Hanoi Thrash HCĐG Lao Cai in Semifinal to Reach 2026 National Women's Volleyball Championship Final

On the afternoon of October 24, Hanoi produced a commanding performance to beat HCĐG Lao Cai 3-0 in the semifinal of the 2026 National Women's Volleyball Championship. The victory sealed a place in the final and answered many doubts after Hanoi lost 5 of their last 6 group-stage matches. Hanoi won their first 8 matches but then slid to fourth place, forcing them to face the group leader HCĐG Lao Cai. Many suggested Hanoi deliberately lost matches to choose an easier opponent. If so, the gamble worked. Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet's team returned to their best level in the semifinal. In the first set, Hanoi controlled most of the play and won 25-21 after responding quickly when they fell behind. In the second set, they led 5-1 but then made many errors and trailed 9-16. At that moment, world champion Brankica Mihajlovic stepped up and scored crucial points. Le Thanh Thuy also contributed with effective blocks and powerful attacks. Hanoi completed a remarkable comeback to win 25-22. The third set was more one-sided. Hanoi continued to pressure and won 25-17, taking the match 3-0. HCĐG Lao Cai again missed the chance to reach the final of the national championship for the first time in history. This semifinal proved that psychology is often more important than tactics in knockout matches. Hanoi showed composure, smart timeouts, and the ability to rely on star players under pressure. Whether their late group-stage losses were intentional or not, they now enter the final as a dangerous team with renewed momentum.