Jenny Lang Ping, front, receives a hero's welcome as the volleyball team arrive in Beijing with the World Cup trophy, Sept 7, 2015. The World Cup trophy was the first world title China has clinched since its gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, under former mentor Chen Zhonghe.

It was also the first major crown (Olympics, World Championships and World Cup) to be placed on the resume of coach Lang, who returned to the Chinese national post in 2013 after leading China and the United States to silver medals at the Olympics in 1996 and 2008 respectively. [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/chinadaily.com.cn]