2017 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship
- May 9-14, 2017
- Kobe, Japan
- Schedule
- Live Streaming
Day 2 of the 2017 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship begins at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, with the first of a four match slate.
The matches, which will go from late Tuesday night through early Wednesday morning, will all be streamed live on the FIVB YouTube channel.
The tournament began Monday night as Dynamo Moscow, which were champions of the Russian Super League, and Vakifbank Istanbul, 2017 European Champions and winners of the Turkish first division, faced off in Pool A action. Brazilian Super League and South American champs Rexona-SESC took on Hisamitsu Springs, which were runner-up in the Japanese Premier League.
Two-time defending champions Eczacibasi, of the Turkish first division, faced Volero Zurich, from the Swiss league, kicked off Pool B play. Volei Nestle, runner-up of the Brazilian Super League, battled the NEC Red Rockets, which won the 2016 Asian Championship and 2017 Japanese Premier League title.
The Format
Each four-team pool will feature round robin action with two matches from each being played on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in Japan. Placings will be decided Saturday and Sunday with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. Fifth through eighth place will be decided through a classification round as well as fifth and seventh place matches.
Day 2 Matchups
Volei Nestle Osasco vs. Eczacibasi Istanbul
9 p.m. ET Tuesday / Watch Live
Volei Nestle Osasco, the 2012 World Champions, was the runner-up in the Brazilian Super League this season. Osasco returns to the World Championships after a two-year absence. The team had finished third or better in each of its previous five appearances at the event. Osasco is led by outside hitter Tandara Caixeta and middle blocker Ana Beatriz.
Two-time defending world champions Eczacibasi already has some hardware in 2017, taking bronze in the European Championships in April, despite losing star player Thaisa Daher to an ankle injury April 4. Daher is likely to miss the World Championships while recovering. The roster of the Turkish first division squad, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, includes American middle blocker Rachael Adams, who was named to the CEV Champions League Dream Team, and USA outside hitter Jordan Larson.
Rexona-SESC Rio vs. Vakifbank Istanbul
11:45 p.m. ET Tuesday / Watch Live
Vakifbank comes into the tournament after winning the European Championships April 23. The Turkish first division team defeated two-time defending club world champions Eczacibasi Istanbul in the event semifinals. The VakifBank roster includes American outside hitter Kimberly Hill and Olympic gold medalist Zhu Ting from China.
Rexona-SESC Rio won its third-straight South American title in 2017 and also secured its fifth-straight Brazilian Superleague championship. Rexona won the silver medal at the 2013 Worlds, is making its fourth appearance at the tournament. The roster features three Brazilian Olympians, including 2016 gold medalists Gabi Guimaraes and Juciely Silva. Two-time Olympic libero Fabi Oliveira also is on the roster along with Anne Buijs from the Netherland’s fourth place Olympic squad
NEC Red Rockets vs. Volero Zurich
2:30 a.m. ET Wednesday / Watch Live
NEC Red Rockets, which will make their Women’s Club World Championship debut this year after winning the 2016 Asian Club Championship. NEC won the Japan Volleyball Premier League title in 2017, defeating Hisamitsu Springs. Bulgarian opposite Emiliya Nikolova leads the team.
Volero Zurich is making its fifth appearance in the World Championships. The team advanced to the bronze medal match in the four previous tournaments, but only secured the medal in 2015. Volero won the Swiss Championship and Swiss Cup in 2017, extending an eight-year run at the top of both tournaments. American Foluke Akinradewo will play her final tournament with the side before transferring to Hisamitsu Springs.
Hisamitsu Springs vs. Dynamo Moscow
6 a.m. ET Wednesday / Watch Live
The host team, Hisamitsu Springs, is no newcomer to the Worlds stage, having playing in each of the last three tournaments. The team finished fifth in 2014 and 2015 and sixth in 2016. The team was the reigning Japan Volleyball League champion, but recently lost their crown to NEC Red Rockets.
Dynamo Moscow won the Russian Super League title for the second straight year and finished fourth at the CEV championships, falling to Eczacibasi in the bronze medal match.
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