VakıfBank secured 10th Axa Sigorta Kupa Voley title with 3-1 victory over Eczacıbaşı Dynavit in Ankara. Commenting on the victory, VakıfBank Sports Club President Abdi Serdar Üstünsalih said: "I want to congratulate our players, coaching staff, and management, who fought until the very last point and truly represented the VakıfBank soul. We have won our 41st trophy, in our 40th anniversary. This achievement is a result of the great VakıfBank family. I believe that we will be winning championship titles both at the Sultanlar Ligi and Champions League titles."
Name of the summit at the AXA Sigorta Kupa Voley is once again VakıfBank! Having defeated Galatasaray Daikin at the semifinals in Ankara, VakıfBank has reached the top, beating Eczacıbaşı Dynavit 3-1 in the final. The yellow and blacks’ victory in Ankara marks their 10th championship in the tournament’s history. Its previous championships included 1995, 1997, 1998, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
VakıfBank sparked an early 4-1 lead in the opening set and capitalized on a 4-0 run to stretch a narrow 15-13 edge into a commanding 19-13 cushion. Maintaining total control, the yellow and blacks wrapped up the frame 25-19 in just 26 minutes.
While Eczacıbaşı Dynavit clawed back to take the second set 25-21, VakıfBank regained their momentum in a tightly contested third. The turning point came late in the set, where VakıfBank’s dominance at the net and scoring contributions from seven different players, as well as five blocks that created a difference, powered them to a 25-20 win, making the total score 2-1 in in team’s favor. Refusing to let up, VakıfBank players maintained their intensity to close out the fourth set 25-20, sealing a 3-1 match victory and hoisting the Kupa Voley trophy.
Abdi Serdar Üstünsalih: “I congratulate our squad for embodying the VakıfBank soul in the best way possible”
VakıfBank general manager and club president Abdi Serdar Üstünsalih said: “I want to congratulate our players, coaching staff, and management, who fought until the very last point and truly represented the VakıfBank soul. My thanks go to our fans who supported us in Ankara and those watching from home. I also congratulate our competitors. This is our 10th Kupa Voley title and our 41st trophy in our 40th year. This achievement belongs to the entire VakıfBank family.
At the start of the season, we said that we have built one of the world's strongest rosters, and today that quality is clear. While we celebrate today, we have even bigger goals ahead. As I always say: VakıfBank’s target is always being at the top. We enter every tournament as the natural favorites, and I believe we will also win the League and the Champions League titles."
Giovanni Guidetti: “I am incredibly lucky to have players of this caliber.”
VakıfBank Head Coach Giovanni Guidetti commented on the victory: “Eczacıbaşı is an incredibly strong team with exceptional players and a brilliant coach. But yesterday, my team was simply incredible. Every single player likely delivered their best performance of the season, and for that, I can only say thank you.
I feel incredibly lucky. When your team produces its peak performance in such an important game, it proves you are coaching world-class talent. Being able to lead players of this caliber makes you a very lucky coach. I feel very lucky and I am deeply grateful to the players and my technical staff for ensuring we reached this final in peak form. I also want to thank the club for providing me with such a world-class roster."
Captain Zehra Güneş: "I am proud of being the captain of this team"
Captain Zehra Güneş said: "First and foremost, I am immensely proud to be the captain of such an incredible team. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this success. We have always felt the support of our club, and I thank them sincerely. Our first objective was to reach the Champions League Final Four, and now we have achieved our second goal by winning the Kupa Voley. We still have many milestones ahead of us. We will savor this championship today, but our focus will quickly shift back to the League. We are fully aware of the hard work required to reach all of our targets. My deepest thanks to all our fans for sharing this joy with us today."
Cansu Özbay: "When we believe in each other, there is nothing we can’t achieve"
Cansu Özbay commented:" "Every trophy has its own unique story, and this one is no different. Last week, we played incredibly tough matches against Milano. Coming back from those games to win so decisively against a powerful team like Eczacıbaşı is truly meaningful. I want to congratulate them on their performance as well. I’d like to give a special mention to my teammates. When we truly believe in one another, I don't think there is anything we cannot achieve. I am deeply grateful to every one of them.
VakıfBank won its 41st trophy in Ankara
With their win over Eczacıbaşı Dynavit in the final, yellow-blacks won the Kupa Voley for 10th time, after 1995, 1997, 1998, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023. With this victory, VakıfBank increased the number of its international trophies to the level of 41. So far VakıfBank has won 10 Kupa Voley championships, 4 FIVB Clubs World Championships, 6 CEV Champions Leagues, 14 Sultanlar Ligi, 5 Türkiye Champions Cup, 1 Europe Challenge Cup and 1 Europe Top Teams Cup.
Marina Markova named MVP
VakıfBank’s Marina Markova was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) following an outstanding performance in the Kupa Voley final against Eczacıbaşı Dynavit. Markova fueled the victory with 24 points, including 1 ace and 3 blocks, leading her team to the title.
VakıfBank lifted the trophy in a formal ceremony in Ankara, presented by Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak, the Minister of Youth and Sports, and Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, the Minister of Family and Social Services.
VENUE: Ankara Spor Salonu
REFEREES: Erdal Akıncı, Burhan İlhan
VAKIFBANK: Chiaka Ogbogu 3, Cansu Özbay 5, Marina Markova 24, Zehra Güneş 10, Tijana Boskovic 25, Derya Cebecioğlu 9, Ayça Aykaç Altıntaş (L), Helena Cazaute 2, Deniz Uyanık 1
ECZACIBAŞI DYNAVİT: Sinead Jack-Kısal 13, Elif Şahin 3, Ebrar Karakurt 17, Dana Rettke 8, Magdalena Stysiak 9, Yaprak Erkek 13, Simge Aköz (L), Dilay Özdemir 1, Kathryn Boden 5
SETLER: 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20
SET SÜRELERİ: 26’, 28’, 28’, 26’
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