VakıfBank starts Champions League with a win

VakıfBank started the new season in Europe with a win by defeating Calcit Kamnik at VakıfBank Spor Salonu in the first match of Group C of the CEV Champions League, where it has been the champion 6 times. Marina Markova, who was selected as the MVP, played with 20 points in the yellow-black team that beat the Slovenian team 3-1. Derya Cebecioğlu contributed to double-digit scores with 17 points, Kiera Van Ryk with 15 points, and Yuan Xinyue with 10 points.

VakıfBank started the new season in the CEV Champions League with a win. The yellow-black team defeated Calcit Kamnik 3-1 in the first match of Group C.  With 6 championships, VakıfBank enjoys the position of the team that won the most championships in the tournament. 

The first set started in balance with a score of 20-20; however, in the last part, VakıfBank found a series of 4-0 and took the lead with a score of 25-21 in the 27-minute set. Calcit Kamnik won the 2nd set with a score of 25-22. VakıfBank started the 3rd set – in which, Marina Markova came to the fore with 8 points - with a score of 3-0 and increased its lead by finding consecutive series after the score of 14-12. Winning the set with a score of 25-15, the yellow-blacks reached a score of 2-1. Winning the 4th and last set with a score of 25-12, VakıfBank started the groups in the CEV Champions League with a victory. Marina Markova contributed to the double-digit score with 20 points, Derya Cebecioğlu with 17 points, Kiera Van Ryk with 15 points, and Yuan Xinyue with 10 points.

Giovanni Guidetti: “It is important to give some space to players”

Commenting after the match, VakıfBank Head Coach Giovanni Guidetti said: “We played with a very different lineup from the last match. Since we couldn’t play with the usual lineup, it was expected that things wouldn’t go smoothly. I want to use these kinds of matches. It is important to give some space to players who haven’t had much playing time until now. Ali Frantti played today after a long break. Of course, she’s not in perfect condition right now, but she will get back to it over time. Marina Markova is in good form, and she showed that.”

Marina Markova: “We did a very good job”

Marina Markova was chosen as the MVP for the yellow-blacks. VakıfBank Sports Club Vice President Ferkan Merdan presented Markova with her award. Markova spoke as follows after the match: “I was very excited. This was my first Champions League match. It was a great game. We played at home. We did a great job. Everyone was very good today. This was our first match in the group stage. We will continue to stay determined, confident, and positive for the future.”

VakıfBank defeated Calcit Kamnik again

VakıfBank faced Calcit Kamnik for the 3rd time in the CEV Champions League. The yellow-blacks, who had won the previous 2 matches, won again against their opponent. VakıfBank also won the 7th match it played in the group stage against Slovenian teams.

It also won its 5th consecutive opening match

VakıfBank once again won its first match in the CEV Champions League. With the victory over Calcit Kamnik, the yellow-blacks won the opening match for the 5th consecutive season it played in Europe.

VakıfBank will face Aydın Büyükşehir Belediyespor in its next match in the 8th week match of the Vodafone Sultans League on Saturday, November 9 at 15:00 at the Mimar Sinan Sports Hall.

VAKIFBANK – CALCIT KAMNIK: 3-1

VENUE: VakıfBank Spor Sarayı

REFEREES: Ksenija Jurkovic, Wojciech Maroszek

VAKIFBANK: Sıla Çalışkan 2, Ali Frantti 3, Bahar Akbay 8, Kiera Van Ryk 15, Derya Cebecioğlu 17, Yuan Xinyue 10, Ayça Aykaç Altıntaş (L), Marina Markova 20, Caterina Bosetti 3,

CALCIT KAMNIK: Sara Najdic 4, Masa Pucelj 16, Sara Hutinski 6, Eve Kerschenbaum 1, Anja Macek 13, Lara Rituper 5, Zala Spoljaric (L), Naja Boisa 3

SETS: 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-12

SET DURATIONS: 27’, 27’, 24’, 26’