Tianjin Bohai Bank secured the top place in Pool A at the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) Women's Club World Championship, following a straight-sets victory over Brazil's Gerdau Minas on Friday.
The Chinese side rolled into the semifinals without dropping a set and will face Pool B's second-placed Dentil Praia Clube of Brazil later on Saturday.
Tianjin started quickly as captain Li Yingying unleashed a strong serve that Minas couldn't return effectively, giving the home side an early four-point lead. A powerful smash from Wang Yizhu showcased Tianjin's team coordination, helping them secure the first set 25-19.
The second set remained competitive, with a serving error from Amanda Marques of Minas allowing Tianjin to take the lead. Minas captain Thaisa Menezes later served out of bounds, and Tianjin claimed the set 25-22.
Li continued her stellar performance, sharing the match-high 22 points with Minas opposite Kisy Nascimento. Tianjin closed out the third set 25-22, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the right mindset throughout the tournament.
\"My goal for this Club World Championship is simply to play with joy, and enjoy each match as much as possible, while also showcasing my best physical condition and competitive form at this stage. So far, these matches have met my expectations, even exceeding them in some ways. Having the right mindset is crucial, and as I approach the highly important semifinals, I hope to maintain this attitude and deliver a steady performance,\" said Li.
Reference(s):
Tianjin, Conegliano advance at FIVB Women's Club World Championship
cgtn.com
