Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu VC completed a flawless campaign in emphatic fashion, overpowering VTV Binh Dien Long An in four sets, 25-14, 20-25, 25-23, 25-20, to capture the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League crown on Sunday at the Philsports Arena.
The Kazakh club, which had not dropped a set entering the finals, showed a rare moment of vulnerability in the second frame after a dominant start. However, they quickly regained control to close out the Vietnamese squad and complete its sweep of the tournament.
The competition was backed by Mikasa, Mizuno, and Grand Sport as federation partners.
Riding the momentum of a hard-fought third-set win, Zhetysu turned a slim 12-10 lead into a commanding 19-13 advantage. Valeriya Yakutina, Karyna Denysova, and Daria Sharhorodska orchestrated a decisive 7-3 run that sapped the energy from Binh Dien Long An.
After trading the first two sets, the nine-time Kazakhstan Women’s National League champions found themselves at risk of falling into a 1-2 deficit. However, an untimely attack error by Thi Nhu Quynh Vi broke the 23-all deadlock, before Yakutina came up clutch with a block on Vi to steal the third set.
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“Of course, I want to say congratulations to the Vietnam team. They were very, very good in this tournament,” said Zhetysu head coach Marko Grsic after the win. “I also want to say big, big bravo and congratulations to my team. We won all our games and proved in the final that we were very brave. I think we deserved this title. I’m very proud of my team.
“We didn’t expect to lose just one set, but we already knew that the Vietnam team is very, very good. From the bottom of my heart, I believed we were better. I thought maybe it would go to five sets, but we finished it earlier, and we’re very happy,” he added.
Denysova delivered her best performance of the tournament, finishing with 23 points along with 10 excellent digs and five excellent receptions, leading Zhetysu to a perfect 5-0 record. The tournament also had the support of local partners PLDT, MWell, Eagle Cement, Rebisco, Akari, Gameville, PNVF, PSC, Cignal, and The Look Group.
Tatyana Nikitina added 16 points and seven excellent digs, while Yakutina tallied 12 points, highlighted by four attacks and six kill blocks, as the team secured the $20,000 prize after the 87-minute encounter.
Yuliia Dymar contributed nine points, six excellent digs, and eight excellent receptions. Sharhorodska chipped in eight points built on four attacks, three service aces, and one kill block.
With this victory, Zhetysu became the fifth team from Kazakhstan to win the AVC Women’s Champions League title, in a tournament organized by Sports Vision.
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Adding the cherry on top, Denysova was named both Tournament MVP and Best Outside Hitter. She was joined on the Dream Team by teammates Yakutina (Best Middle Blocker) and Sharhorodska (Best Setter).
From Binh Dien Long An, Vi earned the other Best Outside Hitter award, while Tran Thi Thanh Thuy was named Best Opposite Spiker. Khanh Dang Nguyen received Best Libero honors to round out the Vietnamese squad’s individual awards.
Meanwhile, Tichakorn Boonklert of Rakhon Natchasima completed the Dream Team, securing the second Best Middle Blocker citation.
(C) PVL Images
Despite falling short, Binh Dien Long An will still join Zhetysu in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship later this year.
Thuy delivered a monster performance in the finals, scoring 28 points to go along with six excellent digs and six excellent receptions. Vi was the second-best scorer for Binh Dien Long An, finishing with 19 points and 10 excellent digs.
