Ningbo, China, June 10, 2016 - China made a successful start to their
FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2016 Group 1 campaign with a convincing 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-11) win over
Thailand in just more than an hour, with Zhu Ting scoring a game-high 18 points for the home team in Ningbo on Friday.
It is the 14th time China have beaten Thailand in the World Grand Prix, with Thailand only getting the better of China on two occasions in the history of the competition.
Thailand did start well though on Friday and won the first point through some strong blocking. They stayed with China in the early stages of the opening set and trailed 7-8 at the first technical timeout. But Zhu continued to find her range throughout the set and China pulled away to take it 25-14 after an ace from Ding Xia.
Thailand's attacking weapon Ajcharaporn Kongyot was doing her best to keep them in the second set, but China and Zhu again proved too strong and took a 16-8 lead into the second technical timeout. A powerful spike from Zhu eventually iced the set, with China taking it 25-14.
Kongyot and Zhu continued to trade blows, with Kongyot working her way to scoring 17 points for the match. But Zhu's game-high 18 and China's effectiveness around the court helped claim a comfortable 3-0 win, taking the third set 25-11.