CLVolleyW: Top transfers set the bar high
The stage for the CEV Champions League Volley 2024 - Women is set, and the fans of Europe’s top club competition are already looking forward to seeing their favourite stars back in action after a busy summer with the national teams.
With the matches of Round 4 fast approaching (the first games are scheduled for November 7), it is time to have a look at the top transfers of the recent months: in which teams will the stars of CLVolleyW play in the 2023/2024 season, while aiming to reach the European Volleyball peak?
With the biggest deals signed on the Volleyball markets between Italy and Türkiye, the upcoming season promises to be an exciting one.
VakifBank Istanbul
The back-to-back #CLVolleyW champions of VakifBank Istanbul parted ways with their biggest star in the summer. The Italian Paola Egonu, who was named MVP of the #SuperFinalsTurin, scoring as many as 40 points in the Big Finale against Eczacibasi Dunavit Istanbul, said “Goodbye” to VakifBank just days after lifting the trophy in the competition. Having spent only a season (2022/2023) in the club, Egonu decided to go back to the Apennines, where she is now defending the colours of Allianz Vero Volley Milano.
Non intentionally, Egonu almost "switched clubs" with American star Jordan Thompson, who, on the other hand, arrived to Istanbul after a season in Vero Volley.
Allianz Vero Volley Milano
Vero Volley have, for sure, set the bar high, announcing the arrival of Egonu. However, they didn’t stop there, as they were able to sign deals with two other players of VakifBank.
The American international Kara Bajema and the Dutch Nika Daalderop (both spent also a season only in Istanbul) joined the squad of Milano. The two outside hitters took part in games of CLVolleyW in the last season, while competing for the Turkish giant. Bajema finished on a higher note (13 matches, 43 sets, 115 points, an average of 2,67 per set), while Daalderop performed in six games (19 sets, 49 points, an average of 2,58 per set).
The French Héléna Cazaute also joined Vero Volley. Coming from Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri, the outside hitter had a good summer with the French national team. Participating in EuroVolleyW, she finished as the team’s second-best scorer (after Lucille Gicquel) with 89 points in seven matches (25 set, an average of 3,56 points per set).
Fenerbahçe Opet Istanbul
The biggest missing part of the Fenerbahçe team in the beginning of this #CLVolleyW season is, for sure, the EuroVolleyW MVP Melissa Vargas. Vargas, who grabbed the gold medals of the tournament together with her teammates from Türkiye, left for China (once again), where she will play for Tianjin Bohai Bank. However, the European Volleyball fans have high hopes of her returning to Istanbul team when the Chinese league is over (as she has already done so in the past, and, in the previous season, for example, helped Fenerbahçe to reach the semi-finals of CLVolleyW, finishing as 16th best scorer with 114 points, 5.43 per set, but played in only six matches, meaning 21 sets).
Vargas’ teammate, Anna Lazareva is also joining her in Tianjin Bohai Bank, while former Fenerbahçe middle blocker, Hristina Vuchkova will be their rival in China - where she will compete for Liaoning Tengda.
However, Fenerbahçe did a big announcement, as star opposite, Magdalena Stysiak will be playing for them in the 2023/2024 season. The Polish, who, in the previous edition of the Champions League, was part of Vero Volley Milano, will try to take fill in Vargas’ shoes in the opposite role. If someone has the potential to do so, then that will be Stysiak, who finished at 2023 EuroVolleyW as 17th best scorer, playing in seven matches (24 sets), recording 137 points (an average of 5,71 points per set).
Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul
The #SuperFinalsTurin finallist - the Turkish powerhouse of Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul, also had a busy summer with transfers.
One of the most experienced setters not only on the European Volleyball stage, but on the worldwide one, Maja Ognjenovic left for the Italian Savino Del Bene Scandicci.
The Eczacibasi fans can rest assured the playmaking of the game will be in good hands as setter Elif Sahin stays on the team, and is joined on the position by Naz Aydemir Akyol, coming from THY SK.
Two classy outside hitters - Alexa Gray of the USA (coming from Prosseco Doc Imoco Volley Conegliano) and Martyna Czyrniańska of Poland (coming from Grypa Azoty Chemic Police), will also defend the colours of the Tigers.
Opposite Samanta Fabris will be no longer part of the team, as she signed with Cukurova Belediyesi Spor Kulubu.
Savino del Bene Scandicci
The Italians will rely on, as mentioned, the experienced Maja Ognjenovic.
Furthermore, the Belgian spike machine, Britt Herbots is joining the squad, coming from the Il Bisonte Firenze. Herbots, who finished with an average 6,21 points per set in EuroVolleyW, is definitely a player to watch out for.
With so much movement across the strongest European leagues and star players changing their clubs, the upcoming season in Champions League will be a true spectacle.