18-OCTOBER-2012
TRENTINO DIATEC AND RABITA BAKU
TO DEFEND THEIR THRONES

Men’s three-time defending champions Trentino Diatec and women’s Rabita Baku earned the right to battle as reigning monarchs of the FIVB Club World Championships after both teams claimed one-sided semifinal victories at the Aspire Zone Hall in Doha on Thursday.

Trentino Diatec completely subdued Zenit Kazan of Russia in straight sets with the combined effort of Jan Stokr and Osmany Juantorena as the star players of the match. It was a well deserved victory for an Italian based team who displayed high-quality volleyball during the three sets against an opponent that seemed out of sync for the whole match.

In Friday action, they will play at 19:00 against Sada Cruzeiro of Brazil who edged PGE Skra Belchatow of Poland in a dramatic five-setter in the other men’s semifinal.

On the other hand, Rabita Baku beat Fenerbahce of Turkey with a convincing performance from scoring-machine Madelaynne Montaño. The team based in Azerbaijan will clash for the 2012 crown against Brazil’s Sollys Nestle at 17:00.

The Brazilian club overwhelmed Lancheras de Cataño of Puerto Rico in consecutive sets. Sollys finished second in 2012 and placed third last year - the first time a Brazilian women’s club didn’t figure in the finals.

In the bronze medal matches, Fenerbahce will meet Lancheras at 10:00 followed by the contest between Zenit Kazan and PGE Skra Belchatow at 15:00.

More info: www.fivb.org