Underrated star Ogbogu ready to help VakifBank seal second title in a row

Since moving to Europe in 2017, Chiaka Ogbogu has never spent more than a single season at the same team, moving from Il Bisonte Firenze to Chemik Police after her first season, then signing for Prosecco Doc Imoco Volley Conegliano in 2019 before joining Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Istanbul in 2020.

However, her transfer to VakifBank Istanbul was a true coup both for the Turkish powerhouse, as well as Ogbogu, as the 28-year-old middle blocker has morphed into one of the best, if not the best middle blockers in the CEV Champions League | Women, being a key ingredient of VakifBank’s title-winning campaign last season.

As Ogbogu settled into her new surroundings, she has been getting better and better, being a true underrated star, the player who can round up her teammates and provide excellent defensive actions in crucial moments, helping VakifBank navigate through the most difficult moments.

Indeed, VakifBank’s season has been far from stellar, as the Turkish side lost two matches in the pool phase, needed to mount a comeback from 0-3 in the semi-finals against Fenerbahce Opet Istanbul and alternated flawless moments with some unexpected ones on their way to third edition of the SuperFinals in a row.

While it is definitive that players like Gabi or Paola Ogechi Egonu are the biggest stars in the VakifBank squad, Ogbogu has slowly been pushing into that territory, with some amazing matches, being absolutely crucial in the second leg of the semi-final against Fenerbahce, where she made six blocks.

In fact, while Ogbogu is not the most prolific scorer, ranking 28th this season in the standings, with 92 points, with four other teammates scoring more than her, she has been instrumental in terms of blocks, leading the standings in the CEV Champions League | Women.

The American middle blocker had 31 blocks this season in 11 matches and 40 sets, two more than Igor Gorgonzola Novara’s Anna Danesi, but still with the second-largest average number of blocks per set, 0.78.

Last season, Ogbogu was there in the final, being once again a key cog when VakifBank sealed the title, which was also her first ever trophy in the CEV Champions League | Women.

This time around, the 28-year-old underrated star has also been a force to be reckoned with in VakifBank’s squad, improving her numbers and boosting her influence in what looks to be another chance for the Turkish side to add to their record trophy tally.