Eczacibasi and VakifBank shut out their opponents on day one of the Club World Championship
The two Turkish teams got off to an emphatic start of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship 2022 in Antalya on Wednesday. Hosts Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul mastered a 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-18) sweep of Brazil’s Dentil Praia Clube in the Pool A opener, followed by VakifBank Spor Kulubu’s 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-17) shutout of Kazakhstan’s Kuanysh Club in Pool B.
On Thursday, Dentil Praia will look for a better outcome against Italy’s Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano as they open the competition day at 16:30 local time (13:30 UTC). Defending champions VakifBank of Istanbul will take on the other Brazilian participant, Gerdau Minas of Belo Horizonte, at 20:00 (17:00).
Watch all the matches at the Club World Champs live or on demand on Volleyball TV.
Eczacibasi’s Hande Baladin and Laura Heyrman rejoice
Eczacibasi’s Serbian opposite and captain Tijana Boskovic led her team to victory, producing a match-high 20 points, including three aces and a kill block, and registering a 70% success rate in attack. Belgian middle blocker Laura Heyrman impressed with 88% success in offence towards a total of eight points, while outside hitter Hande Baladin reached double digits, contributing 10 points, including two blocks and two aces. Eczacibasi’s serving made the biggest difference in the match as it accounted for as many as nine aces against none for their opponents. Also with 10 points to her name, opposite Tainara Santos was Dentil Praia’s leading scorer in the match.
Eczacibasi’s Serbian setter Maja Ognjenovic delivered the first serve of the championship and then Tainara produced the first two points with successful swings. A four-point run, garnished with two sizzling aces by Boskovic, put the home team at an 8-4 lead and they never looked back. They kept the pressure from the serving line, adding three more aces towards an emphatic 25-14 win. The Tigers stormed into the second set with a 7-0 run on Ognjenovic’s serve. An ace by Russian outside hitter Irina Voronkova widened the gap to 11-3 and then Eczacibasi just cruised on to another convincing set win at 25-15. The third set was very tight and competitive until 16-15 Eczacibasi’s way. Their middle Sinead Jack of Trinidad and Tobago impressed from the end line hammering two aces within a five-point run towards a 21-15 lead, which practically decided the match. Moments later, Boskovic…
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