Volero remains spotless, downs VakifBank to stay atop Pool B

Volero Zürich vs Bangkok Glass. INQUIRER PHOTO/Sherwin Vardeleon

Volero Zurich dug deep into its bag of tricks and survived VakifBank Istanbul in five sets, 25-22, 27,-25, 16-25, 12-25, 16-14 and stayed undefeated in the preliminary stages of the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Mariana Costa, who has played sparingly for Volero in their first two matches, was the heroine in the third set as she scored eight points including the match winner that bounced off the block of VakifBank.

Volero head coach Zoran Terzic said it’s a big confidence boost for their team to beat VakifBank, the 2013 World champions, and it shows the bronze medalists from last year’s tournament has the caliber to play against the best clubs in the planet.

“It was a very very interesting game,” said Terzic whose team has a 3-0 record is the first to advance to the semifinal round from Pool B. “Also it’s very important for Volero, for the players, that they can win against VakifBank.”

“VakifBank is one of the strongest teams in the world.”

A scary moment, though, happened to Volero when libero Silvija Popovic and spiker Olesia Rykhliuk collided early in the fifth set.

Popovic though, walked it off and finished the match.

Rykhliuk led Volero with 30 points while Dobriana Rabadzhieva and Foluke Akinradewo each had 11.

Zhu Ting had 31 points to lead VakifBank while Milena Rasic added 20.