22/01/2014 21:12
VakifBank stretches winning streak to 73 matches, celebrates qualification to Playoffs 6
2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women
Istanbul, Turkey, January 22, 2014. VakifBank ISTANBUL cruised on Wednesday to another straight victory (25-13, 25-12, and 25-20) to outclass Azerbaijan’s Igtisadchi BAKU and claim a spot in the Playoffs 6 of the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women. VakifBank will be playing there the winners of the clash featuring their compatriots of Galasataray Daikin and France’s RC CANNES.
The invincible “armada” of VakifBank delighted the 2,050 fans in attendance at the Burhan Felek Volleyball Hall imposing their pace right from the start of the game (8:5, 16:8); the very cosmopolitan team from Azerbaijan could not find a way to stand that terrific storm and VakifBank easily seized the opening set (25-13).
VakifBank showed that same tempo also in the second set opening with an 8:1 break and did never look back cashing the 25-12 whereby they already pocketed their ticket to the Playoffs 6.
VakifBank head coach Giovanni Guidetti changed some of his starting players in the third set and this way Igtisadchi could keep the score close; the guests even got the lead at 9:8 but this did not last that long with VakifBank regrouping to cruise to a straight victory (25-20).
Team captain Gözde Sonsirma Kirdar top scored for the winning team with 15 points. “We really played a good game tonight. If we continue this way, I think we can keep on winning” she said.
“We played excellent especially in blocking and defense” Guidetti commented after the match. “This victory comes from the contribution of all players and we are happy that this way we could make it to the next round.”
“Unfortunately some of our players have left the team to play with their national teams and therefore we could not play as we wished” commented Igtisadchi mentor Bülent Karslioglu. “We were unlucky with the DOL for the Playoffs especially if you consider that VakifBank has won 72 matches in a row now.”
“We have many problems because this team has been put together quite recently and still we lack the right chemistry” said Igtisadchi team captain, Thailand’s Wilavan Apinyapong. “We need more time together to be competitive at this level.”
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