Lausanne, Switzerland, October 25, 2019 - It's been less than a month after the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup, but the stars of the competition are back in action, leading their teams again as the club season begins across the world with domestic and international competitions.
China superstar Zhu Ting, the World Cup MVP, returns home this season to lead Tianjin Bohai Bank in the domestic league, as well as the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship from December 3 to 8 in Shaoxing. The move back to China comes after the 24-year-old outside hitter spent three highly successful seasons with VakifBank Istanbul, leading the Turkish club to one bronze followed by back-to-back gold medals at the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Club World Championships.
In addition to her MVP award, Zhu was also named on the World Cup Dream Team as outside hitter alongside USA's Kelsey Robinson - her team mate for two seasons at VakifBank. Robinson, 27, has also departed VakifBank, but has just moved cross-town this season to rivals Fenerbahce, who she'll be leading in both the Turkish League and the European Champions League.
Of the World Cup Dream Team middle blockers, both Irina Koroleva or Russia and Yan Ni of China will be sticking with their club teams.
Twenty-eight-year-old Koroleva remains with Dinamo Kazan in the Russian Superleague, now for the for the fourth season running. She will also be leading her side in the European second-tier CEV Cup.
Yan, meanwhile, at 32, will be staying with her first and only club of Liaoning for the 15th straight season, in the Chinese League.
Yan will be playing in Liaoning alongside 29-year-old setter Ding Xia who has also never played anywhere else since she signed up with the club 11 years ago.
World Cup Dream Team opposite Andrea 'Annie' Drews of USA goes east this year, leaving Europe after a couple of seasons in Italy and Turkey to join Japan's JT Marvelous in Japan's V.League 1.
And libero Wang Mengjie, 23, will also be competing in the Chinese League with her club of Shandong.
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