Shaoxing, China, December 7, 2018 - Reigning club world champions VakifBank Istanbul take on Praia Clube in the second semifinal of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship on Saturday.
Head-to-Head· Defending champions VakifBank Istanbul will face debutants Praia Clube for the first time at the Club World Championship.
· VakifBank have won all six of their matches against Brazilian opposition at the Club World Championship.
· Coming into this year's semifinals, Turkish sides have won all 11 encounters against Brazilian teams at the Club World Championship.
VakifBank· VakifBank have won a record nine matches in a row at the Club World Championship, one more than Eczacibasi VitrA's run of eight wins in 2015-2016.
· They have now reached the final four in all of their five Club World Championship participations (2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018).
· VafikBank have won three of their four previous semifinal matches, including their encounter against Brazilian side Volei Nestlé/Osasco in 2011. They lost the semifinal in 2016 against Eczacibasi VitrA.
· Zhu Ting is VakifBank's top scorer at the 2018 Club World Championship on 57 points. Last year she scored 69 points for VakifBank in the tournament.
· Milena Rasic has scored nine points from stuff blocks. She had 19 stuff blocks for her team in last year's tournament.
Praia Clube· Club World Championship debutants Praia Clube suffered their first defeat at the Club World Championship in their match against Eczacibasi VitrA (3-1).
· Praia Clube and Minas Tenis Clube have both reached the semifinals of the Club World Championship this year on their debut. All nine Brazilian teams at the Club World Championship have now reached the finals or final in their debut campaign. Sadia Esporte Club and Colgate Sao Cateano played the final in 1991 following the preliminary phase.
· Nicole Fawcett is Praia's top scorer on 41 points.
· Ana Carolina Da Silva has scored nine points from stuff blocks. Last year she scored 15 points from stuff blocks for Sesc RJ Vôlei.