Vakifbank Women edged Eczacibasi Women 3-2 in a tightly contested Club Friendly Women fixture, delivering a five-set thriller that underlined just how little separates two of the most decorated clubs in European volleyball. Played in front of a lively Istanbul crowd, the match swung back and forth across two hours of high-tempo volleyball before the home side closed out the deciding set to seal the victory.

Match Overview

Billed as a friendly, the contest quickly took on the intensity of a derby. Vakifbank and Eczacibasi have shared the biggest stages of Turkish and European volleyball for more than a decade, and this meeting followed the familiar script: long rallies, heavy serving, and momentum shifting on the smallest details.

• Final score: Vakifbank Women 3–2 Eczacibasi Women
• Competition: Club Friendly Women
• Match date: 25 September 2026
• Format: Best-of-five sets, with a deciding set to 15 points
• Outcome: Home win after a full five-set distance

The result means little in the standings, but plenty in terms of preparation. For both coaching staffs, this was a valuable stress test ahead of a long domestic and continental calendar, and the five-set format gave them a long look at rotations, bench depth, and how their teams respond under pressure.

How the Match Unfolded

Vakifbank started the brighter of the two sides, controlling the first set through disciplined serve-receive and an aggressive block that repeatedly forced Eczacibasi into out-of-system attacks. The home team took the opener 25–21, setting the tone with a run of points in the middle of the set that the visitors never fully answered.

Eczacibasi responded in the second. Their serving improved dramatically, pushing Vakifbank's passers deeper and disrupting the rhythm of the home offence. A tight finish went the way of the away side 25–23, leveling the match and signalling that this would go the distance.

The third set was arguably the highest quality of the night. Both teams traded side-outs for long stretches, with rallies extending past the ten-touch mark and the crowd responding to every defensive rescue. Vakifbank found a small separation at 18–15 and protected it to win 25–22, retaking the lead at 2–1.

Rather than fade, Eczacibasi produced their best volleyball of the match in the fourth. A strong service run early in the set built a lead they held comfortably, closing it out 25–19 to force a decider. At that point, the friendly had become a genuine contest.

The fifth set delivered the drama the fixture deserved. Vakifbank jumped ahead early, only for Eczacibasi to claw back to level at 9–9. From there, the home side's block-and-defence combination produced three crucial points in a row, and they carried that cushion to a 15–12 win and a 3–2 match victory.

Key Moments

• First-set break: A four-point Vakifbank run midway through the opener created the gap that decided the set.
• Eczacibasi's serve surge: An improved service game in the second set turned the match into a genuine battle.
• Third-set marathon rally: A long defensive exchange late in the set lifted the home crowd and pushed Vakifbank to a 2–1 lead.
• Fourth-set response: Eczacibasi's early break in set four forced the deciding fifth set.
• Deciding-set block: Three straight points at 9–9 proved to be the turning point of the night.

Tactical Story of the Match

The match was decided in the serve-and-pass battle. When Eczacibasi served aggressively and kept Vakifbank off the net, they were the better team — as the second and fourth sets demonstrated. When Vakifbank's reception held, their middle attack and quick combinations gave them a clear edge, particularly in the first and third sets.

Both coaches used the friendly as intended, rotating through their squads and testing different combinations at the outside hitter and opposite positions. That rotation explains some of the swings in momentum, but it also produced the most encouraging aspect of the night for both clubs: depth. Neither side dropped off significantly when the bench entered, and both found scoring options beyond their primary attackers.

Defensively, Vakifbank's floor defence stood out in the closing stages. Their ability to keep rallies alive in the fifth set converted what could have been a losing position into a winning one, and it was the single clearest difference between the two teams on the night.

Standout Performances

Vakifbank's captain and outside hitter led the scoring with a steady all-round display, combining terminal attacks from the wing with important receptions in the ti