VakifBank Advanced to Playoff Finals, Fenerbahce Tied the Series to 1-1

An intense weekend in the Turkish Sultanlar League saw the semifinal rematches take center stage, with #CLVolleyW semifinalist VakifBank booking their place in the finals, while Fenerbahce responded strongly to tie their series with Galatasaray. High-level volleyball and standout individual performances marked both clashes, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the domestic season.

VakifBank Istanbul and Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul once again clashed in one of the Turkish Sultanlar League’s fiercest rivalries. After a 3-1 victory in the first leg, VakifBank entered the match with momentum, but it was Eczacibasi who came out firing and comfortably claimed the first set. However, from the second set onwards, VakifBank shifted gears and displayed the consistent, powerful volleyball they are known for, taking control of the match and winning three consecutive sets (3-1: 20-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-20). With this win, VakifBank secured a 2-0 series sweep and became the first team to reach the Turkish national league finals.

Canadian opposite Kiera Van Ryk delivered a phenomenal performance, scoring 30 points, including five aces and two blocks, to lead her team to victory. Russian outside hitter Marina Markova also made a significant contribution with 18 points. On the Eczacibasi side, Tijana Boskovic was held to 14 points as her team struggled to maintain the pressure in the final sets.

In the other semifinal, Fenerbahce Medicana Istanbul, the regular season champions, bounced back from a narrow five-set loss to Galatasaray Daikin Istanbul in the first match. The opening set of the rematch was tightly contested, but Fenerbahce edged it 27-25. Galatasaray responded to level the match, yet Fenerbahce regrouped quickly and controlled the remaining sets to clinch a 3-1 win (27-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-11), tying the series 1-1.

Fenerbahce’s powerful trio was once again at the heart of their success. Turkish star Melissa Vargas led with 26 points, supported by Arina Fedorovtseva and Ana Cristina De Souza with 19 and 15 points, respectively. For Galatasaray, Alexia Carutasu and Katarina Lazovic both contributed 14 points, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Fenerbahce’s dominant performance in the final stages.

The deciding third match between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray will take place on Monday at 17:00 local time, with a spot in the finals, and a chance to challenge VakifBank for the title on the line.