VakıfBank Istanbul pulled off a legendary reverse sweep against reigning champions Imoco Conegliano to secure a spot in the CEV Champions League final.

The highly anticipated semifinal at the Ülker Sports Arena in Istanbul unfolded as an epic battle of momentum. Conegliano completely controlled the first half of the match, deploying an elite offensive system led by Gabriela Guimarães, Isabelle Haak, and Zhu Ting.
The Italian powerhouse comfortably seized a 2-0 lead, frustrating the hosts and appearing well on track to pursue a third consecutive European title.
The entire narrative flipped in the latter stages of the third set when Conegliano stood just points away from a straight-set victory. Refusing to break under pressure, Giovanni Guidetti's squad staged a gritty comeback to save multiple match points, stealing the set in a dramatic 29-27 deuce battle. 
This narrow escape completely revitalized VakıfBank, who began playing with an entirely different defensive intensity and sharper transition rhythm to capture the fourth set.
By the time the match reached the tie-break, the psychological advantage had fully swung to the Turkish side. Driven by an unstoppable offensive masterclass from Tijana Bošković (34 points) and Marina Markova (31 points), VakıfBank dominated the final stretch to complete the 3-2 comeback (22-25, 18-25, 29-27, 25-23, 15-11). 
The monumental victory extended VakıfBank's record to a 10th Champions League final, shattering Conegliano's defensive composure and ending their European reign in front of a packed Istanbul crowd.
Photos: European Volleyball