VakıfBank defeated Fenerbahçe Medicana in the first match of the Vodafone Sultans League final series. The yellow-blacks, who won the match played at VakıfBank Spor Salonu by 3-1, took the first step towards the championship. Marina Markova scored 26 points and Kiera Van Ryk scored 23 points for VakıfBank. Captain Zehra Güneş stood out with 7 blocks. The second encounter will be played away on April 20.
VakıfBank took the first step towards the championship in the Vodafone Sultans League final series. The yellow-blacks defeated Fenerbahçe Medicana by 3-1 in the first match of the series played at VakıfBank Spor Salonu. Marina Markova scored 26 points and Kiera Van Ryk scored 23 points for VakıfBank. Captain Zehra Güneş stood out with 7 blocks.
VakıfBank scored 17 points through Marina Markova - Kiera Van Ryk duo in the first set that started 7-2. The yellow-blacks won the set 25-22 in 30 minutes, where captain Zehra Güneş played with 4 blocks, and took the lead in the match. After falling behind 19-17 in the exciting 2nd set, VakıfBank found a 9-2 series with the support of its fans, and brought the score to 24-21. The yellow-blacks, who also registered the set in its own favor with 25-22, brought the score to 2-0 in the match. The 3rd set went to Fenerbahçe with 25-21. VakıfBank, who won the 4th and last set 25-22, left the match as a 3-1 winner.
Giovanni Guidetti: “We have just taken a small step towards the championship”
VakıfBank Head Coach Giovanni Guidetti spoke as follows after the match: “Fenerbahçe is a very good team. We had an important victory but we have just taken a small step towards the championship. Fenerbahçe plays better after losing. That is why we will continue to prepare as if the score is 0-0 tomorrow. We are a very young team. I am very happy for my players for living this experience and emotions.”
Zehra Güneş: “We know the importance of every point in the final”
VakıfBank captain Zehra Güneş made the following statement after the match: “It will be a very tough series. We knew when we started this match that Fenerbahçe was a very strong opponent and had good players. We played with this awareness. We know that every point, every set, every match is very important. It is a period where we need to reset and prepare after the victory. We will play a match every other day. It is very difficult to maintain this performance in the last period of the season in April. We fought very well today. We tried aggressively not to give up the match. Winning does not change anything. Those who win three matches will be victorious. Everyone is aware of this. A series awaits us where we will start as if it is 0-0.”
Cansu Özbay: “We will forget this match and focus on other matches”
Cansu Özbay evaluated the victory as follows: “It was a very difficult match. Today, we saw once again that you should not give up no matter how far ahead you are against our opponent. I congratulate them as well. I congratulate my teammates as well. A 3-1 victory against such a team is very important for us. We started very well. We have many matches ahead of us. We will forget this match and focus on other matches.”
The second match in the Sultans League final series will be played on Sunday, April 20 at 20:00 at the Burhan Felek Volleyball Hall.
VAKIFBANK – FENERBAHCE MEDICANA: 3-1
VENUE: VakifBank Spor Salonu
REFEREES: Sekin Yener, Ibrahim Acar
VAKIFBANK: Marina Markova 26, Zehra Gunes 9, Kiera Van Ryk 23, Caterina Bosetti 2, Deniz Uyanik 1, Cansu Ozbay 4, Ayca Aykac Altintas (L), Yuan Xinyue 7, Derya Cebecioglu 2
FENERBAHCE MEDICA: Bojana Drca 2, Arina Fedorovtseva 15, Asli Kalac 6, Melissa Vargas 16, Ana Cristina 16, Eda Erdem Dundar 6, Gizem Orge (L), Magdalena Stysiak 4
SETS: 25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22
SET DURATIONS: 30’, 32’, 31’, 32’
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