Vakifbank ISTANBUL – Uralochka NTMK EKATERINBURG
The hosts started out with a fast pace (8:4, 16:10) and even though Uralochka attempted a late comeback (20:17), Vakifbank easily pocketed the opening set at 25-20. The guests controlled the operations in the early phases of the second set (6:8) and gradually did widen their lead (7:13); Vakifbank could fight back late in the set (23:24) but a service error by their Serbian star Jovana Brakocevic contributed the provisional 1:1 (23-25).
After losing that set, Vakifbank opted for some substitutions, re-grouped and asserted its quality in set 3 (25-20) that was claimed with ease. The hosts stretched momentum also into set 4 (20:15) but there they suffered a comeback by Uralochka that cut the deficit to only 1 point (20:19), before Vakifbank accelerated once more to avoid the risk of a tie-break (25-21). Youngster Polen Uslupehlivan top scored in the match with 15 points.
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