Kobe, Japan, May 14, 2017 – European champions VakifBank Istanbul topped South American champions Rexona-SESC Rio 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-21) to claim their second title in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship at Green Arena Kobe on Sunday.
Zhu Ting topped all scorers with 19 points, then Kimberly Hill and Lonneke Slotjes recorded 12 and 11 points, respectively.
VakifBank’s consistent performance is certainly worthy of a gold medal, as the team completed the tournament with an unbeaten record.
The Turkish club once again reigned over the Rio de Janeiro-based club, after facing each other in 2013, when the Rio team played under the name Unilever Volei.
After last year’s bronze medal finish in Manila, their Olympic stars Zhu, Hill, Sloetjes and Milena Rasic worked very hard to help their club claim the top podium spot this year.
In the bronze medal match, Volero Zurich prevailed in their thrilling five-set clash with Eczacibasi Istanbul 3-2 (25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 23-25, 15-12). Olesia Rhkyliuk, Kenia Carcaces Opon, Foluke Akinradewo, Dobriana Rabadzhieva and Ekaterina Orlova delivered crucial points when it mattered most.
Volero Zurich gained the early two-set edge, but Tatiana Kosheleva helped Tijana Boskovic out on offence to force a tie-break set. The excitement in the fifth set went on until the end as both squads never gave up until Carcaces’ service ace that powered Volero Zurich’s three-point run that sealed their victory.
Meanwhile, Dinamo Moscow concluded their campaign on a winning note. The Russian club finished in fifth place after they defeated Brazilian club Osasco Voleibol Clube 3-1 22-25, 25-19, 27-25, 25-18).
In the all-Japanese match-up between NEC Red Rockets and Hisamitsu Springs, Mizuki Yanagita came up with a solid performance from the attack line to lift the former to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-22) win over the host club. NEC Red Rockets recorded their first ever win in the tournament and finished in seventh place, while Hisamitsu ended their campaign in eighth place.
Final Standing
1. VakifBank Istanbul
2. Rexona-SESC Rio
3. Volero Zurich
4. Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul
5. Dinamo Moscow
6. Osasco Voleibol Clube
7. NEC Red Rockets
8. Hisamitsu Springs
Related links of AVC
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/
AVC Twitter: click: https://twitter.com/avcvolley
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation