2023

Next stop for VakifBank Istanbul: The CLVolleyW Quarters

Recap

Article Wed, Mar 1 2023
Author: Victoria Georgieva

VakifBank Istanbul booked their ticket at the #CLVolleyW Quarters after outclassing at 3-0 the team of ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ.

The players of head coach Giovanni Guidetti will face in the next stage of the competition the team of Vero Volley Milano, who had already secured their spot among the Top 8 team of Europe’s elite competition in season 2022/2023. 

The Turkish squad continued their positive performance on the #CLVolleyW stage, as they have been part of the best eight teams of the competition since 2007-2008 season.

On Wednesday, in front of 1250 fans in the VakifBank Sport Saray Sports Hall, the VakifBank team performed better in the first two sets, showing better concentration in key moments. This was enough for them to proceed ahead in the CEV Champions League Volley 2023 - Women, as they claimed a 3-0 win in the first leg of the playoffs. 

Qualifying after two sets did not stop them, and they did not lose the rhythm, taking the third set as well. 

The better performance on the block and from the serve line turned out to be the key for the success of the Turks. 

VakifBank finished the match with nine kill blocks (to six) and four aces (to two). 

In attacking, the two teams finished with 44 winning spikes each (45% to 44% efficiency). 

Paola Egonu was named MVP of the game, contributing for her team’s win with 16 points (50% exc.). Kara Bajema added 13 (39% exc.).

Valentina Diouf of LKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ finished as top scorer with 23 points to her name (45% exc.). 

Zehra Güneş of VakifBank observed a minute of silence before the kick off of the match, wearing a jersey with the name of young Volleyball player Ceren Topal, who lost her life in the earthquake disaster in Türkiye.

The game was a special one as well for many of the young Volleyball fans in the sports hall, as they came from some of the regions where the earthquake from early February hit harder. 

“First of all, I am very happy because today we met with the kids from the earthquake area. Today, they were our guests and watched the game. Of course, our hearts are with the families who suffered. We came back to Istanbul to play in front of our people. I think it was a great match because Łódź is a good team. Every set was very tight. Now another difficult challenge awaits us.”

Giovanni Guidetti
Head coach of VakifBank Istanbul

“It was nice to meet our fans again. After the earthquake disaster, we tried to get a result that would make them happy a bit. There were moments when we had difficulties in the game, but we acted as a team and stayed together. This is how we won.”

Paola Egonu
MVP and player of VakifBank Istanbul

#CLVolleyW