2016 Review: Eczacibasi Istanbul make volleyball history with second title

Lausanne, Switzerland, January 1, 2017 – After recording a historic triumph, things have now returned to normal for the 2016 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship winners Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul. The first team to successfully mount a title defence at the tournament for the best women’s club teams in world volleyball must now face some tough competition in the Turkish league. This included a 3-2 defeat against local rivals Vakifbank Istanbul, who will also be tricky opponents in the group phase of the European Champions League.However, Eczacibasi Istanbul did have the upper hand over their city rivals at the record-breaking FIVB Women’s Club World Championships in Manila in October, winning their semifinal 3-1 and laying the foundations for a historic second consecutive title win.This emphasises how the Turkish metropolis, Istanbul, has become the capital city of women’s volleyball. Three of the last four titles at the FIVB Women’s Club World Championships have been claimed by teams from the city on the Bosporus. Eczacibasi VitrA’s arch-rivals Vakifbank Istanbul triumphed in 2013, while Fenerbahce Istanbul also claimed the title in 2010 – proof of the quality of women’s volleyball in the city.Playing the game at the highest level made all the difference in the final of the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, capital of the Philippines. Eczacibasi VitrA triumphed 3-2 (25-19, 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-11) against the European Champions League winners Pomi Casalmaggiore from Italy. It was the first time in history that a Women’s Club World Championship had been decided in five sets, thrilling the record 6,700 crowd – the all-time highest attendance in the history of the competition this century.Massimo Barbolini, Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul coach, …

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