A 1.95m tall volleyball player becomes one of the rare Vietnamese athletes to reach finals in three different countries.

On March 28th, the 1.95m tall volleyball player Ly Thi Luyen continued to make a strong impression as she helped Nakhon Ratchasima VC defeat Khon Kaen 3-0 in the semifinals of the Thai Women's Volleyball Championship. This victory not only secured the Thai team's spot in the finals but also marked a historic milestone: Ly Thi Luyen became the first Vietnamese volleyball player to participate in the national championship finals of three different countries.

Considered one of Thailand's strongest teams, Nakhon Ratchasima VC became even more formidable with the addition of Ly Thi Luyen. In the crucial semifinal match, the 2000-born volleyball player showcased impressive performance by scoring 7 points, ranking fourth highest in the team.

Although playing as a volleyball player, a position not primarily focused on scoring, Ly Thi Luyen still left a strong mark with her solid blocking ability. She recorded 3 direct blocking points and repeatedly neutralized dangerous attacks from opponents.

Her 1.95m height and good situational awareness helped the Vietnamese player become a "steel shield" at the net. This impressive performance played a crucial role in advancing Nakhon Ratchasima VC to the finals and helped Ly Thi Luyen establish her reputation in the Thai arena.

In reality, Ly Thi Luyen's journey in Thailand was not easy. She debuted for Nakhon Ratchasima VC in early March and immediately made a strong impression by scoring 14 points, including 8 direct blocking points.

However, when entering stage 3 of the tournament, Ly Thi Luyen had to sit on the bench quite often. This limited her opportunities to showcase her skills. Nevertheless, the Vietnamese volleyball player patiently waited and fully utilized her chance when entrusted with responsibility in the March 28th semifinal. That perseverance was rewarded as she shone brightly, contributing significantly to her team's advancement to the finals.

Before playing in Thailand, Ly Thi Luyen played for Hobby Ace in the Mongolian National Championship in the 2026 season. There, she contributed to helping the team reach the finals. Although Hobby Ace only secured second place, Ly Thi Luyen still left a mark by being trusted to play in the starting lineup.

Domestically, the 1.95m tall volleyball player is currently part of Duc Giang Chemical. She has participated in 5 Vietnamese National Championship finals with her home team from 2020 to 2024.

Thus, up to the present moment, Ly Thi Luyen has participated in 7 finals across three different national championships including Vietnam, Mongolia, and Thailand, an unprecedented achievement for a Vietnamese female volleyball player.

The unfortunate aspect is that in the previous 6 finals, Ly Thi Luyen has not yet been able to secure a victory. The "runner-up jinx" has been following the Vietnamese volleyball player for many years. However, the opportunity for her to break this unlucky streak is now wide open. In this season's tournament, the strongest opponent Supreme Chonburi was unexpectedly eliminated in the semifinals. This gives Nakhon Ratchasima VC additional advantage in the upcoming final.

If she wins the championship with the Thai team, Ly Thi Luyen will become the next Vietnamese volleyball player to win a championship in Thailand, following her predecessors Ngoc Hoa and Thanh Thuy.