Kobe, Japan, May 9, 2017 - The reigning title-holders of the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship, Turkey’s Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul, will be looking for rebound after losing their first match in Kobe on Tuesday. On day 2 of the 2017 edition, Eczacibasi will face Brazil’s Osasco Voleibol Clube, which will try to follow up on their win at the start of the tournament.
Osasco have returned to the competition after a two-year absence with a bang. They handed Japan’s NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki a 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-19) shutout to state clearly their intentions to make it to the semifinals.
After a 0-3 (22-25, 20-25, 24-26) loss to Switzerland’s Volero Zurich, Eczacibasi put themselves in a must-win situation against the Brazilian squad, if they want to keep a realistic shot at advancing to the medal matches.
This will be the first encounter between these two sides in the history of the Club World Championships.
Osasco Voleibol Clube (BRA)
- Osasco Voleibol Clube are the most decorated club in the history of the Club World Championships. They have taken part in five editions and medalled on all five occasions – one gold (2012), two silver (2010, 2014) and two bronze (1994, 2011) medals.
- Since they returned to the competition in 2010, Osasco have played a total of 17 matches in the Club World Championships for an 11-6 win-loss record.
- At the Club World Championships level, Osasco have played against Turkish sides three times and never won a single set. In 2010 they lost twice to Fenerbahce Istanbul, and in 2011 – once to VakifBank Istanbul.
- After the first competition day in Kobe, Osasco’s Ana Beatriz Correa and Danielle Lins are in positions 1 and 2, respectively, in the Best Servers ranking.
Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul (TUR)
- Eczacibasi VitrA have taken part in only two editions of the Club World Championship and on both occasions, in 2015 and in 2016, they celebrated with the title.
- Eczacibasi have played a total of 10 matches at the Club World Championships and have an 8-2 win-loss record. Curiously, their only defeats came in Zurich against Hisamitsu Springs Kobe and in Kobe against Volero Zurich.
- At the Club World Championships level, Eczacibasi have played against a Brazilian team only once. In the previous edition in 2016, they claimed a 3-2 victory over Rexona-SESC Rio de Janeiro.