Host China kicked off its Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Beijing leg in style with a straight-set victory over Belgium on Wednesday, winning 25-18, 27-25, 25-13 at the National Indoor Stadium.

Wu Mengjie (R) of China spikes the ball during the pool 3 match between China and Belgium at the Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, June 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)

After a dominant start and a second set where their early lead nearly slipped away, the new-look Chinese team regrouped to close out the match confidently in front of more than 3,000 home fans.

Outside hitter Wu Mengjie, 22, led all scorers with 18 points, while fellow 22-year-old Zhuang Yushan added 13. Team captain and opposite Gong Xiangyu contributed 12, and experienced middle blocker Wang Yuanyuan chipped in with 11 to help seal the win.

"I'm happy that this newly assembled Chinese team secured a win in front of our home fans in Beijing," said head coach Zhao Yong. "Belgium challenged us, especially in the second set. While we had clearer leads in the first and third sets, the second set really tested us. The players showed great decisiveness and composure under pressure."

China had stormed to a 15-7 lead midway through the second set, but Belgium responded by improving their offensive reception and capitalizing on a string of Chinese errors, drawing level at 20-all and later at 25-all. In the final moments, Wang Yuanyuan delivered a quick attack and a decisive double block to help China edge the set and maintain momentum.

"No. 7 (Wang Yuanyuan) is great in attack, as a middle blocker, she has done a great job. She is very important for the team. But I think it's a nice mix between experienced and young players. And I think the Chinese young players already showed what they can do," said Belgian captain Britt Herbots, who led her team with 10 points.

Sixteen-year-old Zhang Zixuan made her international debut as China's starting setter, earning her first senior-level start. Despite her age, Zhang impressed with composed play and smooth coordination, drawing praise from coach and teammates.

"She's still very young at the international level, but the support from her teammates has been instrumental during training and in matches," said Zhao. "The experienced players also played a crucial role - not only with their skills, but in passing on their experience and stabilising the team on court."

China will face Poland on Thursday. The 2024 VNL bronze medalists opened their campaign with a straight-set win, 25-22, 26-24, 25-22, over reigning Asian champions Thailand.

Martyna Czyrnianska led Poland with 17 points, one of three players scoring in double digits. Poland dominated at the net with a 7-1 advantage in blocks.

Earlier in the day, Paris Olympics semifinalist Türkiye defeated France 25-17, 23-25, 25-13, 25-14. Turkish middle blocker Deniz Uyanik, making her VNL debut, starred in her first international appearance of the season with a team-high 16 points, including seven blocks - the most by any player in the match. Her blocking total alone matched that of the entire French team.

"This was our first international match of the season, and I was really excited," said Uyanik. "Our whole team played well, and I'm proud of both the team and myself. Getting seven blocks in the first match makes me really happy."

Türkiye head coach Daniele Santarelli acknowledged the difficulties of the opening match, noting their opponents' preparation and the short lead-up time for his squad.

"It was not an easy match for us. We faced a strong team that had been in Beijing for a week and had already played some friendlies," said Santarelli. "Our performance wasn't perfect, but considering the circumstances, we did a very good job. We're moving in the right direction and will keep working hard."

Santarelli also addressed the absence of several core players, including star opposite Melissa Vargas, emphasizing the opportunity for younger athletes to step up.

"It's not easy for a coach to miss several core players, but I wanted to give our younger players a chance to grow," he explained. "Of course, this comes with some negative consequences, but we will keep pushing forward as a team."

Türkiye will rest on Thursday before returning to face Thailand on Friday.