Former T&T middle-blocker Sinead Jack-Kisal and her Eczacıbaşı Dynavit went under to Fenerbahçe Medicana in straight sets in the Turkish Women’s Volleyball League AXA Sigorta Cup final on Saturday.
In an electric final at İzmir’s Halkapınar Sports Hall, Fenerbahçe Medicana won 26-24, 25-22, 28-26 to secure the Volleyball Cup crown for a second year running and fifth overall in club history.
In the first set Fenerbahçe, surged ahead 9-5 with aggressive serving, but Eczacıbaşı attempted a comeback, but Ana Cristina’s clutch points before Melissa Vargas’s powerful serves sealed the opener for Fenerbahçe.
The second set saw Fenerbacje maintaining momentum, as the Yellow Angels capitalized on Ana Cristina’s rhythm, good defence,, and Vargas’s kills to take the set 25-22 and a 2-0 match lead.
Despite trailing 13-18 in the third set, Fenerbahçe stormed back with a 4-0 run and closed out the match with a final set 28-26, completing a 3-0 sweep.
After the final whistle, the team celebrated with fans, lifting the trophy in their champion shirts. Melissa Vargas, who scored 26 points, was named Final MVP and received her award from Turkish Volleyball Federation President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ.
A day earlier in the semifinals, Dynavit battled to an entertaining 25-18, 25-27, 26-22, 18-25, 15-10 triumph over Vakifbank while Fenerbache brushed aside Turk Hava Yollari 26-24, 25-23, 25-13.
Jack-Kisal and her team-mates now turn their attention to the Vodafone Sultan League semifinals where they will also meet Vakifbank in a home-and-away series starting April 9.
This was after Duynavit ended the regular-season with a 22-4 record and 65 points, the same as Vakifbank, who secured the runner-up thanks a better sets wons to set loss raio.
Fenerbahce Medicana finished as the regular-season winners with a 23-3 record and 72 points while Galatasaray was fourth with 19-7 mark and 59 points ahead of their semis clash.
