VakifBank secures seventh European crown in Istanbul
VakifBank defeated Eczacibasi Dynavit 3-1 to claim their seventh CEV Champions League title in Istanbul. Tijana Bošković earned MVP honors after scoring 33 points to lead the undefeated team through the tournament.
Guidetti extends winning record
VakifBank secured their seventh European crown in Istanbul with a 3-1 victory over Eczacibasi Dynavit on May 3, 2026. I watched 13,500 spectators at Ulker Sports and Event Hall witness the Turkish side finish the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley 2026 tournament undefeated in 10 matches. Giovanni Guidetti claimed his seventh Champions League title, extending his personal record with this win. The team took the first two sets 25-20 and 25-21 before Eczacibasi won the third 25-21. VakifBank closed the match 25-18 to seal the trophy. This victory puts VakifBank in a tie for third place on the all-time list of successful teams behind Dinamo Moscow and Uralochka. The club earned 500,000 euros for the win, while Eczacibasi took 250,000 euros. The match officials, Michail Koutsoulas from Greece and Wojciech Glod from Poland, presided over the final. Osman Askin Bak, the Minister of Youth and Sports, attended the ceremony alongside Mehmet Akif Ustundag, the President of the Turkish Volleyball Federation. VakifBank overcame a two-set deficit against A. Carraro Prosecco DOC Conegliano in the semifinals, saving four match points in the third set to win the match 3-2 and successfully advance to the final. That semifinal score was 22-25, 18-25, 29-27, 25-23, and 15-11. Osman Arslan, the President of VakifBank Sports Club, noted the team’s 73-match winning streak during the media day. The club unveiled a new logo with seven stars to commemorate the seventh championship.
Boskovic scoring surge
Tijana Boskovic produced a massive scoring effort to earn the MVP award. She scored 33 points in the final, with 31 of those coming from attacks and 11 from opponent errors. This performance placed her third in the competition scoring rankings behind Antropova and Markova. Marina Markova added 26 points in the final, following her breakout campaign where she scored 31 points in the semifinal. You know how much weight Boskovic carries when she enters the attacking zone. Boskovic finished the tournament with 217 total points. Boskovic scored 34 points during the semifinal match against Conegliano. Eczacibasi gained dominance at the net and won the third set 25-21 to level the match at 2-1 in the final, but the Turkish leaders responded with authority. How much did that extra set drain the players before the final?
Eczacibasi struggles in Istanbul
Eczacibasi Dynavit failed to overcome the comeback momentum, marking their fourth loss in a Champions League final. Ebrar Karakurt scored 20 points in the match, while Sinead Jack-Kisal added 14 points, including five from blocks. Magdalena Stysiak contributed 13 points after her 30-point performance in the semifinal. During the fourth set, Simge Akoz and Ebrar Karakurt collided on the court, though both athletes continued playing. Eczacibasi secured their spot in the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship with this second-place finish. Simge Akoz recorded the best reception efficiency of the tournament with a 45% perfect reception rate. Eczacibasi won their semifinal against Savino Del Bene Scandicci with a 3-2 score of 20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, and 15-8. Ekaterina Antropova scored 34 points for Scandicci in that match, while Magdalena Stysiak scored 30 points and Ebrar Karakurt scored 18 points for Eczacibasi during the semifinal. Sinead Jack-Kisal added 13 points in that semifinal match.
