A rare attack by Tatiana Kosheleva that got past the Eczacibasi block
Zurich, Switzerland, May 10, 2015 - Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul have thrashed Dinamo Krasnodar 3-1 (25-16, 25-21, 24-26, 25-19) in the final of the 2015 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship to become the third Turkish team to claim the most coveted club title in the world.
Eczacibasi followed in the footsteps of their cross-town rivals Fenerbahce (2010 in Doha) and Vakifbank (2013 in Zurich) as they blocked their way to victory. Dinamo simply couldn't find around and certainly not over the Turkish block, which contributed as many as 15 points to Eczacibasi's tally.
It could even have been easier, had Eczacibasi capitalised on two match points at 24-22 in the third set. With Tatiana Kosheleva effectively neutralised, Cuban-born Rosir Kalderon came on and temporarily gave some solutions to Dinamo's offence. It was not to be, though. Kalderon couldn't last and Ecazacibasi ragained control to bring the game home in four.
USA's Jordan Larson-Burbach emerged top scorer of the final, with a total of 20 points (3 aces, 15/36 kills and 2 stuffs) to add the World Club title and MVP of the tournament to that of national team World Championship from last year in Milan.
German middle blocker Christiane Fuerst, who played a decisive part in Eczacibasi's win, set an individual record of her own. She has become the only player in history to have won three gold medals-and it's all been done with the three world champion Istanbul sides.
Earlier in the afternoon, hosts Volero Zurich defeated Rexona-AdeS Rio de Janeiro 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-18) to claim the bronze medal.
Follow the final, as it happened,
here.