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Eczacibasi Dynavit defeated Alba Blaj for place in #CEVCupW final

by Press 02/03/2022

written by Press

Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL booked the first spot in the grand final as they defeated CSM Volei Alba Blaj in straight sets . The team of Ferhat Akbas totally controlled the situation on the court in the first two sets, which were crucial for their fate, and even if they struggled a bit in the third part, they managed to overcome it and earned their second 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-19) win in the semifinals. Eczacibasi outblocked (8-3) and outspiked their rivals (45-34), once Tijana Boskovic scored match-high 13 points, performing only in two first sets.

Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul entered the home court at Eczacibasi Spor Salonu Istanbul having to their name a 3-0 win earned one week before in Blaj. The team under guidance of coach Ferhat Akbas were, obviously, pre-favourite of this encounter and they were showing their strength from the beginning of the re-match as well. In the opening set, they quickly jumped to a 10-6 lead that they kept improving further, totally dominating the game. Recording as many 81% of team efficiency in attack Maja Ognjenovic was winning the battle between Serbian setters (Sladjana Mirkovic is in charge of setting on side of Blaj) with Beyza Arici (6 points) and Tijana Boskovic being top scorers of the home team.

Eczacibasi didn’t slow down in the second set that started with 5-2 lead for the hosts. However, Blaj was motivated to keep the pace with their more decorated rivals. They shorten the distance at 6-5, but Eczacibasi immediately reacted redubling their efforts, leading by six-point margin at 16-10. With solid block (McKenzie Adams had three winning stuffs) and Boskovic on fire hammering as many as eight points they didn’t have to look back and took a 2-0 lead in the match.

Having already a spot in the final in their pocket (they needed two sets to seal the deal), coach Akbas decided to make a few changes in his line-up. Without their star duo Ognjenovic & Boskovic Eczacibasi started to struggle and CSM Volei Alba Blaj seized the opportunity and that resulted in a point-by-point race that was continued until 14-14. Then, Gozde Yilmaz went to the service line and made a difference (3 aces in third set), her team jumped to 18-14 and regained control on the court for good. Tijana Boskovic topped the scorers chart with 13 points to her name, one less had the best scorer of Blaj – Victoriia Russu.

The second finalist Allianz MTV STUTTGART had to win only two sets to celebrate a progress to the finals and they quickly completed this mission in the match against Mladost Zagreb. The German side showed great team efforts and powered by their captain Krystal Rivers, who topped the scorers chart with 16 points, they were unstoppable. Their impressive attack was a key to victory with result 3-0 (25-26, 25-13, 25-10), Stuttgart outclassed Zagreb in this component – 50 winning spikes to 21!

The first final clash will be played on March 15, a decisive re-match one week later on March 22.

02/03/2022 0 comments

CEV Main Türkiye

Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL one step closer to the CEV Cup final

by Press 24/02/2022

written by Press

Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL seized their 3-0 victory in a match that lasted 82 minutes, with the “usual suspects” stealing the show – Tijana Boskovic finished as top scorer with 23 points, while legendary setter Maja Ognjenovic was named MVP.

However, the away semi-final matches are due to take place next week, so nothing is over yet for CSM Volei Alba BLAJ.

Although Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL entered the court as heavy favourites, the hosts from CSM Volei Alba BLAJ showed great motivation right after the first referee whistle. The Turkish team tried several times to take the leadership position, but the Romanians would always chase them, getting closer, and delivering a rather equal performance (7 to 8 attacks at 13-10). However, the more experienced players of Eczacibasi took things in their hands in the deciding moments. Mc Kenzie Adams and Tijana Boskovic were the team leaders in these moments (with six and five points respectively), while for the hosts Olga Strantzali was doing good, with five points to her name.

– The guests started slightly better in the second set, but Victoriia Russu and Olga Strantzali turned things around as Alba Blaj took the lead at 13-11. However, with Hande Baladin on the serve, and with some powerful attacks by Tijana Boskovic, the Turkish team came back, eventually emerging victorious. As many as four kill blocks and three aces turned out to be crucial for Eczacibasi in this set.

Confident in their power, Ecacibasi did not face any problems in the third set and closed the match in three sets. Legendary Serbian setter Maja Ognjenovic was named MVP of the game.

Boskovic topped the charts with as many as 23 points to her name. Hande Baladin added 12 (five kill blocks). For Alba Blaj, Russu scored 12 times as well.

Overall, Eczacibasi finished better on all counts – 51 to 43 winning spikes (52% efficiency), recorded as many as 13 kill blocks (to six) and aced three times (to one).

24/02/2022 0 comments

CEV Main Türkiye

Halkbank sets sights on CEV Challenge Cup final

by Press 24/02/2022

written by Press

Halkbank ANKARA are only two sets away from reaching the final of the men’s Challenge Cup 2022 after recording a 3-0 victory in the first round of the semi-finals with Panathinaikos AC ATHENS (25-22, 25-20, 25-21).

It was a truly special day for Halkbank Club Director Ali Şenocak – with a comprehensive home victory to go with the birth of his second child expected in the coming days.

“We did perform very well and we deserved this victory. I congratulate our Greek friends for the fight that they put up today. We had faith in ourselves, we worked well, and we executed what we had worked on during our last training sessions. We want to play the same way in Athens and secure our spot in the finals”, said Oguzhan Karasu player of Halkbank and member of the Turkish national team.

24/02/2022 0 comments

CEV Main Romania

CSM Volei Alba Blaj’s Fourth European Semi-final in the Last Five Years

by Press 23/02/2022

written by Press

For Volei Alba Blaj, the qualification in the semifinals of the second European interclub competition represents a new successful performance, the team from Blaj being present for the fourth time in a European Cup semifinal in the last five years.

Five-time champion of Romania and three-time winner of the Romanian Cup, Volei Alba Blaj has so far played three European Cup finals, in all competitions organized by the European Volleyball Confederation: Champions League (2018), CEV Cup (2019) and Challenge Cup (2021).

One of the strongest women’s volleyball teams in Europe, Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Istanbul, will arrive in Târgu Mureș on Wednesday. The Turkish team has an impressive record: it won the Champions League (2015), the CEV Cup (1999, 2018), the Club World Cup (2015, 2016), holds the record for national titles in Turkey (28, of which 17 in a row), where has won 9 Turkish Cups and 5 Super Cups.

This season, Eczacıbaşı Istanbul is fighting for a new national title in one of the strongest championships in Europe, the team prepared by Ferhat Akbaş consisting of world-class players such as Tijana Bošković (Serbia), Adams McKenzie (USA) , Maja Ognjenović (Serbia), Laura Heyrman (Belgium), Hande Baladın (Turkey) and Saliha Şahin (Turkey).

Aware of the value of the opponent, Stevan Ljubičić, the head coach of CSM Volei Alba Blaj, says that his team sees the match as a possibility to measure its competitive level in front of such a titled opponent:

“We are happy to have qualified for the semi-finals, because we have the opportunity to play against one of the strongest teams in Europe, Eczacıbaşı Istanbul. Not only for the club, but also for all those who are part of this team, this semifinal is a great joy and an opportunity to face our forces with a great team, to find out what level we are, from a European point of view, at this time”, said Stevan Ljubicic Head Coach CSM Volei Alba Blaj.

The coach of Volei Alba Blaj also spoke about the problems his team faced in the last weeks, when his team was forced to postpone three matches due to the numerous cases of covid in the group:

“Before the covid situation, we reached the best form, I was very happy with the way we played in the first tie against Volero Le Cannet, but then, after two days, everyone in the team got infected with Covid-19. There were seven very difficult days for us, in which we did not train and I can say that we paid this price by losing in five sets a game in our domestic competition, a match that came too fast for us, but that was the situation. Now we have returned to the previous form, every day we try to progress, although we have many matches, many trips and very little time for recovery. I think we can handle all this. At the moment there is still a lot to improve, but we are much better and we are very motivated to meet all our goals for this season.”

Four times CEV Cup semifinalist, where she was a two-time finalist, the captain of CSM Volei Alba Blaj, Nadja Ninkovic states that her team has nothing to lose from the confrontation with Eczacıbaşı Istanbul:

“I am very happy to qualify for the semifinals, it is a great success for the club and for us as players. The team is fine, we had the problems you know, but everything is fine now. I would say that the match with Eczacıbaşı Istanbul is one of the easiest for us, because in such games, in which you have nothing to lose, there is no pressure of the games in which you start as a favorite. We are excited, motivated and we will give our best on the field. I have played several times in the semifinals and finals of the CEV Cup, I want to be a qualification in the final this time too and I think that these matches are very important especially for the young players, whom I pass on to trust them, to they feel free on the field, because they have nothing to lose. I don’t think we need extra motivation, because we all know that Eczacıbaşı is the strongest opponent this season and I think that if we approach the match with confidence and a lot of physical energy, it will be good. “

CSM Volei Alba Blaj won all the matches of this European season and qualified for the semifinals of the CEV Cup after passing Vasas Budapest (3-1 and 3-0), PAOK Thessaloniki (3-1 and 3-0) and Volero Le Cannet (3-0 and 3-2).

Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Istanbul qualified for the semi-finals after beating Zeleznicar Lajkovac (3-0 and 3-0), Calcit Kamnik (3-0 and 3-0) and Uralochka Ekaterinburg (3-0 and 2-3) in the previous rounds.

23/02/2022 0 comments