Turkish volleyball powerhouse VakifBank Istanbul displayed incredible resilience, coming from two sets behind to secure a 3–2 victory over Vero Volley Milano in the opening leg of their CEV Women’s Champions League quarterfinal. The thrilling encounter unfolded at the Allianz Cloud in Milan.
The Italian home side started the match in dominant fashion, clinching the first two sets with scores of 26–24 and 25–22. Their formidable offense was spearheaded by Paola Egonu, who delivered an outstanding performance with a match-high 38 points.
However, VakifBank launched a remarkable resurgence. Guided by the stellar play of Marina Markova, who also tallied an impressive 38 points and was deservedly named MVP, the Turkish squad fought back to claim the third and fourth sets, both ending 25–22, thereby forcing a decisive tie-break. VakifBank then maintained their momentum, controlling the final set to clinch a 15–11 victory. Key contributions for the visitors also came from Tijana Boskovic, who added 21 points, and Helena Cazaute with 17 points.
For Vero Volley Milano, despite Egonu’s monumental 38-point effort, other notable scorers included Anna Danesi, Elena Pietrini, and Hena Kurtagic, each contributing 10 points.
The crucial return leg is scheduled for March 19 in Istanbul, where VakifBank will aim to consolidate their advantage and secure a coveted spot in the Champions League Final Four.