The Turkish women’s national team celebrated a landmark victory at the Volleyball Nations League final tournament in Arlington, USA. In the grand finale, Coach Daniele Santarelli’s team managed to best the Chinese national team, with an impressive 3-1 score. With a commanding performance in serves (8-4) and blocks (14-5), the Turkish team had much to boast about in the decisive match.
Notably, the tournament saw a star rise in the form of the Cuban-born player, Melissa Vargas. She achieved a stunning attack rate, scoring 21 out of 39 attacks (54%), which was further complemented by her three aces and two blocks. Her consistent performance rightfully earned her the title of the “Final Eight” Most Valuable Player (MVP), in addition to her inclusion in the symbolic team of the tournament. As the top scorer of the final tournament, Vargas racked up an impressive 65 points in three matches.
Turkey’s journey to the gold was paved with significant victories over Italy (3-0) and the USA (3-1). While they finished third in the group stage, with nine victories in twelve matches, the Turkish team emerged as the overall champions of the tournament.
With this latest triumph, Turkey now holds a complete set of medals in the Volleyball Nations League – adding the 2023 gold to the silver they won in 2018, and the bronze in 2021. This victory was equally remarkable for China, marking their best result in the tournament to date.
The Volleyball Nations League also saw Poland securing the third position, which was a first for them, pushing the USA off the podium.
The tournament’s end marked an ecstatic moment for Turkey, a country deeply passionate about volleyball. The women’s national team’s significant victory was the crowning jewel of their efforts so far, earning them the prestigious title of being the third different team to win the Volleyball Nations League.
The gold medal match against China ended with a spectacular 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16) victory for the Turkish team. Alongside Vargas, players Eda Erdem, and Ebrar Karakurt also contributed significantly, each scoring 12 points for Turkey. In this final, China showcased formidable performances from their two key players. Li Yingying contributed 21 points, and team captain Yuan Xinyue supplemented with an additional 11.
As the dust settled on the Volleyball Nations League 2023, the Turkish team found themselves at the top of the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Ranking, celebrating their meteoric rise from the seventh position just before the start of the tournament. The future looks brighter than ever for the Turkish women’s national team, their path to victory emblazoned with their historic success at the Volleyball Nations League 2023 Finals.
