Reigning champions VakıfBank have reached the Vodafone Sultanlar Ligi Finals after defeating Eczacıbaşı Dynavit 3-2 in the second leg of the semi-finals. The victory on their home court at VakıfBank Spor Sarayı secures a 2-0 series sweep, setting up a best-of-five championship showdown against Fenerbahçe Medicana. VakıfBank President Abdi Serdar Üstünsalih emphasized the club’s ambitions: "Important days are ahead for us. Our only goal is to finish at the top of both the Champions League and the Sultanlar Ligi.”
Reigning champions VakıfBank have punched their ticket to the 2025-2026 Vodafone Sultanlar Ligi finals. Following an away victory in the opening leg, the Yellow-and-Blacks clinched the semi-final series with a hard-fought 3-2 win on their home court at the VakıfBank Spor Sarayı. The offensive effort was led by Tijana Boskovic with a game-high 31 points, supported by Marina Markova with 28. Zehra Güneş also reached double digits, finishing the match with 12 points to help seal the victory.
The opening set was dominated by the Yellow-and-Blacks, who neutralized a 6-2 early deficit with multiple scoring runs to take the set 25-14 in just 21 minutes, led by Marina Markova’s 6 points. Eczacıbaşı responded by taking the next two sets 31-29 and 25-22 to lead 2-1. VakıfBank regained control in the fourth set; following an 18-18 tie, a 3-0 run shifted the momentum, allowing the hosts to take the set 25-22 and force a tie-break. In the deciding fifth set, VakıfBank established an early 4-0 lead, ultimately securing the frame 15-13 and the match 3-2.
VakıfBank President Abdi Serdar Üstünsalih: "I firmly believe that in our 40th anniversary, we will once again cement our legacy by securing both the domestic title and the CEV Champions League trophy."
VakıfBank President Abdi Serdar Üstünsalih said: “We are very happy to have reached the Sultanlar Ligi finals. I congratulate our team, technical staff, and management for competing with the VakıfBank spirit. Our fans were also great today, and I thank them for their support. I also want to congratulate our rival, Eczacıbaşı, for their performance.
Important days are ahead for us. I must emphasize that we are the natural favorites in every tournament we enter. Our only goal this season is to finish at the top of both the Champions League and the Sultanlar Ligi.
We continue to work with great dedication to achieve this. I firmly believe that in our 40th anniversary, we will once again cement our legacy by winning both the Sultanlar Ligi and the CEV Champions League trophy."
Giovanni Guidetti: “That is exactly the magnificent spirit of VakıfBank”
VakıfBank Head Coach Giovanni Guidetti said: "First of all, I want to congratulate Eczacıbaşı; they are always a very tough opponent and they were very strong in every area again today. They have had a great season, and I congratulate the club, the coach, and the players.
We could not expect an easy path to the finals. Today, my players fought incredibly hard; they stayed focused every moment, they never gave up, and that is exactly the magnificent spirit of VakıfBank. I am proud of our team, our technical staff, and our management for this achievement."
Marina Markova: “I’m happy and excited to be in the finals”
VakıfBank’s Marina Markova stood out with another impressive performance against Eczacıbaşı Dynavit. Markova reached a total of 168 points across seven matches played against their rivals this season.
Following the victory, Markova said: "I am very happy and excited to be in the finals. It was a match full of emotion. For Eczacıbaşı, it was a 'do-or-die' game, and they certainly played at 100%. We responded to that challenge successfully. The match lasted nearly three hours. To see our team play at such a high level in these tough matches is truly incredible."
Ayça Aykaç Altıntaş: "I hope this journey ends with a trophy."
Ayça Aykaç Altıntaş said: "Eczacıbaşı played great volleyball. They managed to extend the lead at times, but we knew how to recover. I am very happy that we are in the finals. I hope this journey culminates in a trophy."
VENUE: VakıfBank Spor Sarayı
REFEERES: Seçkin Yener, Yasin Çalışkan
VAKIFBANK: Chiaka Ogbogu 7, Cansu Özbay 1, Marina Markova 28, Zehra Güneş 12, Tijana Boskovic 31, Derya Cebecioğlu 6, Ayça Aykaç Altıntaş (L), Helena Cazaute 5, Deniz Uyanık 3
ECZACIBAŞI DYNAVİT: Yaprak Erkek 16, Sinead Jack-Kısal 11, Elif Şahin 1, Ebrar Karakurt 20, Dana Rettke 5, Magdalena Stysiak 24, Simge Aköz (L), Dilay Özdemir 4, Anna Smrek 1, Kathryn Boden 1
SETS: 25-14, 29-31, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13
SET DURATIONS: 21’, 38’, 29’, 29’ 27’
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