Kobe, Japan, May 10, 2017 - On Wednesday, Switzerland’s Volero Zurich became the first sure semifinalists at the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship 2017 in Kobe. On Friday they will face Brazil’s Osasco Voleibol Clube in their last Pool B match and will try to add one more win to their tally to secure the first place in the final pool standings, although winning one set would be enough. The Brazilian team are in a must-win situation. With a three-point victory they would follow Volero into the semis. Anything else would leave them pending.
After upsetting the reigning champions from Turkey’s Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul on the first competition day, on the second Volero added a second straight-set victory to their record – 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 26-24) against Japan’s NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki. Volero can no longer be removed from the top two spots in the pool table.
Osasco became the target of Eczacibasi’s fury for their loss on Tuesday and suffered their first defeat of the tournament – 1-3 (21-25, 25-20, 16-25, 13-25).
Previously, Volero and Osasco have met once at the Club World Championship level. In a 2014 semifinal in Zurich, the South American squad managed a 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-16, 25-20) victory.
Volero Zurich (SUI)
- Volero have kept the tradition to qualify among the best four teams each time they participate in Club World Championship. This is the fifth time out of five consecutive appearances.
- Volero have won only one medal so far - a 2015 bronze.
- This will be Volero’s 20th match in the history of the competition. Currently, they have an 11-8 win-loss record.
- After the second competition day in Kobe, Volero’s players are leaders on two of the individual rankings. Bojana Zivkovic tops the Best Setters chart and Silvija Popovic leads for Best Digger.
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 18 matches at the Club World Championships for an 11-7 win-loss record.