12/04/2015 19:39
BURSA BBSK complete terrific comeback to celebrate maiden European title
2015 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup - Women
Bursa, Turkey, April 12, 2015. Turkey’s Volleyball family got something more to celebrate on the day where their men’s U19 national team claimed a first European medal in this age-group as only a few minutes later the players of BURSA BBSK completed a terrific comeback from a heavy away loss in Russia to score a 3:1 home win (23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-18) and win also the golden set (15-11) in the ‘grand final match’ of the 2015 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup – Women with Russia’s giant Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG. This further cements Turkey’s leading role on the European scene with BURSA BBSK’s success coming only one week after two teams from this country – Eczacibasi VitrA and VakifBank ISTANBUL – had claimed gold and bronze, respectively, at the Final Four tournament of the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women in Szczecin. Local star Meryem Boz – who recorded a terrific haul of 35 points on Sunday – received the award for the Most Valuable Player of the final matches.
Uralochka could not emulate their compatriots of Dinamo MOSCOW and Dinamo KRASNODAR who on Saturday night had claimed the men’s and women’s CEV Volleyball Cup, respectively. One of the most decorated Volleyball teams in history started out strong and claimed a close first set thereby asserting its intention to back up the speedy home win they had claimed on Wednesday. However, as the match progressed the home heroines of BURSA BBSK lived up to their pre-match statements fighting bravely for every single ball and swept three sets in a row to call for the golden set. Though they initially trailed there with Uralochka going up by two points at 3:5, they were able to fight their way back again and after more than two hours of play they could get the party started with their 3,500 fans in attendance at Cengiz Göllü sports hall.
The awarding ceremony that followed the match was attended by CEV Vice President and Treasurer, Mr Philip Berben, the Governor of Bursa, Mr Münir Karaloglu, the President of the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Mr Recep Altepe, as well as by the Vice President of the Turkish Volleyball Federation, Mr Mustafa Eksi.
“We really wanted this victory so badly and in the end we have this trophy we desired so much,” commented BURSA BBSK’s team captain Zeynep Seda Eryüz.
“We always knew we had a chance, we believed in ourselves even after that big loss in Russia and in the end we won,” said home mentor Emin Imen. “I want to thank our supporters for the great ambiance they contributed today.”
BURSA BBSK claimed Turkey’s second triumph in the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup since the competition exists under this denomination. Back in 2008 Vakifbank Günes S. ISTANBUL had topped the charts after edging past Italy’s Infoplus Minetti IMOLA in the gold medal match.
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