Kobe, Japan, May 10, 2017 - Turkey’s VakifBank Istanbul have already secured their place among the four semifinalists after the second competition day of the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship. Winning two sets in their last Pool A match, on Friday against tournament hosts Hisamitsu Springs Kobe, would definitely cement the European club champions on top of the final pool standings, but based on the result of the other Pool A game earlier on the same day, it may have already happened.
On Wednesday, VakifBank added another three points to their record with a 3-1 (25-17, 25-15, 20-25, 25-15) victory over South American club champions Rexona-SESC Rio de Janeiro.
After that, Japan’s Hisamitsu suffered a 0-3 (9-25, 19-25, 20-25) loss to Russia’s Dinamo Moscow and no longer have a shot at the semis.
VakifBank and Hisamitsu have met once previously at the Club World Championships level. At the 2016 edition in Manila, the Turkish side opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory over their Japanese opponents.
VakifBank Istanbul (TUR)
- VakifBank have medalled at all their three participations in the Club World Championships - gold in 2013, silver in 2011 and bronze in 2016.
- VakifBank have played a total of 15 matches in the history of the Club World Championships and have a 12-3 win-loss record.
- With two competition days down, VakifBank’s Ting Zhu tops the Best Spikers individual ranking with a 50% success rate in offence, while her teammate Milena Rasic holds the Best Blockers flag with an average of 1.43 stuff blocks per set.
Hisamitsu Springs Kobe (JPN)
- This is the fourth consecutive Club World Championship participation for Hisamitsu Springs. The Japanese club is hosting the competition for the first time.
- Hisamitsu Springs have played continuously at the Club World Championships since 2014. In their first three participations, they finished fifth in 2014 and 2015, and sixth in 2016.
- Hisamitsu Springs have played a total of 11 matches at the Club World Championships and have a 2-9 win-loss record.
- With a 60% efficiency rate at the tournament so far, Hisamitsu’s libero Sayaka Tsutsui is on top of the Best Receivers ranking.