Turkish champions club, VakifBank ISTANBUL defended their CEV Volleyball Champions League title from 2017, adding an overall fourth gold medal to their record. In the final match, Vakifbank cruised to an impressive 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-17) victory against hosts CSM Volei Alba BLAJ from Romania to triumph with the trophy.
Being the host team and the first ever Romanian team in history to play in a Champions League final,VakifBank was under pressure from the overwhelming support from the host team. However, they showed immediately their power, led by an excellent Zhu Ting, VakifBank cruised on to a comfortable 3-0 win.
Zhu Ting was the best scorer of the match with 15 points for the winning side. Her teammates Lonneke Slöetjes and Gözde Kirdar added 14 and 12, respectively. Gözde was declared the MVP of the final round and she officially put an end to her glorious Volleyball career.
2018 CEV Champions League Women’s Final
Final Standings:
1. VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR)
2. CSM Volei Alba BLAJ (ROU)
3. Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO (ITA)
4. Galatasaray SK ISTANBUL (TUR)
Dream Team:
Setter: Joanna Wolosz (POL / Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO)
Opposite: Ana Yilian Cleger Abel (CUB / CSM Volei Alba BLAJ)
Outside Hitter: Zhu Ting (CHN / VakifBank ISTANBUL)
Outside Hitter: Kimberly Hill (USA / Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO)
Middle Blocker: Milena Rasic (SRB / VakifBank ISTANBUL)
Middle Blocker: Nneka Obiamaka Onyejekwe (ROU / CSM Volei Alba BLAJ)
Libero: Hatice Gizem Örge (TUR / VakifBank ISTANBUL)
Photos and source: CEV
