VakifBank Istanbul vs Hisamitsu Springs Kobe. INQUIRER PHOTO/Sherwin Vardeleon
VakifBank Istabul claimed the first medal of the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship on Sunday dismantling Volero Zurich in four sets, 25-14, 21-25, 25-22, 25-11, in the third place match of the tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.
Milena Rasic sealed the Turkish league champions’ bronze medal with a well-time block as VakifBank avenged its group stage loss against the Swiss champions.
VakifBank head coach Giovanni Guidetti was proud of his team performed and he would take their win in stride even if it wasn’t in the gold medal match where they hoped they would be.
“I’m proud of my players with how they finished with the win,” said Guidetti who also expressed his confidence for the Turkish Women’s Volleyball League. “They had the courage. And it’s nice to get the win even if it’s not in the finals we hoped for.”
VakifBank immediately built its foundation in the fourth set with an 8-2 lead, which eventually grew to a massive 23-9 trench after Zhu Ting denied Dobriana Rabadzhieva.
Akinradewo Foluke tried to salvage Volero’s stint in the competition when she scored on back-to-back sequences, 23-11, but Milena Rasic responded with her own two-point punch.
Lonneke Slöetjes led the bronze medalists with 16 points while Rasic had 15.
Zhu and captain Gözde Kirdar also finished in double figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Rabadzhieva had 13 points to pace Volero while Akinradewo had 10.