VakıfBank won the 2026 AXA Sigorta Women's Volleyball Champions Cup by beating Eczacıbaşı Peron İstanbul 3-2. In the match played at Antalya Sports Hall before a capacity crowd, the champions were decided by VakıfBank's superiority in the final set.
VakıfBank made an effective start to the match and took the first set 25-21 through points from Zehra Güneş and Markova to lead 1-0. Maintaining its effective attacking play in the second set, VakıfBank took it 25-23 despite Eczacıbaşı's efforts to close the gap, making the score 2-0.
Eczacıbaşı took the match to a deciding set
Eczacıbaşı Peron İstanbul dominated the third set from start to finish, winning it 25-19 with Ebrar Karkurt's effective play to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
In the fourth set, VakıfBank led 6-3 at the first timeout with points from Zehra Güneş and Markova. Eczacıbaşı then scored consecutive points after the timeout to take an 11-9 lead. Maintaining its advantage for the rest of the set, Eczacıbaşı won 25-17 to level the score at 2-2 and take the match to a deciding set.
After the teams exchanged points in the deciding set, VakıfBank took control to win the set 15-10 and the match 3-2.
VakıfBank takes its title tally to six
The result took VakıfBank's number of Champions Cup titles to six, matching Fenerbahçe's record as the club with the most wins in the competition.
Zehra Güneş, who was named player of the match, said opening the season with a trophy was a major source of motivation for them. Güneş said they would play many matches against Eczacıbaşı in the first half of the season, particularly at the Club World Championship, and expressed their desire to maintain a consistent level of performance.
Güneş said she was pleased with the five-set contest and the support from the stands, adding that she hoped to maintain the same performance for the remainder of the season.
Experienced VakıfBank player Naz Aydemir Akyol also said they were happy to have won the first trophy of the season. Aydemir Akyol said the team had begun the season targeting five trophies and had won the cup despite the players coming together only about two weeks earlier, adding that this was part of VakıfBank's culture.
Minister Bak congratulates VakıfBank
Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak congratulated VakıfBank on winning the title. Bak said he congratulated VakıfBank, which beat Eczacıbaşı Peron İstanbul at Antalya Sports Hall to win the cup for the sixth time.
Bak also congratulated Eczacıbaşı Peron İstanbul, which competed in the 17th edition of the Champions Cup, for its performance and thanked both clubs for their contributions to Turkish volleyball, wishing them success in the new season.
