Arkas Champions of Turkey

Arkas Izmir are once again Champions of volleyball in Turkey, after a 5-1 record in the playoff round. They clinched the trophy with a 3-0 over Galatasaray on Sunday. 

Gavin Schmitt accepting his MVP award   Photo: TVF.org

This is the second trophy in three years for Coach Glenn Hoag and Gord Perrin (Creston, BC) with Arkas. While Perrin is still rehabbing from injury, Gavin Schmitt (Saskatoon, Sk) was named MVP of the playoffs and also picked up awards for Top Scorer, Best Spiker and Top Server.  

Gavin was in beast mode all playoffs long, leading Arkas in all five games he played. Exploding for 33 points (29 K, 2 A, 2 B) in a five-set win over Ziraat Bankasi to kick off the playoffs, he set the tone right from the beginning and never looked back.

Most impressive was the 26 point performance against Halkbank Ankara on Saturday April 25th. Gavin was in beast mode, scoring 20 kills and adding four aces and two blocks in only three sets of work. All this against Halkbank, the defending Champions who were also undefeated before the playoffs.

This win gave Arkas a 4-0 record, while Halkbank dropped to 2-2, leaving the door open to seal the deal with their win over Galatasaray on Sunday. Their only loss came on Monday after they had clinched the trophy, with both Gavin and France's Kevin Tillie getting a well deserved night off.