ZHU STANDS OUT IN VAKIFBANK’S STRAIGHT-SET WIN OVER MINAS – Asian Volleyball Confederation

December 2018
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Nov
	1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31

ZHU STANDS OUT IN VAKIFBANK’S STRAIGHT-SET WIN OVER MINAS

Shaoxing, China, December 7, 2018 – Zhu Ting played a key role in leading VakifBank Istanbul to a 3-0 (25-23, 30-28, 25-18) win over Minas Tenis Clube in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship on Friday.

The Turkish club won their third consecutive match in the tournament, with Zhu delivering in crucial situations against the defence-driven Brazilian side.

Zhu was the leading scorer for VakifBank with 18 points, including 16 attacks and two blocks, while Gabriela Guimaraes led Minas with 14 markers.

Dutch opposite Lonneke Sloetjes saw action for the first time and contributed well on offence for VakifBank, scoring seven markers. Zhu then added more points for the Turkish side, but Gabi’s excellent game for Minas was also on point, which resulted in a tight first set before VakifBank managed to gain a two-point edge to win it at 25-23.

Minas had the lead in the second set but Zhu’s spikes helped her team extend the set. Both teams traded points after that, but Cansu Ozbay’s drop helped VakifBank clinch the second set 30-28.

Zhu teamed-up with Milena Rasic to build a 20-13 lead in the third set, giving coach Giovanni Guidetti an opportunity to give some of his starters a breather. Minas tried to fight back and earned some points, but the VakifBank players showed a lot of determination to finish the match at 25-18.

VakifBank Istanbul coach Giovanni Guidetti: “We won against a very good volleyball team. I was really impressed by their quality. Our reception was not at the best level that is why we struggled on offence, but in the end we were able to solve that problem with good blocks and Zhu Ting’s attacks in the decisive moments”

VakifBank Istanbul captain Ayse Melis Gurkaynak: “We showed amazing volleyball to all the spectators. Our opponent had great defence but in the end they could not really sustain it. We will play an important match tomorrow because that will determine which team will be in the finals, so we will focus on that.”

Minas Tenis Clube coach Stefano Lavarini: “I’m happy with the performance of my team. We did everything the way we prepared. We just missed our killer instincts on the final points in the first two sets. We got stuck in our rotation in the third set and we started to give them a lot of points.

Minas Tenis Clube captain Caroline Gattaz: “We had a good game tonight. Now we have to turn our focus on the most important matches starting tomorrow.”

Latest tweets