Six-times Zeren Group CEV Champions League winners VakıfBank finished Group A undefeated at the top of the standings to advance to the quarterfinals. In their sixth and final group game, the yellow and blacks hosted Savino Del Bene Scandicci at the VakıfBank Spor Sarayı. After trailing 2-0, the team achieved a perfect comeback to defeat their opponents 3-2. Captain Zehra Güneş was named the MVP of the game.
VakıfBank advanced to the quarterfinals undefeated in the Zeren Group CEV Champions League. In their sixth match in Group A, the yellow and blacks faced Italian team Savino Del Bene Scandicci at VakıfBank Spor Sarayı. Despite falling behind 2-0, they staged a comeback with the huge support of their fans and defeated their opponents 3-2. Marina Markova scored 32 points, with Tijana Boskovic scored 22 and Zehra Güneş scored 17 points for VakıfBank.
Scandicci took the first set 26-24 and the second set 25-23. Starting the third set 3-0 behind, VakıfBank caught up with their opponents at 5-5 and took a 9-8 lead with four blocks. The yellow and blacks, who won the set 25-20 in 26 minutes with six players contributing directly to the score, brought the score to 2-1. In the fourth set, which was a fierce battle, VakıfBank fell behind 23-20 but then found a 4-0 run to tie the set. After 33 minutes, they won the set 28-26, taking the match, in which they had fallen behind 2-0, to a tie-break. In the final set, VakıfBank pulled ahead thanks to Markova's consecutive points and defense, winning the set 15-12 and the match 3-2, finishing Group A undefeated at the top.
Giovanni Guidetti: “We didn't give up, we fought like crazy, and we did a great job”
VakıfBank’s Head Coach Giovanni Guidetti shared his thoughts following the match: “I'm pretty proud of the girls because they didn't give up. They fought like crazy against a very strong team. It's a pity about the first two sets because we were always in the lead. I believe we should have won those first two sets. At this level, how you play during critical moments is very important. After first two sets, an ordinary team might have given up, but we didn't. Our players did not yield; they kept fighting, kept believing, and I think we did a great job”
Zehra Güneş: “I'm happy we won in front of such a magnificent group of fans”
VakıfBank captain Zehra Güneş scored 17 points and blocked 8 shots to shut down the opposition. Named the most valuable player of the match, Güneş said after the game: “Words cannot describe the high quality of volleyball we played in this match. Coming back from 2-0 down is not something that every team can do. We believed we would win, and we succeeded. Everyone who entered the game made an incredible contribution. I am delighted we achieved such a victory in front of such magnificent fans. Today we will enjoy our victory and then continue to look forward.”
VENUE: VakıfBank Spor Sarayı
REFEREE: Wojciech Maroszek (Poland), Alexandros Mylonakis (Greece)
VAKIFBANK: Chiaka Ogbogu 8, Cansu Özbay 2, Marina Markova 32, Zehra Güneş 17, Tijana Boskovic 22, Helena Cazaute 4, Ayça Aykaç Altıntaş (L), Katarina Dangubic 8
SAVINO DEL BENE SCANDICCI: Camilla Weitzel 7, Maja Ognjenovic 2, Avery Skinner 9, Linda Nwakalor 15, Ekaterina Antropova 33, Caterina Bosetti 4, Brenda Castillo (L), Lindsey Ruddins 5, Sarah Franklin 8
SETS: 24-26, 23-25, 25-20, 28-26, 15-12
SET DURATIONS: 29’, 26’, 26’, 33’, 14’
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