VakifBank Istanbul have won gold in 2013, silver in 2011 and bronze in 2016
Kobe, Japan, May 2, 2017 - The FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship will open with an exciting clash between two European powerhouses. The first two teams that will come out on the volleyball court in Kobe on May 9 are the reigning club champions of Europe from VakifBank Istanbul and the new champions of Russia from Dinamo Moscow. The tournament in Japan will run through May 14.
The Turkish standout will make their fourth appearance at a Club World Championship after winning gold in 2013, silver in 2011 and bronze in 2016. VakifBank will travel to Japan as the winner of the 2017 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Women. The title they claimed on April 23 was their third in the history of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Dinamo Moscow also played at the Champions League Final Four in Treviso, Italy, but the two teams did not cross their ways there. The Russian side finished fourth in Europe and then went on to winning Russian Superliga gold closing the championship series just days ago, on April 29.
Dinamo Moscow (RUS)
- Dinamo have never taken part in the Club World Championships and will make their debut in the competition with the match against VakifBank.
- Dinamo are the most decorated club in the history of the Champions League (previously European Champions Cup) having won as many as 11 continental titles.
- Dinamo are the fourth Russian team to take part in the Club World Championships, following Uralochka Ekaterinburg, Dinamo Kazan and Dinamo Krasnodar. Of them, only Dinamo Kazan triumphed with the title, back in 2014.
VakifBank Istanbul (TUR)
- VakifBank have played a total of 13 matches in the history of the Club World Championships and have a 10-3 win-loss record. None of these matches were against any teams from Russia.
- In their last Club World Championship game, VakifBank managed a 3-1 victory over Switzerland’s Volero Zurich in the bronze medal match at the 2016 edition in Manila, Philippines.
- VakifBank are one of three Turkish clubs (all from Istanbul) to have taken part in the Women's Club World Championships. All three have won gold medals – Eczacibasi VitrA in 2015 and 2016, Fenerbahce in 2010, and Vakifbank in 2013.