FEATURE: Cansu Özbay VakifBank's attack mastermind

Cansu Özbay, the 28-year-old Turkish setter, has been the strategic brain behind VakifBank Istanbul's offensive dominance since joining in 2016. As a setter, she excels in orchestrating plays, distributing precise passes to stars like Marina Markova and Kiera Van Ryk, while contributing her own attacks and serves. In the 2024/25 Turkish League finals, her service runs sparked 7-0 runs, leading to key set wins (25-16), and she scored 5 points in the championship-clinching match, earning MVP honors for balancing the team's attack across multiple players.

Özbay's ability to elevate teammates—having set for elite opposites like Isabelle Haak, Paola Egonu, Tijana Boskovic, and Melissa Vargas—has helped VakifBank secure 3 Club World Championships, 4 CEV Champions Leagues, and multiple Turkish titles, with her quick decisions and high-efficiency sets (often above 45% attack success) making her indispensable.

Her performances remain elite: In recent playoffs, VakifBank outperformed rivals in overall attack efficiency despite serve reception challenges, largely due to Özbay's playmaking. She also led Turkey to a 2023 Nations League title and competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, showcasing consistent excellence with bronze medals from the 2018 Nations League and 2019 Euros.

Looking to 2025/26, Özbay extended her contract with VakifBank, committing to the roster alongside Boskovic and Markova under coach Giovanni Guidetti. She aims to defend the Turkish title, chase another Champions League, and perform strongly for Turkey in international events like the Nations League.

Photos: VakifBank SK