Fabulous Fenerbahce dominates all-Istanbul clash with VakifBank

Fenerbahce Opet Istanbul mastered a 3-0 (25-10, 25-23, 25-20) upset of defending women’s CEV Champions League Volley crown-holders VakifBank Istanbul in the first game of their semifinal series, played at VakifBank Spor Sarayi on Thursday. For the return match, Fenerbahce will welcome VakifBank to the Burhan Felek volleyball hall next Thursday, April 13, at 19:00 local time.

Melissa Vargas hammered the opening point of the first set and Ana Cristina de Souza delivered the 25-10 winner. In between, it was a completely one-sided game with Fenerbahce dominating on all counts, especially in serving (four aces against none), to beat their city rivals by a wide margin and take the lead in the match.

Fenerbahce stormed the second set on a 6-2 run, after five consecutive points on Hristina Vuchkova’s turn to serve. But this time VakifBank fought back, stepping up their spiking and blocking efforts, and not only caught up at 11-11, but also managed to open a three-point lead of their own at 20-17. After 23-21, however, Fenerbahce went on a four-point run crowned by a sub-in Cansu Cetin ace for 25-23.

They showed no signs of slowing down, opened set three with a 4-0 run and never looked back. Their lead went as wide as six points before VakifBank tried fighting back with four in a row to get back to within two at 20-18. Both Paola Egonu and Melissa Vargas were on fire in this set with eight points each, but it was Fenerbahce’s opposite, who delivered the match winner with a sizzling ace for 25-20.

Melissa Vargas finished the game with a match-high 19 points, including three aces and a kill block, and earned the Most Valuable Player Award. Ana Cristina added another 13, all in attack, while Arina Fedorovtseva hammered four aces towards a 12-point match tally. Paola Egonu was VakifBank’s best scorer with 17 points.