Luxembourg, November 22, 2018. Defending champions VakifBank ISTANBUL of Turkey started off their 2019 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Women campaign with a four-set home victory over German entry from the third round Allianz MTV STUTTGART in Pool A of the fourth round. Romanian rookies C.S.M. BUCURESTI delivered a 3-1 upset of Poland’s Chemik POLICE disappointing the home fans in Koszalin.

VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR) vs. Allianz MTV STUTTGART (GER) - 3:1  (25:13, 20:25, 25:19, 25:17)

• VakifBank have now won the last 23 consecutive matches they played in the Champions League.
• VakifBank won 34 of their last 35 matches in the Champions League.
• After an emphatic first set win, VakifBank struggled through the second set, while Allianz MTV scored seven points in a row, with Jana Franziska Poll serving, to take it by 25-20.
• In the third set, VakifBank regained control to dominate for a 25-19 win.
• The Germans had their chances in the third set as they took a three-point lead, but it was VakifBank’s turn to score a seven-point run and break away towards a 25-17 close
• VakifBank’s Kelsey Robinson was selected MVP of the match.
• VakifBank’s Lonneke Slöetjes, with 23 points, was the top scorer of the match.

Giovanni Guidetti, head coach of VakifBank ISTANBUL: "Our opponents were pretty good tonight. The match was difficult as I had expected. Allianz played very well. Our team have to learn also when they are not in perfect condition. Some players came back from Japan and at the same time we are preparing for the Club World Championship. We had a heavy workout in the gym two days ago. We have to expect this sometimes - not to be really fresh, really perfect. But it is our job to manage the match even when we are not fresh and perfect."

Cansu Özbay, player of VakifBank ISTANBUL: "It is a great feeling to be in the Champions League once again and we started with a win, which makes it even better. We are getting ready for the FIVB Club World Championship and I hope we will be totally ready for it. I can say that our opponents were very strong and they had amazing defence tonight. We fought and we won. I am very happy."

Kelsey Robinson, player of VakifBank ISTANBUL: "I am really proud of my teammates. The team from Stuttgart played really good defence. For us to stay in it for the long rally was really impressive. Every match in the Champions League will be tough. I am excited to be in it and to get to play."

Ioannis Athanasopoulos, head coach of Allianz MTV STUTTGART: "I am really satisfied with how we fought for every ball. Except for the first set, when we didn’t know how to react, it was a good performance for us and the people enjoyed that we fought against VakifBank like this. I think our block-defence was well organised in general, but VakifBank are one of the best teams of the world."

Krystal Rivers, player of Allianz MTV STUTTGART: "It is exciting how Volleyball is so big here. We got in here yesterday and it was exciting to see the fans go to other matches and come to this match as well. We went down in the first set, but then we started playing a little better. It was a good fight in the last three sets."

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