Signal Corps Crown National Champions for 13th Time, Ending Five-Year Wait

On the evening of October 25, 2026, at Vinh Long Provincial Gymnasium, the final of the 2026 National Women's Volleyball Championship concluded with a 3-1 victory for the Signal Corps (Binh chung Thong tin) over Hanoi. This title not only lifted the military team to the top podium after a five-year wait but also raised their total national championship count to 13 — a historic milestone that affirms the enduring stature of the club within Vietnamese women's volleyball. Before the match, pundits considered the Signal Corps the slightly stronger side, with a roster featuring depth and a harmonious blend of experienced pillars and quality foreign imports. Hanoi, their opponent, was known for a solid defensive style and resilient fighting spirit. The encounter between the two thus represented a clash of two philosophies: overwhelming attacking power versus enduring, patient defense. In a dramatic final, the Signal Corps exploited their attacking advantage to secure the overall victory. Powerful finishes and effective ball distribution became the key for the military team to take control of the match, thereby claiming the crown for the first time in years. Although no detailed technical statistics were published, the result and individual awards partially reflected the overall picture of the match. Captain Kieu Trinh — the experienced leader of the Signal Corps — could not hide her emotions after receiving the championship trophy. Speaking at the award ceremony, she shared that this was the fruit of a collective that had persevered and worked tirelessly throughout a long journey. Kieu Trinh's words carried even more meaning given that her team had gone five years without touching the championship trophy, since their last title. One of the key factors contributing to the Signal Corps' victory was foreign import Temi Thomas-Ailara. With outstanding attacking ability, she was honored as the tournament's Best Attacker. This is a deserved reward for the American player's efforts throughout this season's campaign. Temi's presence not only elevated the attacking line but also created enormous pressure on opponents' defenses. Alongside Temi, setter Doan Thi Lam Oanh was also a name that left a strong impression. Born in 2026, Lam Oanh had gone through an emotional journey after being omitted from the national team due to form issues. However, in the final, she delivered brilliant performances in the decisive period, contributing significantly to her team's victory. With the Best Setter award, Lam Oanh proved her mettle and strong comeback. On Hanoi's side, despite letting the championship trophy slip away, the capital team still had reason to be proud as libero Nguyen Khanh Dang was named Best Defensive Player. Khanh Dang had an impressive tournament with sharp situational reading, spectacular digs, and consistency in reception. This award is a deserved recognition of her quiet but extremely important contributions in Hanoi's colors. Notably, in addition to individual titles, HCĐG Lao Cai won the style award — a recognition of the team's fair-play spirit and professional attitude throughout the tournament. VTV Binh Dien Long An, a traditional powerhouse of Vietnamese women's volleyball, also featured in the top three with a third-place finish, closing out a memorable season. In terms of prizes, the total prize money announced for the top-performing teams amounted to 1.1 billion VND. Of this, champions Signal Corps received 500 million VND, runners-up Hanoi received 300 million VND, third-place VTV Binh Dien Long An received 200 million VND, and style-award winners HCĐG Lao Cai received 100 million VND. These figures partially reflect the economic scale of the tournament, though compared with the general standards of professional volleyball leagues in the region, the prize levels remain relatively modest. However, it is worth noting that beyond the figures on prize money and titles, this year's tournament has yet to publish any detailed technical statistics such as spike success rate, blocks, serving efficiency, or perfect-pass rate. This is an inherent limitation of Vietnamese women's volleyball, making objective player evaluation and national team selection work considerably more difficult. Looking at the distribution of individual awards, a relatively clear picture of the final's dynamics emerges. The Signal Corps dominated in the attacking and ball-distribution categories, while Hanoi took the defensive honor. This suggests the military team won through scoring ability and passing quality, while Hanoi defended well but lacked the attacking punch to turn the tide. The match ended 3-1, meaning the Signal Corps still dropped at least one set — a sign that the team still has weaknesses to address, particularly in reception and the ability to maintain stability when opponents serve well. The fact that the Signal Corps had to wait five years to claim their 13th title also raises questions about competitiveness in Vietnamese women's volleyball. During that period, other teams such as Hanoi, VTV Binh Dien Long An, and HCĐG Lao Cai made significant strides, narrowing the gap with the military side. The rise of well-invested clubs has made the title race more unpredictable than ever. More broadly, the Signal Corps' 2026 championship is not just the story of this club. It is also evidence that Vietnamese women's volleyball is developing, with growing participation from sponsors, professionally invested clubs, and high-quality imports. However, for the nation's women's volleyball to truly reach regional and continental standards, the core issue remains building a proper statistical data system to improve the quality of training, selection, and player development. The 3-1 victory over Hanoi not only brought home the prestigious trophy but also closed out an emotional season for the Signal Corps. From experienced captain Kieu Trinh to pillars such as Quynh Huong, Doan Thi Lam Oanh, and especially import Temi Thomas-Ailara, they all came together to write a new page in the history of the military team. On Hanoi's side, despite not winning the title, the capital team still has positive signals to look forward to next season, with the Best Defensive Player award going to Nguyen Khanh Dang. The 2026 National Women's Volleyball Championship closed with indelible marks, from the champion's impressive performances to the fierce competition among the leading teams. The Signal Corps' five-year wait was finally rewarded, and the 13th championship trophy will forever be a source of pride for the team and fans of Vietnamese women's volleyball.