Kobe, Japan, May 12, 2017 - Volero Zurich have cruised unbeaten through the pool stage of the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship 2017 in Kobe. Adding one more win to this sequence would send the Swiss standout to their first final in the history of the competition. However, they have a tough task to cope with - Brazil's Rexona-SESC Rio de Janeiro, the reigning continental club champions of South America.
Volero had already qualified for the semifinals after their second match in Pool B, but saw no reason to slow down. They maintained their impeccable record at the tournament with a 3-0 (27-25, 25-22, 25-18) shutout of the other Brazilian participant, Osasco Voleibol Clube, to complete the pool stage without dropping a single set.
Rexona-SESC claimed a 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23) victory over Russia’s Dinamo Moscow in the winner-takes-all clash in Pool A, to secure the second place in the pool standings and qualify for the semis.
This will be the fourth encounter between the two clubs from Zurich and Rio at the Club World Championship level. The previous three all took place when the Swiss team was hosting the event. In a 2013 semifinal, the Brazilian side mastered a 3-0 win. In a 2015 Pool A match Rexona achieved a 3-1 victory. The two teams met again in the bronze medal game of the same edition. This time Volero came out on top with a 3-0 shutout.
Volero Zurich (SUI)
- Volero have kept the tradition to qualify among the best four teams each time they participate in the 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 21st match in the history of the competition. Currently, they have a 12-8 win-loss record.
- After the pool stage in Kobe, Volero’s Kenia Carcaces Opon leads the Best Spikers individual ranking with a 55.56% success rate in offence.
- Volero’s libero Silvija Popovic tops the Best Receivers chart with a 57.69% efficiency.
Rexona-SESC Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
- This is the third time the club from Rio is making the top four of a Club World Championship.
- Rexona-SESC have taken part in three editions of the Club World Championship, earning a silver medal in 2013. In 2015 they finished in fourth place and in 2016 they ended up fifth.
- For Rexona-SESC, this will be the 17th match at the Club World Championships. So far, they have won nine and lost seven games.