SHAOXING, China, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Imoco Volley Conegliano of Italy defeated Guangdong Evergrande of China 25-16, 25-22, 25-21 for its second straight victory in Pool A at the FIVB Women's Club World Championship here on Wednesday evening.
With one round of matches remaining in Pool A, the debutante Conegliano has become the first team to make it to the semifinals of the eight-team week-long tournament.
During the 79-minute battle, Paola Ogechi Egonu had a match-high 19 points for Conegliando, with Kimberly Hill adding 15. The Italian back-to-back national champion outplayed their Chinese peers 51-35 in attacks, 11-5 in blocks, 44-24 in digs and committed less errors 11-17.
Guangdong, who competed in the championship for the second time after its debut in 2013, was led by Li Yao with 10 points, followed by Du Qingqing with eight points.
Earlier in the afternoon, Eczacibasi Vitra Istanbul of Turkey whitewashed Itambe Minas of Brazil 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-16) in one hour and 18 minutes for its first victory while Minas remained winless after two matches and was kicked out of the top four placings.
Eczacibasi who lost its opener to Conegliano 3-1 on Tuesday, will take on Guangdong for its last Pool A match on Friday, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. And Minas, who lost to Guangdong 3-1 on Tuesday, will play its last Pool A match against Conegliano on Friday hoping for its first victory.
Opposite spiker Tijana Boskovic scored a match-high 21 points for Eczacibasi, with captain Kim Yeon-koung and middle blocker Yasemin Guveli adding 12 and nine points respectively, while middle blocker Thaisa Daher de Menezes and wing spiker Kasiely Clemente led Minas with eight points apiece.
After the round-robin format, the top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals with the last two teams competing for the 5-8 places.
