Queens of the Turkish Champions Cup! A well-deserved 3-2 victory over VakıfBank means Eczacıbaşı VitrA are the Champions Cup champions for the third year in a row and break another record with an overall fifth title.
Tigers grab the first trophy of the season as they claim a 3-2 win over VakıfBank at the AXA Sigorta Champions Cup which is also known as the Turkish Super Cup. The reigning champions Eczacıbaşı VitrA break a new record by winning the fifth Champions Cup title overall and also defend their title for a third consecutive year.
Since the last time the ‘El Clasico’ of volleyball was held when two Turkish powerhouses met in the Turkish League last March, Eczacıbaşı VitrA have undergone an important transformation within their roster as they have seven new players in the team.
At the first set, there was a balanced state of play until VakıfBank saw an effort blocked by Tijana Boskovic at 12-8. Firing at full speed, Tigers easily took the lead in the first set by 25-14.
Despite VakıfBank’s quick start to the second set, Eczacıbaşı VitrA have once again sprung to life through a long streak that started with the American middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu’s block. Showing great efforts in defense and then transitioning those tough balls into great actions belonged to the keys of the set for Tigers.
The third set was thrilling. Coming up with a different lineup, VakıfBank won the third set by 25-18.
Promising Eczacıbaşı VitrA setter Elif Şahin found a good balance with her attackers in the fourth set. However, even Tijana Boskovic’s attacks were not enough for a victory in the fourth set which was narrow until the end (27-25).
At the tie-break, Jordan Thompson and Tijana Boskovic were in business as their team took back the control over the game to a 15-12 lead. The final touch of the match belonged to Elif Şahin who blocked an attack of VakıfBank.
While Tijana Boskovic has been selected the Most Valuable Player of the competition, the team has received their trophy from the President of the Turkish Volleyball Federation Mehmet Akif Üstündağ and the AXA Sigorta CEO Yavuz Ölken.
At the award ceremony captain Simge Aköz was highly appreciated when she said at her speech that her team dedicates this success to all the initial health personnel out there who have been relentlessly working during the coronavirus pandemic.
VakıfBank – Eczacıbaşı VitrA: 2-3
Venue: İstanbul – Burhan Felek Volleyball Hall
Referees: Nurper Özbar, Mehmet Gül.
VakıfBank: Cansu, Guimaraes, Zehra, Haak, Hackley, Kübra, Ayça (L), Meliha, Ognjenovic, Gözde.
Eczacıbaşı VitrA: Elif, Thompson, Yasemin, Boskovic, Hande, Ogbogu, Simge (L), Beyza, Mirkovic, Saliha, Fatma
Set Results: 2-3 (14-25, 22-25, 25-18, 27-25, 12-15)
Duration: 128 minutes (22,29,27,32,18)
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Watch the video to see the highlights of the match.
