In a thrilling encounter that marked the end of the pool stage in Pool A, Vero Volley Milano hosted the reigning CEV Champions League winners, VakifBank, in what turned out to be a nail-biting match. VakifBank emerged victorious with a 3-2 win, but their victory wasn’t enough to dethrone Milano from the top of Pool A standings.
The match, held on Milano’s home ground, saw VakifBank winning three sets (25-20, 25-17, 15-12) against two (22-25, 18-25) won by the home team. Despite this win, VakifBank failed to surpass the Italian team in the overall Pool A standings.
Milano’s consistent performance throughout the pool stage has earned them a direct entry into the quarterfinals of the Champions League, totaling 16 points. On the other hand, VakifBank, standing at 14 points, will now have to face the challenge of the Play Off round of 16.
Highlighting the individual performances, Gabriela Guimaraes – Gabi from VakifBank, received the accolade for the best player on the court, contributing 11 points to her team’s win. Jordan Thompson also made a significant impact for VakifBank with 15 points. For Vero Volley Milano, Paola Egonu led the scoring with an impressive 20 points.
In another match in Pool A, Serbian team Stara Pazova secured a victory against French powerhouse Mulhouse with a 3-1 scoreline in a clash held in France.
