Turkey: Gaziantep Gençlik survive a five-set thriller in a game that closed Round 1, Ziraat Bankkart maintain their perfect record in advance of Round 11

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2026/27 SMS Grup Efeler Ligi delivered two contrasting encounters on November 3, with Gaziantep Gençlik Spor prevailing in a thrilling five-set battle away to İstanbul Gençlik Spor, while Ziraat Bankkart continued their unbeaten start to the season with a convincing 3–0 victory over Sungurlu Belediyespor.

The first match of the evening was a rescheduled fixture from Round 1, and it proved to be a true test of endurance. Gaziantep Gençlik Spor edged İstanbul Gençlik Spor 3–2 after 156 minutes of intense volleyball, with the decisive tie-break finishing 19–17. The visitors took the opening set 25–23, but İstanbul responded by winning the next two, 25–18 and 25–23, to move ahead 2–1. Gaziantep refused to give in, taking the fourth set 25–22 before producing a narrow victory in the fifth.
The final set was particularly dramatic, as both teams fought for every point before Gaziantep finally sealed the match. The result was an important away win for the visitors, while İstanbul Gençlik were left to rue a missed opportunity after coming within one set of victory.

At the TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall in Ankara, the hosts had a much more straightforward evening. Ziraat Bankkart defeated Sungurlu Belediyespor 3–0, winning all three sets by narrow but consistent margins: 25:21, 25:22 and 25:22. The match lasted 86 minutes, with Ziraat controlling the key moments to avoid allowing their opponents any opportunity to extend the contest.
Nimir Abdel-Aziz was the standout performer, finishing as the match’s leading scorer with 22 points. Trevor Clevenot added nine, Efe Bayram contributed 11, and Ahmet Tümer finished with five points. Ziraat’s offensive efficiency was reflected in the team statistics, as the Ankara side recorded 44 attack points, three blocks and five aces. Sungurlu, meanwhile, registered 32 attack points, seven blocks and three aces. Oskar Espeland led the visitors with 15 points, followed by Kyle Ensing with 14.
The victory extended Ziraat Bankkart’s winning streak to five matches and kept them unbeaten. With 15 points, the team moved temporarily to the top of the standings, having played one more matche than some of its rivals. Sungurlu Belediyespor, on the other hand, suffered its fifth defeat of the campaign.

Two matches, two very different stories: Gaziantep’s resilience in Istanbul and Ziraat Bankkart’s consistency in Ankara offered another glimpse of the competitive depth of the Efeler Ligi, where every point can prove decisive as the season progresses.

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🇹🇷| 2026/27 SMS Grup Efeler Ligi | Hafta 1 | Round 1

Saturday October 17, 2026
• 14.00 (Local Time) | Sungurlu Belediyespor – İBB Spor Kulübü 1-3 (21:25, 14:25, 25:23, 22:25)
• 14.00 (Local Time) | Sultanbeyli Belediyespor – ON Hotels Alanya Belediyespor NOT PLAYED
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Halkbank – Galatasaray Madeş Mobilya 3-1 (23:25, 25:20, 27:25, 25:23)
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Altekma – Spor Toto 3-2 (27:29, 21:25, 25:9, 27:25, 15:13)
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Akedaş Onikişubat Belediye Spor – Gebze Belediyesi Spor 1-3 (23:25, 30:28, 16:25, 20:25)
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Fenerbahçe Medicana – Ziraat Bankkart 0-3 (22:25, 21:25, 22:25)

👉🏼Tuesday November 3, 2026
• 17.00 (Local Time) | İstanbul Gençlik Spor – Gaziantep Gençlik voleybol 2-3 (23:25, 25:18, 25:23, 22:25, 17:19)

👉🏼Hafta 11 | Round 11
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Ziraat Bankkart – Sungurlu Belediyespor 3-0 (25:21, 25:22, 25:22)

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Ziraat Bankkart 13
2. Gebze Belediyesi Spor 12
3. Halkbank 11
4. Galatasaray Madeş Mobilya 9
5. Fenerbahçe Medicana 8
6. ON Hotels Alanya Belediyespor 7
7. İBB Spor Kulübü 6
8. Altekma 6
9. Spor Toto 6
10. Gaziantep Gençlik voleybol 3
11. İstanbul Gençlik Spor 3
12. Akedaş Onikişubat Belediye Spor 2
13. Sultanbeyli Belediyespor 1
14. Sungurlu Belediyespor 0

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🏐| NEXT GAMES | Hafta 5 | Round 5

Saturday November 7, 2026
• 14.00 (Local Time) | İstanbul Gençlik Spor – Galatasaray Madeş Mobilya
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Altekma – Akedaş Onikişubat Belediye Spor
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Gaziantep Gençlik voleybol – ON Hotels Alanya Belediyespor
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Sultanbeyli Belediyespor – Spor Toto
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Ziraat Bankkar – İBB Spor Kulübü
• 16.30 (Local Time) | Sungurlu Belediyespor – Halkbank
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Fenerbahçe Medicana – Gebze Belediyesi Spor
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