Galatasaray Wins 2026 Men’s Volleyball Champions Cup Defeating Ziraat Bankkart 3-1

Galatasaray Madeş Mobilya captured the 2026 AXA Sigorta Şampiyonlar Kupası by defeating Ziraat Bankkart 3-1 at Kırıkkale Merkez Yeni Spor Salonu, collecting the club’s second-ever title in the tournament. The red-and-yellow side controlled the opening sets and fended off a third-set surge to seal the victory with set scores of 22-25, 21-25, 25-19, and 21-25. Galatasaray.org reported that Stephen Maar led all scorers with 21 points and earned the match’s Most Valuable Player award.

How Galatasaray Built the Match Winning Advantage

Entering the arena with a starting lineup featuring Micah Ma’a, Stephen Maar, Jean Patry, Doğukan Ulu, Faik Samed Güneş, Efe Mandıracı, and libero Samet Yalçın, Galatasaray seized early control. According to aspor.com.tr, the team opened the first set with aggressive blocking to forge a 6-2 lead before Ziraat Bankkart pulled level behind Efe Bayram’s service run. Galatasaray regained the initiative to take the first set 25-22, then pushed through the second set 25-21 behind sustained scoring from Ma’a and Patry.

Ziraat Bankkart Resistance and Set Three Response

Ziraat Bankkart answered in the third set, fueled by Nimir Abdelaziz, who contributed 10 points during the frame. As aspor.com.tr detailed, an early 5-5 tie broke when the capital side strung together three consecutive points to force Galatasaray head coach Andrea Gardini into a timeout. Ziraat Bankkart maintained its margin to claim the third set 25-19 and narrow the overall deficit to 2-1.

Closing Out the Championship in Four Sets

Any hopes of a full Ziraat comeback evaporated in the fourth set. After Ziraat Bankkart briefly edged ahead at 7-5, Galatasaray strung together an 8-3 run to establish a 10-13 cushion. Though Abdelaziz trimmed the margin to a single point at 19-20 with a service ace, Galatasaray steadied down the stretch to take the fourth set 21-25, securing the 3-1 match victory in 121 minutes of total play.

Historical Standing and Second Trophy Triumph

The victory marks Galatasaray’s second title in the competition’s history, following their previous triumph in 2019, aspor.com.tr records show. Ziraat Bankkart remains the most decorated club in tournament history with five championships (2010, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025), followed by Fenerbahçe and Halkbank with four titles each. The final encounter played out in front of notable figures including Turkish Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Kırıkkale Governor Hüseyin Engin Sarıibrahim, and Turkish Volleyball Federation President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ.

Upcoming SMS Grup Efeler Ligi Fixture Against Halkbank

With the Super Cup trophy secured, Galatasaray Madeş Mobilya turns its focus immediately to domestic league action. The team will travel to face Halkbank on Saturday, October 17, 2026, for the opening fixture of the SMS Grup Efeler Ligi regular season.