Weekend Review: Everything you missed and should know

VakifBank Istanbul lifted another trophy this weekend as the team of international superstars Paola Egonu and Gabriela ‘Gabi’ Guimaraes topped rivals Fenerbahçe Opet to win the Turkish Cup for the ninth time.

National titles were also won in South America, with Sada Cruzeiro lifting the Brazilian Men’s Superliga for the eighth time and Regatas Lima celebrating their victory in the Peruvian Women’s League for the tenth time.

Decision time is also quickly approaching in the Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile and defending champions Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano were the first to secure their spot in the final, by ending their semifinal series against Igor Gorgonzola Novara. Savino Del Bene Scandicci and Vero Volley Milano continue to battle for the second berth, with their series needing and third match to determine its winners.

The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour held its third Elite16 event of the season in Uberlândia, Brazil, and had USA’s Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss and Czechia’s Ondrej Perusic/David Schweiner as the winners. At the national level, Beach Pro Tour regulars Javier Bello/Joaquin Bello and Belén Carro/Ángela Lobato triumphed in the season-opening event in Spain.

Here’s the best that happened over the last few days:

Volleyball

VakifBank complete Turkish Cup three-peat

VakifBank Istanbul secured their third-straight and ninth overall Turkish Cup title on Sunday in Izmir. The Turkish giants were dominant in the tournament’s gold medal match, sweeping (25-15, 25-23, 29-27) rivals Fenerbahçe Opet – Italian superstar opposite Paola Egonu scored 20 points in the final and took home the Most Valuable Player award. Here’s how the Turkish Federation recapped the match.

Sada Cruzeiro continue to reign supreme at Brazilian Superliga

Sada Cruzeiro secured their eighth Brazilian Superliga title in 11 seasons on Sunday in São José dos Campos, by topping rivals Itambé Minas in straight sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-20) in the league final. Cuban outside hitter Miguel Angel López scored 22 points and was the Most Valuable Player of both the gold medal match and the entire season. Minas’ veterans William Arjona, a Rio 2016 Olympic champion, and Leandro Vissotto, a 2010 world champion, both retired at the conclusion of the season. Here’s the Brazilian Federation recap.

Conegliano are the first Lega Femminile finalists

Defending champions Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano are the first team guaranteed in the Finals of the Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile. The reigning world champions defeated Igor Gorgonzola Novara 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 20-25, 25-23) and ended their best-of-three series 2-0. The other semifinal duel, between Savino Del Bene Scandicci and Vero Volley Milano, is tied 1-1 after Milano’s 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21) win on Sunday and will require a third and decisive encounter between the teams to determine Conegliano’s opponents.

Regatas Lima claim third-straight Peruvian title

Peruvian giants Regatas Lima won their third-straight and tenth overall Peruvian title on Friday, when they secured their third victory over rivals Alianza Lima, ending their best-of-five series. Regatas have some Peruvian national team players on their roster, including outside hitter Karla Ortiz, who was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Beach Volleyball

Americans and Czechs win Uberlândia Elite16

Teams from the United States and Czechia triumphed in the third Elite16 event of the 2023 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, which was held in Uberlândia, Brazil. Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss secured the women’s title with a 2-1 (16-21, 24-22, 15-13) win over Australians Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho. In the men’s event, Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner upset reigning Olympic and world champions Anders Mol and Christian Sørum of Norway also in three sets (21-19, 15-21, 15-11) to emerge victorious. Here are our recaps of the victories of Americans and Czechs in Brazil.

Bello twins triumph in Spanish Tour event

Some national tour events are also starting to take place around the world and Spain got its calendar started with the King and Queen’s Cup in Menorca. The Bello twins Javier and Joaquin, who represent England on the Beach Pro Tour but were born in Spain, were the champions among the men while Belén Carro and Ángela Lobato secured the title in the women’s event. Here’s the report provided by the Spanish Federation.