Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul seal 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship in style
Review
Under the guidance of Serbian superstar Tijana Boskovic, Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul secured their third title at the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship, as her team clinched a 3:2 win in the final against VakifBank Istanbul, in an all-Turkish classic, which saw Eczacibasi Dynavit secure their third title in the competition.
After three wins – two in the pool phase and one in the semi-finals against Dentil Praia Clube, 3:1 – Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul produced a superb finish in the final against VakifBank, with Boskovic being the leader in points scored, a performance which she delivered in each and every match in the competition, on her way to her second MVP title at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship.
The two sides – which also played the CEV Champions League Women final last season – were riding three-match winning streaks, with VakifBank failing to drop a set in the first three matches, with commanding performances.
Yet Boskovic was absolutely fantastic in the final, outscoring any teammate with 27 points, being crucial in Eczacibasi Dynavit’s comeback. First, VakifBank took a strong lead, through a 25:19 win in the first set, but their archrivals replied with two 25:23 wins in the second and third set, needing only one set to clinch their third trophy in history.
American opposite, Jordan Thompson, shined for VakifBank throughout the fourth set, as she went on for a 33-point outing, as the reigning CEV Champions League Women champions clinched the fourth set, 25:23, to push everything into the decisive set, which announced itself to be a cracker.
And then Boskovic took over. She scored six points in the fifth set, as she nearly outscored all of VakifBank’s players, as Eczacibasi pulled through a superb performance to clinch the final set, 15:9, on their way to the third title in history, celebrating the win in Hangzhou.
Named as the MVP of the competition for the second time in her career and seven years removed from the previous title, Boskovic lifted the trophy for Eczacibasi, which is now the second most decorated team in history, with three titles, one less than VakifBank.
The bronze medal match was clinched by hosts Tianjin, who took their maiden medal in the competition, with a 3:1 win over Dentil Praia Clube.
Eczacibasi Dynavit’s Elif Sahin was named in the All-Star team as the best setter, while Boskovic was also named the best opposite, with Zehra Gunes from VakifBank and Jovana Stevanovic from Eczacibasi were the best middle blockers in the All-Star team. VakifBank’s Ayca Aykac (best libero) and Gabi Guimaraes (best outside hitter) were also added to the best team in the competition.