VakıfBank started the new season of the Zeren Group CEV Champions League with a victory. The yellow-blacks defeated Volero LE CANNET 3-0 in their first match in Pool A, played at the VakıfBank Spor Sarayı. Marina Markova scored 26 points, Tijana Boskovic and Helena Cazaute each added 11, while Zehra Güneş contributed 10 points.
VakıfBank, the team with the most titles in the competition with six championships, opened the new season with a win in the Zeren Group CEV Champions League. The yellow-blacks beat Volero LE CANNET 3-0 in their first Pool A match at the VakıfBank Spor Sarayı. Marina Markova scored 26 points; Tijana Boskovic and Helena Cazaute tallied 11 apiece, and captain Zehra Güneş finished with 10 points.
VakıfBank opened the match with a 4–0 run and increased the gap to eight points at 9–1. The yellow-blacks took the set 25–19 after 24 minutes to move ahead. In the second set, after a 4–4 tie, VakıfBank went on a 10–2 run to make it 12–6. Sustaining its strong performance in both defense and attack, VakıfBank won the set 25–16 with nine points from Marina Markova, taking a 2–0 lead. The yellow-blacks then secured the third and final set 25–19 to seal a 3–0 victory.
Giovanni Guidetti: “We did our job and controlled the match”
After the match, VakıfBank Head Coach Giovanni Guidetti said: "We did our job. We controlled the match the way it had to be, and it was fun to see a lot of young talents in Volero". Guidetti added: “They pushed us very hard, but I’m happy with the way we played."
Marina Markova: “I’m very happy with my performance”
Marina Markova, who scored 71 points in the group stage of last season’s CEV Champions League, made another strong start to the new season. Markova scored 26 points against Volero and was chosen as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match. After the match, she said: “I think we started pretty well. It's very important. I would say we are pretty confident, which is very important. And that’s what we were able to do in this game. I’m very happy, and it just shows how ambitious we are this year. Of course, it can still be improved. But overall, yes, I’m very happy with my performance.”
Winning streak against Volero extends to 9 matches
VakıfBank faced Volero—who changed its name in 2018—for the ninth time in the CEV Champions League. The yellow-blacks won their ninth consecutive meeting, having lost only seven sets in these matches.
Flawless once again in opening matches
The yellow-blacks continued their strong tradition in Champions League opening matches. VakıfBank has won all of its first-week games in the last six seasons of the CEV Champions League.
173rd victory in the Champions League
VakıfBank had its 173rd victory in CEV Champions League history, leading all clubs in this category.
Six straight home wins in group play
The yellow-blacks continued their home winning streak in the group stage of the CEV Champions League against Volero. With this victory, VakıfBank has now won six consecutive group-stage home matches in Europe at the VakıfBank Sports Palace.
VENUE: VakıfBank Spor Sarayı
REFEREES: Theodora Kyriopoulou (Greece), Vladimir Simonovic (Switzerland)
VAKIFBANK: Cansu Özbay 2, Helena Cazaute 11, Zehra Güneş 10, Tijana Boskovic 11, Marina Markova 26, Ayça Aykaç Altıntaş (L), Chiaka Ogbogu 4
VOLERO LE CANNET: Liubou Svetnik 5, Aida Dautova 10, Alina Popova 10, Vangeliya Rachkovska 10, Ruta Staniulyte 3, Naiane Rios 2, Amandine Giardino (L), Defne Devrim 1
SETS: 25–19, 25–16, 25–19
SET DURATION: 24’, 23’, 22’
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