Chinese Taipei reached a historic milestone on Saturday, June 13, as it defeated Kazakhstan 25-23, 25-16, 25-14 at the Candon City Arena to book its first-ever appearance in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup final. The victory marked a breakthrough moment for the program after finishing third in last year’s AVC Women’s Nations Cup.

The team showed composure in a tight opening set before taking full control of the match in the second and third frames. Kazakhstan entered the semifinal unbeaten in pool play but was unable to sustain its momentum against a disciplined Chinese Taipei side.

Yu-Chun Tsai led the charge with 18 points built on 17 attacks and one ace. Yi-Chi Chang added 14 points through 10 attacks, three aces, and one block, helping power a balanced offensive performance.

Early set control

The opening set proved to be the most competitive phase of the semifinal, with both teams exchanging points deep into the frame. Chinese Taipei managed to edge ahead in the closing stages, securing a narrow 25-23 win that shifted momentum.

That early advantage proved decisive as the match progressed. With confidence growing, Chinese Taipei improved its service pressure and defensive structure, limiting Kazakhstan’s ability to build consistent attacks.

The second set quickly tilted in favor of Chinese Taipei, which pulled away for a 25-16 win. The team’s rhythm on both offense and reception allowed it to dictate the pace and force errors from Kazakhstan.

Dominant finish secured

By the third set, Chinese Taipei had fully taken control of the contest. Kazakhstan struggled to recover from earlier setbacks, while Chinese Taipei maintained aggressive serving and efficient finishing to close out the match 25-14.

Kazakhstan, which had topped Pool B with a perfect record including a five-set win over three-time champion Vietnam, was led by Tatyana Yatskiv with 12 points and Kristina Belova with 10. Despite their efforts, they were unable to match Chinese Taipei’s consistency.

The defeat sends Kazakhstan to the bronze medal match, where it will attempt to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish. Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei moves one step away from a historic title.

Setter Yi-Jen Liao expressed pride in the achievement after the match, highlighting the significance of reaching the final for the first time in the team’s history.

“We’re very happy, it’s the first time we’re going to the final. I’m really excited,” Liao said.