Kobe, Japan, May 10, 2017 - By the time the match between Turkey’s Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul and Japan’s NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki on the last competition day in Pool B at the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship gets underway, it may simply be a challenge for the third place in the pool. But if Brazil’s Osasco Voleibol Clube fail to win the three points against Switzerland’s Volero Zurich earlier on Friday, then the reigning champions from Eczacibasi will have a shot at the pool runner-up position and a spot in the semifinals.
On Wednesday, Eczacibasi scored their first victory of the tournament, a 3-1 (25-21, 20-25, 25-16, 25-13) win against Osasco. They saved some hope to make the semis, but the one set they lost may prove crucial and leave their fate beyond their control.
NEC Red Rockets recorded their second defeat in Kobe. After a 0-3 (23-25, 17-25, 24-26) loss to Volero, the Japanese squad lost all chances to advance to the medal matches.
This will be the first encounter between these two sides in the history of the Club World Championships.
Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul (TUR)
- Eczacibasi VitrA have taken part in 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 11 matches at the Club World Championships and have a 9-2 win-loss record.
- At the Club World Championships level, Eczacibasi have played against a Japanese team only once. They started off in the 2015 edition in Zurich with a 2-3 loss to current hosts Hisamitsu Springs Kobe.
NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki (JPN)
- This will be NEC Red Rockets’ third game at the Club World Championship level. So far they have played two matches, both at their debut appearance in 2017, and in both they suffered defeats.
- NEC Red Rockets have yet to win their first set in the competition.