Türkiye’s Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul produced a remarkable comeback on Sunday to emerge as world champions at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship 2023 in Hangzhou, China.
Eczacibasi beat compatriots VakifBank Spor Kulubu of Istanbul 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 15-9) in the fiercely contested final to claim their third world title, adding to their gold medal performances in 2015 and 2016. It was a role reversal for Eczacibasi, who had lost 1-3 to Vakifbank in this year’s final of the CEV Champions League.
Hosts and Chinese champions Tianjin Bohai Bank beat Brazil’s Dentil Praia Clube of Uberlandia 3-1 (25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 25-19) to claim bronze, the first Club World Championship podium for the team, after three appearances.
The winners, Eczacibasi, finished top of Pool A with six points following 3-0 victories over Brazilian club Gerdau Minas of Belo Horizonte and Tianjin. A 3-1 victory over Dentil Praia in the semi-final took them to their triumphant final.
For Vakifbank, who were eyeing a record-extending fifth world title, silver placed them on their ninth Club World Championship podium. Vakifbank had reached the final unbeaten and without dropping a set after topping Pool B following identical 3-0 wins over Dentil Praia and Vietnam’s debutantes Sports Center I. They then defeated Tianjin by a similar margin to book Eczacibasi in the final.
Eczacibasi’s Tijana Boskovic was named Most Valuable Player and Best Opposite
In the final, star opposite Tijana Boskovic from Serbia led Eczacibasi with 27 points (25 kills, 1 ace, 1 block) while outside hitter Hande Baladin added 20 points. VakifBank’s American opposite Jordan Thompson replied with a game-high 33 points (31 kills, 1 ace, 1 block).
In the third-place playoff, outsides Wang Yizhu and Li Yingying led the hosts with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Dentil Praia’s opposite Tainara Santos was the top scorer with 32 points (27 kills, 1 ace, 4 blocks).
The Dream Team of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship
The finalists Eczacibasi and Vakifbank contributed three players each to the tournament’s Dream Team. Boskovic emerged best opposite and Most Valuable Player while teammates Elif Sahin and Jovana Stevanovic received the best setter and best middle blocker awards respectively.
Vakifbank’s Gabriela Guimaraes was named best outside hitter alongside Tianjin’s Li Yingying. Her teammates Ayca Aykac and Zehra Gunes completed the Dream Team as best libero and best middle blocker respectively.
Source : fivb.com
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