VakifBank started with a home win

VakifBank claim Istanbul derby after four closely-fought sets

Luxembourg, December 14, 2017. VakifBank ISTANBUL claimed the eagerly anticipated derby with Galatasaray SK ISTANBUL (3-1; 25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 26-24) to start their journey in the pool stage of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League – Women in emphatic style. VakifBank are chasing their fourth title in Europe’s elite club competition, but first have to progress to the Playoffs 6 before setting their sights on another continental crown.


• The Chinese star player of VakifBank, Zhu Ting, top scored with 25 points.
• Milena Rasic and Sinead Jack killed five blocks apiece for VakifBank and Galatasaray, respectively.
• VakifBank scored as many as 13 blocks.
• VakifBank looked incredibly dominant in the second set, where they had an edge of 10 points (18-8) over their rivals.
• Galatasaray played their first Champions League match since the 2013 Final Four – which they hosted in Istanbul and where they had to settle for fourth place. Back then, VakifBank had won their second title in the competition.

Kelsey Robinson, player of VakifBank: “The first match in the group stage of the CEV Champions League is always tough. Therefore, the Galatasaray match was also tough. In the first set, our opponent played very good, especially in attack. However, I think that we responded very well to their challenge. In the third set, I think we relaxed a little bit but in the final set, we fought for every point and we eventually won.”

 Giovanni Guidetti, head coach of VakifBank: “You cannot expect an easy victory from this kind of matches. Our opponent Galatasaray is a very strong team. We should have won 3-0 and I am a little bit upset because of the third set. We gave away as many as 15 points to Galatasaray. In the final set, on the other hand, we fought for every point. We won this game because we deserved it. Details are always important to me.”