China edges Azerbaijan 3-2 in FIVB World GP

But the win over the relatively young Azerbaijan team was not easy, as China had to rally back twice for a 21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13 triumph.

"It's certainly a hard match. We had problems in serving and receiving, which made it very hard to beat the rival,"said Chinese coach Chen Zhonghe.

"Also we failed to grasp some good chances. If a team cannot take their chance it's hard for them to beat a strong rival," added Chen.

Azerbaijan started off the match aggressively, using their powerful spikes to dominate the first set.

China improved their attacking to take the first set, but Azerbaijan restored their lead in the third set.

The fourth set was contested hotly as the two sides traded lead frequently. Thanks to the devastating spikes and adamant blocks, China eventually forced a tiebreaker.

China relied on their experience and tough mentality to capture the final victory.

/Xinhua/