One of the Most Dramatic Matches in Women's Volleyball History !!! Five-set battle puts Eczacibasi on top of the world. Türkiye’s Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul are the 2023 club champions of the world! They emerged victorious from a five-set battle against archrivals VakifBank Spor Kulubu of Istanbul in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship final in Hangzhou to claim their third world title, after 2015 and 2016, and their sixth overall medal. Four-time champions VakifBank’s silver placed them on their ninth Club World Championship podium. The bronze medals went to Chinese hosts Tianjin Bohai Bank, their first podium in the competition after three participations.
Eczacibasi Dynavit persevered through a five-set saga in Sunday’s gold medal match to defeat VakifBank Spor Kulubu by a thrilling 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 15-9) and return to the throne.
VakifBank were well in control throughout the first set and took it by a wide margin. Their domination was extended into the second set and they broke away with a lead as wide as eight points at 12-4, but then Eczacibasi worked their way back, caught up at 20-20 and went on to claim the set by 25-23. The third set offered a fierce and even battle. The lead changed hands several times before Eczacibasi again emerged with a narrow 25-23 win to edge forward in the match. Set four was not much different, but it was VakifBank that were ahead in the score for the most part, with Eczacibasi taking over occasionally. In the end, the set was once again decided by the narrowest of margins, but VakifBank’s way, to prompt a tie-breaker. Powered by their Generation O star Tijana Boskovic and Canadian outside Alexa Gray, Eczacibasi took an early lead in the fifth set and never let go. The Serbian striker hammered the 15-9 match winner with a block-out swing to get the title celebrations underway.
The even duel on the court resulted in mixed overall statistics. VakifBank outblocked (16-14 in stuffs) their opponents and committed fewer unforced errors (16-24), while the winners prevailed in offence (73-63 in spike kills) and in serving (4-2 in aces). Tijana Boskovic led Eczacibasi to victory with 27 points to her name. Her tally included one ace and one block. Outside hitter Hande Baladin contributed another 20 points, while Alexa Gray and middle blocker Sinead Jack finished with 17 and 12 points, respectively. VakifBank’s American opposite Jordan Thompson topped the match chart with as many as 33 points, also including one ace and one block. American middle Chiaka Ogbogu and Brazilian outside and captain Gabriela Guimaraes scored 16 points each for VakifBank.
Oh what a save by Aliyev, that's incredible. Gabi keeps the rally going, oh yes this is just
absolutely phenomenal volleyball. Both teams giving it their all, great,
gets it off the block, that's a massive point for Zazibashi.
Mentally this is just huge you feel, making some incredible touches.
They all started with a wonderful dig from Aliyev, good save, oh that's going to be double.
4-1, oh my goodness, 4-1 is Zazibashi in this race to 15.
That's an easy one for Boscovich, although not so easy with the ball she got back,
but now they're in trouble. Thompson gets the point and gets Vakif back into it.
No chance at all for Aliyev, that's going to have enough on it,
it's going to go deep, it was being covered by Simei anyway.
5-2, what a position to be in in this fifth set.
That's a lovely touch, oh it was a lovely touch, it's a net touch though in the process.
Vakif Bank take the point.
Beza touching the net, Boussa, another chance here, what a touch that is.
Another chance for Zazibashi, three front row, Valadim couldn't get a full swing.
Gabi gets slowed down, good save Gray, oh good up Thompson, goodness me I've lost for words.
Oh that ball hit the floor then, and somehow there was still a touch, but that waft of a hit
from McBomb who gets it done, oh mishit-tastic for the point, but even then Boscovich still
got something on it. That's a good lead, where's this going? Well they're wanting a double touch,
now Ferhan Ahmed's got to be careful here, get himself a card. The ball might have been spinning,
but you know what, it still went in exactly the way it needed to go.
I guess some people I've heard in the past have said it might have sounded bad,
but it was all right, not that you can hear anything here.
Well played Boscovich, tidy from her, 7-5 Zazibashi, they're still in the driving seat,
it's still tough for Vakif Bank, can Boscovich cause some trouble? Oh yes she can, ace serve
Boscovich. She's tougher than the rest isn't she, when she needs to be. That's fortunate,
what a touch, just in the right place. Vakif Bank have to have another go, Thompson
makes it happen, as that one slides by and doesn't land in court. Boscovich,
9-6. Flirting with the block, how did that get through Gabby's arms?
Hernday arguably had the game of the tournament for her in this match.
Yeah he didn't know where it was, no one could get on it, side out for Vakif Bank,
back to the serving line for the second time. Good touch, needed to be made, nice save by Elif.
Boscovich is just going to bury it, the lights are going out, Boscovich with another point.
What a dig by Jack Cassell, this is incredible, Gabby getting it all on the cross court,
Cassell just soaked it all up and then it's Boscovich. Nice serve,
boom and it's a good point for Gray and for Itzasebashi, she was waiting for that.
Now they're in a great position, sprinting from Gray, Moussa can't keep it off the floor.
Cassell the serve again, 13-7. Itzasebashi have gone on an incredible points run.
Goodness me, Ole arriving to make the block, they're sensing it aren't they, they are sensing it.
Gunes gets the ball down but now Itzasebashi two side outs, two, that's all they need, two.
Boscovich, massive block for Gunes, it's never over till it's over.
This would be an incredible comeback and it isn't beyond the realms of possibility,
that's for sure. Going to go to Boscovich again, will it go to Balotin?
Gray is in the front row. It is great, it is down, it is in and it is now match point
for Itzasebashi. Lovely set, fabulous finish. Elithe with the serve,
oh that's a tricky one, has to go to Thompson to keep backkeeping it but it's been dug,
there's a swing chance, Boscovich. Oh the Volleyball Club World Champs 2023,
what an incredible match, what an incredible performance, what a win. Oh and now she can enjoy
it and now the emotions come flooding through, she wouldn't let herself get carried away,
she was focused, determined and not until the last point was won did it all come out.
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