Shaoxing, China, December 8, 2018 – Zhu Ting recorded 20 points to lead VakifBank Istanbul in their 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18) defeat of Praia Clube on Saturday, to confirm their return to the final of the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship.
Dutch opposite of VakifBank - Lonneke Sloetjes - finished the tough match with 18 points, while Fernanda Rodrigues (Fe Garay) led all Praia Clube scorers with 18 markers.
Zhu Ting and Milena Rasic led VakifBank's charge to end the match in four sets against Praia Clube to reach the final of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship.Lonneke Sloetjes and Zhu Ting carried the task of running VakifBank's offence in the opening set. The two key hitters scored solidly from the attack line, helping their side to emerge with a 25-21 win.
In the second set, Sloetjes took the lead on offence, while Zhu helped out in defence. VakifBank had a slim margin, but Praia Clube players Fe Garay and Ana Carolina Da Silva kept their side fighting. However, Sloetjes kept finding the open spots to place her attacks. She gave her club set point at 24-21, until Tugba Senoglu's middle attack secured the second set win 25-21.
Fe Garay, with the help of Carol and Rosamaria Montibeller, established a 14-8 lead for Praia Clube in the third set. The Brazilian trio played consistently to maintain their edge, but VakifBank made a strong run towards the end of the set. Rosamaria's hit closed the third set for Praia Clube 25-22.
Praia Clube once again led at the start of the fourth set, but could not widen the gap as Zhu began to convert more points on her attack attempts. Zhu got the lead for VakifBank, then Milena Rasic and Ebrar Karakurt had shining moments to give the Turkish club a 21-17 lead. The strong-serving Karakurt smashed Praia Clube's defence. Kelsey Robinson drilled the match winner from the left flank 25-18.