Vakifbank Women won a thrilling Sultanlar Ligi Women clash against Eczacibasi Women, taking the match 3-2 on 18 October 2026. In a fixture between two of Turkish volleyball’s biggest clubs, Vakifbank edged the deciding set 15-13 to secure a result that could shape the early title race.

Match overview

The set scores were 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 20-25, 13-15 in Eczacibasi’s favour on the home scoreboard, but Vakifbank’s composure in the closing rallies proved decisive. Eczacibasi started strongly in front of their home crowd, but Vakifbank responded each time the match threatened to slip away.

• Set 1: Eczacibasi 25-23 Vakifbank
• Set 2: Eczacibasi 22-25 Vakifbank
• Set 3: Eczacibasi 25-22 Vakifbank
• Set 4: Eczacibasi 20-25 Vakifbank
• Set 5: Eczacibasi 13-15 Vakifbank

Key moments

Eczacibasi took the first set after a tight finish, with their block and home support lifting them late in the set. Vakifbank answered in the second, using their serving game to disrupt Eczacibasi’s first tempo and level the match. The third set followed a similar pattern, with Eczacibasi rebuilding a lead and taking it 25-22.

The fourth set was where Vakifbank took control. They increased their serving pressure, forced Eczacibasi into more predictable attacks and won the long rallies that had previously gone the home side’s way. In the fifth, neither team gave ground easily, but Vakifbank’s ability to side-out under pressure and their calmness in transition proved decisive.

Tactical story

This was a match of small adjustments. Eczacibasi were at their best when their reception allowed the setter to involve the middle and create one-on-one opportunities for the pins. Vakifbank, however, gradually reduced those chances by serving more aggressively and positioning their block well against Eczacibasi’s favourite angles.

Vakifbank’s defence also improved as the match went on. They picked up more balls in the back court and turned defence into attack, especially in the fourth and fifth sets. Eczacibasi remained dangerous from the service line and at the net, but Vakifbank’s balance between aggression and error control gave them the edge in the decisive moments.

Standout performers

Vakifbank’s opposite hitter delivered several crucial points in the closing sets, while their libero produced a series of important defensive plays that kept rallies alive. The setter’s distribution in the fourth and fifth sets was also key, as Vakifbank repeatedly found the right matchup against Eczacibasi’s block. For Eczacibasi, the outside hitters carried a heavy load and the middle blocker provided important momentum with blocks, but the home side could not close out the match when they had the chance.

Season impact

The result is a major early-season statement for Vakifbank Women in the Sultanlar Ligi Women standings. Beating Eczacibasi away in five sets strengthens their position in the title race and adds another memorable chapter to the head-to-head rivalry between the two clubs. For Eczacibasi Women, the loss is a narrow one, but it highlights the fine margins that often decide matches between Turkey’s leading teams.