Fenerbahçe Medicana continues to impress in the CEV Zeren Group Champions League, recording a third consecutive victory without dropping a set and maintaining a perfect 3-0 record in Group B. The Turkish powerhouse, led by Bulgaria's national team coach Marcello Abbondanza, showed depth and class even in the absence of one of its biggest stars – Arina Fedorovtseva.
The Yellow-Blues had to travel to Poland without the Russian player after she was denied a Schengen visa, but this did not shake the team in any way. As visitors, Fenerbahçe Medicana decisively defeated PGE Budowlani Łódź 3:0 (25:21, 25:19, 25:22) in their third group stage match.
The match was under the complete control of the Istanbul team, which set a high tempo from the start and did not allow the hosts to develop their game. Excellent organization, stable serving, and effective attacking were the key elements for the clean victory.
Italian setter Alessia Orro was deservedly named "Player of the Match". She orchestrated the game with composure and precision, distributing attacks evenly and constantly keeping the Polish block under pressure.
Offensively, Melissa Vargas took the lead, finishing as the top scorer with 17 points. She received strong support from Hande Baladin with 13 points and Ana Cristina with 12. Experienced captain Eda Erdem and Polish middle blocker Agnieszka Korneluk each added 8 points, making important contributions in blocking as well.
Following this success, Fenerbahçe Medicana remains among the most convincing teams in the tournament and reinforces its ambitions for a deep run in the competition. In their fourth CEV Zeren Group Champions League match, Marcello Abbondanza's team will host Italian Igor Gorgonzola Novara on January 13 (Tuesday) – a clash that promises to be a serious test for the form of the "Yellow Angels".
photos: cev.eu
