Semifinalists confirmed at Women's Club World Championship

Manila, Philippines, October 20, 2016 - All four semifinalists of the 2016 FIVB Women's Club World Championship have been confirmed with a two matches to spare before pool play winds down on Firday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines capital.

Barring any immense upset by hosts PSL Manila for a sweep of defending champions Eczacibasi on the closing day of pool play, Friday, Saturday's   semifinals should look like this:

Semifinals:
Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul v VakifBank Istanbul
Volero Zurich v Pomi Casalmaggiore

Places 5-8:
Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro v Bangkok Glass
Hisamitsu Springs Kobe v PSL - F2 Logistics Manila



Eczacibasi narrowly survived a disaster Thursday, when they trailed reigning South American champions Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro 1-2, only to come back and take the tie break, securing their ticket to the top four.

Rexona, silver medallists in 2013 and fourth-ranked last year, bowed out of the medals round with the bitterweet taste of elimination after having pushed both the reigning European champions Pomi and the defending world champions Eczacibasi to their limits only to go down in two consecutive tie-breaks in what indeed was accurately dubbed the 'pool of death'.

Pomi Casalmaggiore followed through in Thursday's closing match with a straight-set sweep of the home team, an all-star squad of the Philippines Super League strengthened with players from abroad, which once more provided thrills for the crowd with their inspiring fighting spirit - despite being no match for the powerhouses that they had to face.

In Pool B meanwhile, Volero Zurich denied VakifBank Istanbul a full comeback after the Turkish side forced a tie-break, to to win in five after a match chock full of records and tournament and all-time highs.



VakifBank's two sets, however, were enough for them to join Volero in advancing to the medals round, setting up what in all likelihood will be a an all-Turkish semifinal.

Earlier in the morning, Hisamitsu Springs Kobe had shut out Bangkok Glass in the all-Asian derby of Pool B.



Pool play concludes Friday evening with the two remaining matches, which bear no influence on the pool standings as long as Eczacibasi can pick up the few points (or one set) needed to officially secure first place.




Summary Statistics - Manila 2016

Highest Scorer by Day
27 - Zhu Ting of VakifBank Istanbul v Hisamitsu Springs Kobe on 18 October
29 - Gabi Guimaraes of Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro v Pomi Casalmaggiore on 19 October
31 - Zhu Ting of VakifBank Istanbul v Volero Zurich on 20 October

Top Scoring Performances
31 - Zhu Ting of VakifBank Istanbul v Volero Zurich on 20 October
30 - Olesia Rykhliuk of Volero Zurich v VakifBank Istanbul on 20 October
29 - Gabi Guimaraes of Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro v Pomi Casalmaggiore on 19 October
28 - Zhu Ting of VakifBank Istanbul v Hisamitsu Springs Kobe on 18 October
28 - Tijana Boskovic of Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul v Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro on 20 October

Top Individual Blocking Performances
10 - Carol Silva of Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro v PSL - F2 Logistics Manila on October 18
10 - Milena Rasic of VakifBank Istanbul v Volero Zurich on October 20
9 - Zhu Ting of VakifBank Istanbul v Hisamitsu Springs Kobe on 18 October
7 - Tijana Boskovic of Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul v Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro on 20 October
6 - Milena Rasic of VakifBank Istanbul v Hisamitsu Springs Kobe on 18 October

Top Individual Serving Performances
4 - Dobriana Rabadzhieva of Volero Zurich v VakifBank Istanbul on 20 October
4 - Zhu Ting of VakifBank Istanbul v Volero Zurich on 20 October
3 - Olesia Rykhliuk of Volero Zurich v Bangkok Glass on 18 October
3 - Ashley Frazier of Bangkok Glass v Volero Zurich on 18 October
3 - Tijana Boskovic of Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul v Pomi Casalmaggiore on 18 October
3 - Monique Pavao of Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro v PSL - F2 Logistics Manila on 18 October
3 - Lucia Bosetti of Pomi Casalmaggiore v Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro on 19 October
3 - Yuki Ishii of Hisamitsu Springs Kobe v Bangkok Glass on 20 October
3 - Lucia Bosetti of Pomi Casalmaggiore v PSL - F2 Logistics Manila on 20 October

Top Team Blocking Performances
27 - VakifBank Istanbul v Hisamitsu Springs Kobe on 18 October
22 - Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul v Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro on 20 October
15 - Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro v PSL - F2 Logistics Manila on 18 October
18 - VakifBank Istanbul v Volero Zurich on 20 October
15 - Pomi Casalmaggiore v Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro on 19 October

15 - Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro v Pomi Casalmaggiore on 19 October

Top Team Serving Performances
11 - Volero Zurich v VakifBank Istanbul on 20 October
9 - Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro v PSL F2 Logistics Manila on 18 October
7 - Pomi Casalmaggiore v Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro on 19 October
6 - VakifBank Istanbul v Hisamitsu Springs Kobe on 18 October
6 - Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul v Pomi Casalmaggiore on 18 October
6 - Pomi Casalmaggiore v PSL - F2 Logistics Manila

Highest Scoring Sets
31-29 - Hisamitsu Springs v VakifBank Istanbul on 18 October
27-25 - Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro v Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul on 20 October
27-25 - Volero Zurich v VakifBank Istanbul on 20 October

Highest Scoring Matches
212 - Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul v Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro on October 20
210 - Pomi Casalmaggiore v Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro on 19 October
207 - Volero Zurich v VakifBank Istanbul on 20 October
183 - VakifBank Istanbul v Hisamitsu Springs Kobe on 18 October

Quick links:
- FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship Manila 2016 - Website
- FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship Manila 2016 - Results & Schedule
- FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship Manila 2016 - Teams