have therefore been raised about the final group matches. Some say it is damaging to the tournament’s reputation. The issue has also been widely discussed on social media. Some defended rotation as a professional strategy, while others saw it as a question mark over competitive fairness. Whatever the debate, the group stage is now history. The knockout stage will determine how much impact the controversy has. The organisers now face a new challenge. To remove fans’ suspicions, they need to prove the transparency and fairness of matches. Teams also need to handle rotation in a way that does not undermine the credibility of the tournament. Otherwise, fan interest could decline in the future. The federation may consider reviewing the schedule or format in the future. To make the final group matches more important, it could consider a knockout system or a points format in which every match until the last round has meaning. That would also help maintain fan interest. Regardless of the real reasons, the group stage is over. The semifinals and final are ahead. In the knockout stage there is no room for rest or choosing opponents. Every team must play at full strength. That is why the final part of the tournament promises to be more dramatic. In the semifinals, the leading teams must play with full strength. Hanoi need to recover their early rhythm. HCĐG Lao Cai need to maintain their stability. VTV Binh Dien Long An and Binh Chung Thong Tin will also want to produce their best volleyball. Volleyball fans hope the frustration of the Vinh Long group stage will give way to excitement in the knockout rounds.