MANILA – Zhetysu Volleyball Club of Kazakhstan cruised to a 25-16, 25-17, 25-17 victory over Creamline Cool Smashers in the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Champions League on Monday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Tatyana Nikitina led the way for the Zhetysu with 14 points, all coming from attacks, while Karina Desinova and Valeriya Yakutina added 12 markers apiece as they kicked off their campaign on a winning note.
The Zhetysu displayed their offensive and defensive firepower behind the trio of Nikitina, Desinova, and Yakutina the entire game en route to a straight set win over the Philippine representatives.
Erica Staunton top-scored for the Cool Smashers with nine points, on seven attacks and two blocks, while Anastassiya Kolomoyets added six markers, as they fell to a 1-1 win-loss slate.
Meanwhile, Kaohsiung Taipower claimed a quarterfinals slot with a 25-15, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20 win over Petro Gazz Angels.
Hsu Wan-Yun led the way with 18 points, built on 16 attacks and two service aces, while Peng Yu-Rou and Tsai Yu-Chun added 11 and 10 points, respectively, as the Taipower swept their Pool A assignment at 2-0.
The nine-time Top Volleyball League champions Taipower jumped to early leads in each of the first two sets before they preserved a double-digit spread the rest of the way.
The Angels countered with their own run in the third set to stay alive and they were still in striking distance late in the fourth set, but costly errors from them sealed the win for the Taipower.
Gia Milana Day finished with 18 points to lead the Angels, while Brooke Van Sickle and MarJana Phillips contributed 13 and nine markers, respectively, in the loss./PN
