Women's Volleyball CEV Champions League Final: VakıfBank-Eczacıbaşı Dynavit

2026 Women's CEV Zeren Group Champions League Final is a volleyball match played on 3 May 2026 at the Ülker Sports and Event Hall in Istanbul, where VakıfBank defeated Eczacıbaşı Dynavit 3-1 to win the championship. This match is the second final in the competition’s history to feature two Turkish teams. With this result, VakıfBank completed the tournament undefeated and won its seventh CEV Champions League title.

The Final Four tournament was held in Istanbul on 2-3 May 2026. The competition featured VakıfBank and Eczacıbaşı Dynavit from Türkiye, and the reigning champions A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano and Savino Del Bene from Italy.

On 2 May 2026 at 17:00, the first semifinal match was contested between VakıfBank and A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano. VakıfBank lost the first two sets 23-25 and 18-25, falling behind 2-0, but turned the match around by winning the third set 29-27, the fourth set 25-23, and the deciding fifth set 15-11 to claim a 3-2 victory. During the fourth set, VakıfBank player Katarina Dangubic suffered an injury and was carried off the court on a stretcher, ending her participation in the tournament.

On the same day at 20:00, the other semifinal match was played between Eczacıbaşı Dynavit and Savino Del Bene. After Savino Del Bene won the first set, Eczacıbaşı Dynavit took the second set 25-20 and the third set 25-17 to lead 2-1. Although the Italian team leveled the score at 2-2 by winning the fourth set 25-21, Eczacıbaşı Dynavit clinched the match by winning the final set 15-8 and advanced to the final.

^{Vakıfbank-Eczacıbaşı Dynavit match (AA)}

The final match was played on 3 May 2026 at 20:00 in front of 13,500 spectators. The match was officiated by the referee duo Michail Koutsoulas from Greece and Wojciech Glod from Poland. The match was attended from the protocol tribune by the Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, the President of the Turkish Volleyball Federation Mehmet Akif Üstündağ, the President of VakıfBank Sports Club Osman Arslan, and the President of Eczacıbaşı Sports Club Faruk Eczacıbaşı.

The progression of the match by set was as follows:

• First Set: Eczacıbaşı Dynavit started strong with points from the corners, while VakıfBank responded with attacks from Tijana Boskovic. After VakıfBank took a 11-8 lead, the yellow-black team maintained its advantage and won the set 25-20 to go ahead 1-0 in the match (Duration: 23 minutes).
• Second Set: VakıfBank began the set strongly with scoring performances from Marina Markova and Tijana Boskovic, establishing a 10-5 advantage. Although Eczacıbaşı Dynavit tied the score at 19-19 in the middle of the set, VakıfBank dominated the closing phase and won the set 25-21 to extend their lead to 2-0 (Duration: 30 minutes).
• Third Set: Eczacıbaşı Dynavit, led by Magdalena Stysiak and Sinead Jack-Kısal, took an early 12-10 lead. After a series of back-and-forth points tied the set at 20-20, Eczacıbaşı Dynavit gained dominance at the net and won the set 25-21 to level the match at 2-1 (Duration: 27 minutes).
• Fourth Set: VakıfBank built a 10-7 advantage through smashes by Boskovic. Controlling the game throughout, VakıfBank won the set 25-18 to secure the match 3-1 (Duration: 29 minutes). During this set, Eczacıbaşı Dynavit players Simge Aköz and Ebrar Karakurt collided on the court, but both athletes continued playing. The total match duration was recorded as 109 minutes.

^{Vakıfbank-Eczacıbaşı Dynavit match (AA)}

The top scorer of the match was VakıfBank player Tijana Boskovic, who scored a total of 33 points, including 31 from attacks and 11 from opponent errors. Marina Markova scored 26 points for VakıfBank, while middle blocker Zehra Güneş contributed four blocks and one service ace.

For Eczacıbaşı Dynavit, Ebrar Karakurt scored 20 points, Sinead Jack-Kısal scored 14 points including five from blocks, and Magdalena Stysiak added 13 points. Eczacıbaşı Dynavit’s libero Simge Şebnem Aköz recorded the best reception efficiency of the tournament with a 45% perfect reception rate.

VakıfBank, as champions, received a prize of 500,000 euros, while runners-up Eczacıbaşı Dynavit received 250,000 euros. The championship trophy was presented to VakıfBank by CEV President Roko Sikiric, and the medals were awarded by the Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak.

^{Vakıfbank-Eczacıbaşı Dynavit match (AA)}

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award of the Final Four tournament was given to VakıfBank’s Serbian opposite hitter Tijana Boskovic. The tournament’s Dream Team was composed as follows:

• Setter: Joanna Wolosz (A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano)
• Opposite Hitter: Tijana Boskovic (VakıfBank)
• Outside Hitters: Marina Markova (VakıfBank) and Ebrar Karakurt (Eczacıbaşı Dynavit)
• Middle Blockers: Sinead Jack-Kısal (Eczacıbaşı Dynavit) and Zehra Güneş (VakıfBank)
• Libero: Simge Şebnem Aköz (Eczacıbaşı Dynavit)
• Head Coach: Giovanni Guidetti (VakıfBank)

^{Vakıfbank-Eczacıbaşı Dynavit match (AA)}

With this victory, VakıfBank won its seventh title in the Women’s CEV Champions League, completing the tournament undefeated for the first time since 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023. This achievement places the club in a tie for third place on the all-time list of most successful teams, behind Dinamo Moscow (11 titles) and Uralochka (8 titles), alongside the Italian team Volley Bergamo. Additionally, VakıfBank has now won its 13th international trophy.

VakıfBank’s head coach Giovanni Guidetti has now won his 32nd trophy with the club since the 2008-2009 season, including four FIVB Club World Championships, seven CEV Champions League titles, nine Turkish League titles, seven Turkish Cups, and five Turkish Super Cups.

Eczacıbaşı Dynavit has now lost its fourth final in the competition’s history, having previously been defeated by VakıfBank twice and by Ruda Hvezda once.

With this victory, Turkish clubs have now won nine titles in the Women’s CEV Champions League (VakıfBank: 7, Fenerbahçe: 1, Eczacıbaşı: 1). At the same time, Turkish women’s volleyball has now secured its 27th international club trophy.

Following the championship, a media day was held on 4 May 2026 at the VakıfBank Sports Palace, where the club displayed its seven CEV Champions League trophies won to date. Katarina Dangubic, who was injured during the semifinal, attended the event using crutches.

In his speech, VakıfBank Sports Club President Osman Arslan recalled that the club’s 73-match winning streak and its trophy haul have earned it three entries in the Guinness World Records. He also unveiled a new logo featuring seven stars, specially designed to commemorate the seventh championship.

During the event, it was officially announced that, following the conclusion of the season, Ayça Aykaç Altıntaş, who has been with the club for 17 years, along with Derya Cebecioğlu, Sıla Çalışkan, Chiaka Ogbogu, and Adhuoljok Malual, will leave the team.