Domestic Semifinals on The Way in Italy, Huge Victory From VakifBank

As the #CLVolleyW semifinals approach, the four remaining teams are now turning their attention back to their national league battles. This weekend will be particularly crucial for the Italian #CLVolleyW semifinalists, as they will begin their domestic Serie A1 playoff semifinals, while VakifBank finished the regular season in Türkiye in second place with a commanding victory over Eczacibasi.

In Italy, all three CEV Champions League Volley semifinalists have also reached the national semifinals, proving their dominance on both fronts. The first matchup will see A. Carraro Imoco Volley Conegliano, the undefeated regular-season champions, host Igor Gorgonzola Novara. Conegliano, fresh from their CEV Champions League Volley success, will aim to take a 1-0 lead in the series and continue their relentless pursuit of another Serie A1 title.

The other Serie A1 semifinal will be an all #CLVolleyW clash between Numia Vero Volley Milano and Savino Del Bene Scandicci on Sunday. In the main round, Milano secured the second seed, while Scandicci finished third, setting the stage for a thrilling battle. The last three encounters between these two teams have all gone to five sets, highlighting how evenly matched they are. With a spot in the Italian league final on the line, this showdown is expected to deliver another intense and high-quality volleyball spectacle.

Meanwhile, in Türkiye, the final round of the Sultanlar League regular season took place this week, determining the final standings before the playoffs. While Fenerbahce Medicana Istanbul secured the top seed, the battle for second place came down to a massive clash between VakifBank Istanbul and Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul. In a dominant performance, VakifBank claimed a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-20, 25-21), overtaking Eczacibasi in the standings thanks to a superior set ratio, as both teams finished with a 22-4 record and 65 points.

A key figure in VakifBank’s win was young Russian star Marina Markova, who scored 19 points, including an impressive five blocks. Canadian opposite Kiera Van Ryk followed with 13 points, showcasing her reliability in attack. On Eczacibasi’s side, Serbian superstar Tijana Boskovic was the only player to reach double digits, finishing with 16 points. This result not only secured a higher seeding for VakifBank in the domestic playoffs but also reinforced their confidence ahead of the #CLVolleyW semifinals.

With Serie A1 semifinals kicking off in Italy and the Sultanlar League playoffs set to begin soon, all four #CLVolleyW semifinalists will be looking to balance their European ambitions with their domestic goals, ensuring they remain in top form for the decisive battles ahead.