Numia Vero Volley Milano stave off VakifBank comeback to secure bronze medals in #CLVolleyW

Numia Vero Volley Milano finished the season on a high, securing the bronze medals in the CEV Champions League Women, after the Italian side stopped a comeback from VakifBank Istanbul, to secure a 3:1 win (25:15; 25:19; 23:25; 25:18).

The bronze medal in the CEV Champions League Women is still a consolation prize, but it is still better to win a match in the Final Four than to leave home emptyhanded. This is why both Numia Vero Volley Milano and VakifBank Istanbul aimed for winning the last match of the competition.

But there could be only one winner, and after the first set, the Italian side, runners-up last season, were looking firmly in the driver’s seat, once again taking advantage of their opponents’ woes, just like Savino Del Bene Scandicci did yesterday, when they took a 3:0 win over VakifBank.

This time around, though, VakifBank had a better start of the match, taking an 8:5 lead after only 13 points, with their top scorer this season, Marina Markova, displaying a better performance than in the semi-final against Scandicci.

VakifBank had a 38% attacking efficiency in the first set, but there was little they could do to weather the storm, as Milano came out guns slinging, with a 61% attacking efficiency in the first half, as middle blocker Hena Kurtagic delivered two aces, while Paola Egonu had five points.

From a 10:8 VakifBank lead, the match morphed into a procession for Milano, who then took 17 of the next 22 points, as the hosts looked out of sorts, and conceded the first set, 15:25, much like they did in the previous match against Scandicci.

VakifBank became more competitive in the second set, but it was once again Milano’s performance which really outshined the Turkish side, with Egonu scoring seven points, on her way to become the top scorer of the match.

But not only Egonu shined, as setter Alessia Orro was wreaking havoc in VakifBank’s comeback challenge, adding four points herself in the set, as well as setting up her teammates nicely.

Milano’s block also worked like a charm, as VakifBank never took the lead in the second set. They tied the score, 3:3, and 5:5, but that was the last time when the Turkish side really managed to stay close to Milano.

A 3:0 run late in the second half, spurred by Markova, saw VakifBank cut the gap to only two points, 19:17, but six of the next points were won by Milano, which took the second set, 25:19, therefore pushing VakifBank on the brink.

The Turkish side, famed for its resilience, needed to make a comeback to stay alive in this match and this is exactly what they did in the third set, which they took, 25:23, after a performance which showed plenty of grit and determination.

Milano looked in control, with a 13:9 lead, after VakifBank took the lead only twice, 1:0 and 7:6, but a 4:0 run spurred by Ali Frantti and Derya Cebecioglu, as well as with some excellent spikes from Markova, brought back VakifBank in the set.

Milano once again took the lead, but look worn out at points, with their attacking efficiency dropping from 61% and 44% in the first two sets to 26%, and that was their undoing, after a spike from Myriam Sylla went out and VakifBank clinched the set, 25:23.

Were VakifBank on their way to produce yet another comeback for the ages and come unscathed with a medal?

After a strong start in the set for Milano, 6:3, VakifBank slowly got back into the match and even took the lead, 13:11, once again Markova being fantastic at the net. But that comeback looked to be short lived, especially as Milano roared back with a 4:0 run, helped by Helena Cazaute, which saw them take a 17:15 lead.

Consecutive points by Cazaute, who shined in the fourth set, helped Milano take a 21:17 lead, getting closer and closer to the bronze medals, as they closed out the set and the match in emphatic fashion, 25:18, as Egonu had 21 points, with Cazaute adding 15.

The Italian side finished on the podium of the CEV Champions League Women for the second consecutive season, while VakifBank ended up with two losses in two matches in the Final Four in Istanbul, finishing fourth in the competition.