BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- When Wu Mengjie grabbed the final point to seal Jiangsu's 3-1 victory over Shanghai in the second leg of the 2024-2025 Chinese Women's Volleyball League (CVL) final on Tuesday night, it was more than just a championship-winning moment - it marked a wave of young talent taking over.

The 22-year-old spiker, who earned the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, has swiftly emerged as a symbol of China's next-generation volleyball talent.

Jiangsu defeated Shanghai 3-0 in the first leg before staging a comeback win to beat Shanghai 3-1, sweeping the series 2-0 to reclaim the CVL title, eight years after their last triumph in the 2016-2017 season.

"It was not easy to wrap up the win, given fierce competition during the match and the numerous injuries in the team," Wu said. "We had expected significant challenges before the game and secured victory through teamwork."

In Tuesday's final, Wu repeatedly challenged her opponents' high block early on - an approach she described as "irrational" after the match, as her diagonal hits proved ineffective.

"In the last two sets, I played more clearly and decisively, knowing where their weaknesses were," she disclosed.

In the summer of 2019, while still a youth player, Wu watched China compete in the FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League from the stands, uncertain of her future after switching positions from middle blocker to spiker.

But when she earned her first call-up to China's national team in 2023, she suddenly felt time flew fast. "I told the senior players I never imagined I'd be on the same team as them," she recalled.

Her Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games saw her deliver crucial points in tight matches, despite enduring a heartbreaking error in the quarterfinal against Türkiye. Returning from the global stage, she set high expectations for herself.

"Early in this league campaign, I felt my form was hovering around the 70 or 80 percent, solid but far from my peak."

With the guidance of her teammates and coach, Wu rediscovered her rhythm. The Jiangsu squad, known for nurturing young talent, provided her invaluable support.

Studying match footage with experienced teammates helped her refine her technique and understanding of the game. "In the past, I might have relied on brute force, but after they shared so much with me, I now begin to think more and take the initiative to analyze and summarize," she shared.

Beyond the court, Wu is also a student at Nanjing Normal University, currently working on her thesis analyzing spikers' movements in Olympic competition.

In the future, the 22-year-old athlete looks forward to balancing her studies and training to continue making progress in every aspect. Enditem

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