Vakıfbank wins women’s volleyball club world title

KOBE

Vakıfbank beat Brazilian club Rexona-Sesc 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25, 21) on May 14 to clinch the title in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship in Kobe, Japan.

It was the second Club World Championship title for Vakıfbank, which also won the tournament in 2013.

It was the season’s second international-level cup for the Istanbul club, after clinching its third 2017 CEV Volleyball Champions League title in April.

 The club now has seven international trophies, including three CEV Champions League titles, two Club World Championship wins, and one of each of the European Challenge and European Top Teams trophies.

Earlier in the day, another Turkish team in the competition, Eczacıbaşı VitrA, failed to claim the bronze medal. 

Olesia Rhykliuk and Kenia Carcaces Opon delivered the points when it mattered, as Volero Zurich recorded a 3-2 (25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 23-25, 15-12) win over Eczacıbaşı VitrA to clinch the third spot.

Tijana Boskovic led the Istanbul club in scoring with 24 points, while Tatiana Kosheleva contributed 14 markers on a losing effort.

Eczacıbaşı VitrA coach Massimo Barbolini and captain Nesilhan Demir felt that there were important little things that led to their opponents’ victory.

“It was a tough match and our opponents deserved to win,” Barbolini said. “There were important little things that they managed to do. Both teams put on a nice show for the spectators. I am disappointed we lost a chance to get a medal in this tournament. We did all that we could today. This tournament was a good experience for me and the team,” he added. 

“We showed them that we are fighters,” Demir said. “We did not play well in the first two sets, but we played incredibly well in the third and fourth sets. The small details and mistakes in this match decided the final score.”