Published 30 July 2025
Brazil clinched a spot in the Volleyball Nations League semifinals by orchestrating a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory (29-31, 25-19, 25-16, 25-21) against host nation China. The intense quarterfinal match took place in Ningbo on Wednesday, with Brazil now preparing to face the winner of Thursday`s Japan-Poland clash in Saturday`s semifinal.
Ecstatic Cachopa
Spurred on by a passionate home crowd at the Beilun Gymnasium, China initially posed a significant threat, bravely challenging their formidable Brazilian opponents. They clawed back from an early four-point deficit to snatch an epic first set, pushing it deep into overtime. China then maintained their momentum, leading 17-14 in the second set. However, this bold challenge seemed to ignite Brazil`s resolve, leading to a fierce counterattack. With setter Fernando Kreling, affectionately known as Cachopa, at the service line, Brazil unleashed a devastating nine-point scoring run that dramatically shifted the match`s trajectory. Brazil comfortably controlled the third set and, despite a spirited resurgence from China in the fourth, orchestrated another crucial five-point run, once again fueled by Cachopa`s serves. The victory was ultimately sealed by a decisive kill block from middle blocker Flavio Gualberto.
The fantastic atmosphere at the Beilun Gymnasium for the Brazil v China quarterfinal
Brazil showcased superior offensive capabilities, recording 54 kills compared to China`s 45, and demonstrated better precision, committing only 27 unforced errors against China`s 36. They also held an advantage in serving, registering six aces to China`s four. Opposite hitter Alan Souza was the star performer, leading all scorers with an impressive 26 points, which included two kill blocks and an ace, achieving a remarkable 58% spiking success rate. The 21-year-old outside hitter Lukas Bergmann contributed 10 points, all from powerful swings. Cachopa, the setter, also made his mark with three aces, tallying five points in total.
Reflecting on the match, Brazil`s playmaker shared: “It was a challenging day. Playing in the Finals is never easy, especially against a strong team like China, who also had the advantage of their home crowd. Despite the difficulty, it was truly enjoyable to play here with such incredible fan support!”
China`s most significant advantage was in blocking, where they outplayed Brazil with 11 kill blocks to eight. Middle blocker Li Yongzhen was particularly effective, accounting for four of these blocks and finishing with eight points overall. Three other Chinese players reached double-digit scores: Wen Zihua led his team with 15 points, followed by captain Jiang Chuan with 11, and outside hitter Yu Yuantai with 10.
Wen commented: “I believe we delivered a strong performance, particularly in serving and attacking. Under coach Vital Heynen`s guidance, we`ve been developing daily and gaining valuable experience from these matches.”
China`s Belgian coach, Vital Heynen, offered his perspective: “We had an incredible first set. In both the second and fourth sets, we were tied at 17-17, and then, perhaps thinking we could actually defeat Brazil, we started making errors. We train intensely and are prepared to play well, but when the critical moment arrives, we sometimes falter. This is understandable, as the team hasn`t been in these high-pressure situations before. We need more such experiences to grow.” He concluded: “While Brazil is clearly many steps ahead of us, I see significant progress. I leave the VNL with a very positive feeling because my players fought with all their might, and that`s what truly matters in sport – giving your absolute best!”
Oliver Wrenwick 
Jasper Thornfield