Ndiaye shines as France defeats Puerto Rico

(2025 Volleyball World Championship) France claimed their initial win in Group C facing Puerto Rico.

The French women's volleyball team kicked off the 2025 Women's Volleyball World Championship with a convincing 3-1 win over Puerto Rico (25-22, 25-18, 21-25, 25-14) in the match held on August 22 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This result affirmed France as a strong contender for the knockout stage and highlighted Ndiaye’s impressive performance.

From the very beginning, France played confidently, controlling the game with fast-paced tactics and sharp wing attacks. The first set ended 25-22 in favor of France, with Ndiaye consistently making powerful spikes through Puerto Rico’s block. In the second set, France’s dominance grew as they capitalized on Puerto Rico’s reception errors to quickly take the set 25-18.

However, Puerto Rico did not give up easily. In the third set, they fought back strongly thanks to the effective plays of outside hitter Vazquez and young attacker Champion. Both exploited France’s defense repeatedly, winning the set 25-21 to narrow the score. Still, their effort only briefly kept their hopes alive. In the deciding set, France tightened their formation and maximized their offensive power led by the explosive performances of Ndiaye and Cazaute, closing the match with a dominant 25-14 win.

The standout player of the match was Ndiaye, who scored a total of 22 points, including 15 attacks, 2 blocks, and 5 aces. Team captain Cazaute also contributed significantly with 21 points, demonstrating her consistency and leadership role.

Meanwhile, despite their hard work, Puerto Rico couldn’t cause an upset. Vazquez led her team with 12 points, followed by Champion with 11. Although both played with determination, the difference in skill level and experience made it difficult for Puerto Rico to maintain control against the comprehensive pressure from France.