Zhu Ting leads VakifBank to defend FIVB Club World Championship title

Chinese spiker Zhu Ting produced a 21-point performance as VakifBank Istanbul retained their title at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship, beating Minas Tenis Clube of Brazil in straight sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-19) in Shaoxing, China on Sunday.

In addition to Zhu's haul, Kelsey Robinson also added 15 points for VakifBank. Gabriela Braga Guimaraes led the scoring for Minas with 16 points, while Bruna Honorio Marques had 15.

Players of VakifBank Istanbul celebrate their title at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship after their straight set win over Minas Tenis Clube in the tournament final in Shaoxing, Zhejiang on Dec 9, 2018. [Photo: VCG]

VakifBank captain Zhu was crowned the tournament's best player having scored 98 points, with 90 from spikes and eight from blocks.

Both sides progressed to the tournament's knockout stage from Pool A, in which VakifBank also beat South American champions Minas.

In the tournament's third-place match, fellow Turkish side Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul claimed the bronze medal with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-19) win over Praia Clube of Brazil.

Chinese champions Zhejiang ended up seventh in the event.