JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley High School gymnasium has hosted its share of volleyball games over the years.

But none quite like this.

On Thursday, SV's girls team welcomed the team from Shiyan High School, which is located in the city of Qiqihar in northeastern China.

Both teams put on a show for a crowd that filled the stands to capacity.

In the end, Shiyan pulled out a 3-2 victory over the Raiders by scores of 24-26, 25-22, 20-25, 25-20 and 15-11.

"They were like I expected: a very competitive team," said SV senior middle hitter Justine Carrow. "But I thought we played well and I thought we represented our school well."

Shiyan was preparing to travel to the United States to play North Allegheny when NA's coach put in a good word for Seneca Valley a little more than a month ago.

"(NA coach) Dan Schall told them that Seneca Valley was the team they should play," said Karen Martini, coach of the Raiders, who are one of the strongest teams in the WPIAL this season.

So Shiyan changed its plans, though the team is competing in the NA Tournament this weekend.

Shiyan's players practice three hours a day, six days a week.

"Volleyball is very big in China, especially women's volleyball," said Shiyan coach Fengjing Mei through a translator.

The team's players arrived in Pittsburgh Tuesday night and are staying with families in the NA School District.

Thursday's pregame was spent warming up, exchanging gifts and taking pictures.

A Chinese flag was placed on a wall inside the gym and both the Chinese and U.S. national anthems were played before the match.

Then the action started, with both teams standing toe-to-toe in a match worthy of a state championship showdown — or better.

The scores reflect two teams with few weaknesses.

"Absolutely, the scores show that this was a game between two evenly matched teams and that's what it was," said Martini. "I thought our team showed what we're capable of in the first game. In the second game, I thought we became too relaxed. But the Chinese team was very good with its ball control."

Aside from the competition both teams received, Thursday's meeting provided all those involved with something they could not get in a match against a high school 30 minutes away.

"One thing was to play the game and to learn from each other," said Mei. "But also, we'd like to use it as a bridge to connect both schools in the future."

Following the match, the Seneca Valley and Shiyan players sat down together for a postgame meal at the high school.

"I thought we played well today," said Shiyan outside hitter and captain Ma Bizhu through the translator. "Seneca Valley is a very good team and we have all been treated very well here."

Translator and Cranberry Township resident Lisu Zavidny contributed to this story.