VakifBank storm to victory over Salo keeping a clean sheet in Pool B
Report
The Turkish powerhouse VakifBank Istanbul stormed to victory over LP Salo at Vakifbank Spor Sarayi in the first CEV Champions League - Women match-up scheduled on Thursday. The team under guidance of coach Giovanni Guidetti improved their perfect record in Pool B, earning their fourth win in this campaign and making important step towards group victory, keeping a clean sheet. Although, the opening set in Thursday's encounter was an easy (only 16-minute) walk for the hosts, LP Salo challenged them in the next two sets and consequently used every opportunity to score against the Turkish giant.
VakifBank ISTANBUL vs LP SALO 3-0 (25-9, 25-21, 25-20)
The teams entered the court fully motivated, but at the beginning of this match the difference between the both sides was clearly visible. The Turkish powerhouse left no illusions in the opener, building their impressive advantage from the start. From 6-1 they quickly moved forward, totally dominating on the court, Salo had only two winning spikes in this part, so after only 16 minutes VakifBank closed the set with difference of 16 points.
In the second part, VakifBank was caught napping. The guests took early 4-1 lead, but obviously it didn't take long to make it up for the Turkish side. However, LP Salo managed to keep the pace with more decorated rivals, staying one point behind even at 19-18 thank to the team efforts. Jessica Kosonen (5 points) and Georgia Andrikopoulou (4 points) were top scorers of the Finnish team, but it was not enough against VakifBank, who still dominated in all components.
LP Salo set the bar even higher in the third set. Tomi Lemminkainen's team managed to play almost flawless (only 3 own errors in this part), using every mistake made by their opponents. They were leading side in the early stage of the set, being two points ahead at 10-8, mainly thanks to attacks from Andrikopoulou and Kosonen, and even when VakifBank levelled-up the score, they were fighting hard what produced a point-by-point race until 17-17. But these duo was not enough against the entire team of VakifBank, especially that Chiaka Ogbogu spread her wings scoring 9 points in 3rd set. Ace from Meryem Boz closed the game. Ogbogu who contributed with 20 points was the best scorer, but the MVP award was presented to setter Buket Gulubay.
Giovanni Guidetti"Today we played very good. We started this match to perform our best in the court. Because we respect our oppenent and our spectators a lot. We need to perform our best to show this respect. I am happy that our players did their best in the court today."
head coach of VakifBank Istanbul
Buket Gulubay"Our first goal in the Champions League is to finish the group stage as leader and we started this match to contribute our goal. I would like to thank to our spectators, it was really good atmosphere today in our gym. We performed really good now we will focus to our next game in Turkish League."
Setter of VakifBank Istanbul and MVP
Tomi Lemminkäinen"I am happy that we played better than the match in Salo. First set we VakifBank was better in block and defense. But in second set we performed our maximum level so I am happy how we played in last to sets."
head coach of LP Salo
Jessica Kosonen"The atmosphere was amazing. In Finland, its forbidden to watch the matches at the venue now. So we missed this audience very much. In first set we were not good but in last 2 sets we believed ourselves and enjoyed our game and perfomed better."
outside spiker of LP Salo