VakifBank’s Path to the SuperFinals Turin 2023
Preview
The most successful team in the history of the CEV Champions League Volley, VakifBank Istanbul has already won the trophy five times.However, in order to get a sixth title they will have to get passed none other than fellow Turkish side from Istanbul, Eczacibasi Dynavit in the Superfinals, on 20 May in Turin, Italy.
Giovanni Guidetti’s side has been having a rollercoaster season, losing two of their six matches and finishing second in Pool C, behind Italy’s Igor Gorgonzola Novara, thus having to go through the playoffs to secure their spot amongst Europe’s elite eight teams.
In the playoffs, The Turkish side seemed to be regaining its shine, cruising to victory in both matches against Poland’s LKS Commercecon Lodz without dropping a set. In doing so, they set up a quarterfinals clash with Italy’s Vero Volley Milano which they also ended up dominating like they have done so many times in the past.
With all their star players in top gear, including Brazil’s Gabi Guimaraes, Italy’s Paola Egonu, at her first season in Istanbul, and American Chiaka Ogbogu among others, VakifBank was starting to look as one of the main favourites for the trophy going into the semifinals. That made what was to come even more of a shock. A straight sets defeat on home court against bitter rivals, Fenerbahce Opet Istanbul and everything seemed to be tumbling down for VakifBank.
However, never bet against the most successful team in the history of the Champions League on turning the odds in their favor once again, and that is exactly what it did.
A straight sets win in the return leg and everything was to be decided via a Golden Set. It turned out to be a battle of epic proportions with both teams looking like they could win it at some point during the set, but it was VakifBank once again that got it over the line and booked a place in the SuperFinals.