Kobe, Japan, May 14, 2017. Zhu Ting’s offence ran like clockwork as she led VakifBank ISTANBUL’s charge against Rexona-SESC RIO DE JANEIRO 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-21) to win the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship title at Green Arena Kobe on Sunday. This victory accounts for VakifBank’s second global crown after they previously stood on top of the podium in 2013.  

Zhu led all scorers with 19 points, including 16 attacks and three blocks. Three more players scored in double figures for VakifBank to lead a completely dominating frontline. Kimberly Hill, Lonneke Slöetjes and Milena Rasic recorded 13, 11 and 10 points, respectively as VakifBank completed their golden double – only a few weeks ago they had claimed their third title in the CEV Volleyball Champions League to follow on their gold-medal winning performances from 2011 and 2013.

Monique Pavao led the Rexona-SESC offence with nine attacks and an ace, but the six other scorers were limited to score in single-digit outputs. Gabriela Guimaraes and Drussyla Costa scored only nine and eight points, respectively, as their rivals mounted solid net defence.

VakifBank effectively ran their plays, which helped them to gain an edge in the match with their first set win. Rexona-SESC started the second set with an advantage, but VakifBank made a comeback late in the set and completed the consecutive win from Slöetjes’ spike. VakifBank and Rexona-SESC endured a set full of deadlocks and lead changes but the Turkish club managed to break away after 19-all. VakifBank showed patience in the last few plays that ensured them the gold medal win at 25-21.

Earlier in the day, Olesia Rykhliuk and Kenia Carcaces Opon delivered the points when it mattered, as Volero ZÜRICH recorded a 3-2 (25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 23-25, 15-12) win over Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL in the bronze medal match.

Rykhliuk topped all scorers with 25 points, then Carcaces and Foluke Akinradewo had 16 points apiece to fuel the Volero victory. Eczacibasi’s Tijana Boskovic led her team in scoring with 24 points, and Tatiana Kosheleva contributed 14 markers on a losing effort.

Rykhliuk and Dobriana Rabadzhieva got everything going on offence and led Volero to win in the first two sets. Kosheleva, who came off the bench in the second set, became the game-changer for Eczacibasi in the next two sets. The Russian outside spiker helped Boskovic extend the match to a decider, which went on to a trade of points until the score reached 12-11 in favour of the Swiss club. An unfortunate substitution mistake turned positive for the Swiss club, as Carcaces scored an ace to give Volero a 13-12 edge. A drop shot from Ekaterina Orlova and an attack error from Kosheleva sealed the bronze medal victory for Volero.

Final standing

1.    VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR)
2.    Rexona-SESC RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA)
3.    Volero ZÜRICH (SUI)
4.    Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL (TUR)
5.    Dinamo MOSCOW (RUS)
6.    Osasco Voleibol Clube SÃO PAULO (BRA)
7.    NEC Red Rockets KAWASAKI (JPN)
8.    Hisamitsu Spring Saga KOBE (JPN)

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