The National Women's Volleyball Team 2026 VNL Matches

The Volleyball Nations League is designed as a multi-week international competition featuring the world’s top national teams competing annually. In the context of the 2026 tournament schedule, the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team will compete in stages held in cities across different continents.

In the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, the world’s 18 best women’s national teams will compete. According to the official VNL format, the preliminary round consists of a three-week competition period during which each team plays a total of 12 matches. After the group matches are completed, the top eight teams in the overall standings — the top seven teams and the host nation — will qualify for the VNL Finals where the champion will be determined.

The women’s 2026 VNL group matches will be played between 3 June and 19 July 2026 across 17 host cities in 12 different countries. The 2026 VNL Finals, which will determine the champion, are scheduled to take place from 22 to 26 July 2026 in Macao, China.

Since its inception in 2018, the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team has maintained consistent participation in the Volleyball Nations League and achieved various placements. The team finished second in 2018, secured fourth place in 2019 and 2022, earned third place in 2021, and won the VNL championship title in 2023. The team will compete in the 2026 tournament aiming to defend its championship title.

Under the Türkiye Volleyball Federation’s 2026 national team activity program, a 30-player expanded roster has been selected for the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team to use throughout the tournament. The players and their positions for the tournament are as follows:

• Setters: Cansu Özbay, Elif Şahin, Dilay Özdemir, Buse Ünal Pehlivan, Arelya Karasoy Koçaş.
• Outside Hitters: Ebrar Karakurt, Yaprak Erkek, Hande Baladın, İlkin Aydın, Saliha Şahin, Ayşe Çürük, Liza Safronova.
• Opposites: Melissa Vargas, Aylin Uysalcan, Tutku Burcu Yüzgenç, Beren Yeşilırmak, Defne Başyolcu.
• Middle Blockers: Yasemin Güveli, Zehra Güneş, Sinead Jack Kısal, Berka Buse Özden, Deniz Uyanık, Aslı Kalaç, Karmen Aksoy, Ezel Balık, Merve Atlıer.
• Liberos: Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın, Gizem Örge, Merve İzbilir, Melis Yılmaz.

The administrative and technical staff who will support the Türkiye National Team during the 2026 VNL matches are as follows:

• Manager: Pelin Çelik
• Head Coach: Daniele Santarelli
• Assistant Coaches: Diego Flisi, Maurizio Mora
• Statistical Coaches: Artun Aksan, Marco Greco
• Conditioning Coach: Marco Sesia
• Physiotherapists: Ilenia Marin, Francesco Gatti
• Massage Therapist: Murat Beder
• Team Doctor: Seçkin Sarı

According to the official tournament schedule, Türkiye’s preliminary round matches in the 2026 VNL will be hosted by Brazil, Türkiye and Japan. This three-stage competition and player allocations across the roster have been carefully structured.

The first week of the tournament will be held from 3 to 8 June 2026 at the Arena BRB Nilson Nelson in Brasília, Brazil. Türkiye will face the national teams of the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, Italy and Bulgaria in this group.

The 14-player roster for the first week matches will consist of the following athletes:

• Setters: Dilay Özdemir, Buse Ünal Pehlivan
• Outside Hitters: İlkin Aydın, Saliha Şahin, Yaprak Erkek, Ayşe Çürük
• Middle Blockers: Deniz Uyanık, Berka Buse Özden, Karmen Aksoy, Merve Atlıer, Ezel Balık
• Opposites: Beren Yeşilırmak, Defne Başyolcu, Aylin Uysalcan
• Liberos: Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın, Melis Yılmaz

The match schedule for the Brazil stage (in Türkiye Time) is as follows:

• 3 June 2026 (19.00): Dominican Republic vs Türkiye.
• 4 June 2026 (22.30): Türkiye vs Netherlands.
• 6 June 2026 (21.30): Italy vs Türkiye. (This match will serve as a rematch between the world champion and the VNL champion).
• 8 June 2026 (24.00, spanning from 7 June to 8 June): Bulgaria vs Türkiye.

The official broadcasts of the first stage matches in Türkiye will be available on S Sport and S Sport Plus platforms.

Türkiye will host the second week of matches. The games will take place from 17 to 21 June 2026 at the Ankara Sports Hall. The Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team, playing before its home fans, will compete against the national teams of Belgium, France, Germany and China. The Ankara stage match schedule (in Türkiye Time) is as follows:

• 17 June 2026 (19.30): Türkiye vs Belgium.
• 18 June 2026 (19.30): Türkiye vs France.
• 20 June 2026 (19.30): Türkiye vs Germany.
• 21 June 2026 (19.30): Türkiye vs China. (This match will conclude the second week).

The final week of the VNL group stage will be held from 8 to 12 July 2026 in Osaka, located in Japan’s Kansai region. In this decisive group, Türkiye will face the national teams of Poland, the United States, Japan and Thailand. The Japan stage match schedule (in Türkiye Time) is as follows:

• 8 July 2026 (06.00): Poland vs Türkiye.
• 10 July 2026 (07.00): United States vs Türkiye.
• 11 July 2026 (13.20): Japan vs Türkiye. (This match will serve as a rematch of the quarterfinal from the previous year’s championship).
• 12 July 2026 (09.30): Thailand vs Türkiye.

All matches of the international tournament will be broadcast globally through official platforms such as VBTV. Given the record-breaking viewership in previous years, the 2026 season is expected to attract a massive global audience. Cultural integration initiatives, including the “Volleyball Legacy Art Project,” which features large-scale public art installations, are planned in host cities. Official ticket sales schedules and procedures for the tournament matches will be announced progressively on relevant platforms in the coming months.

The Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team played its first match in the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on 3 June 2026 against the Caribbean nation Dominican Republic. This opening match, held in Brasília the capital of Brazil, was a fiercely contested encounter that ended in a 3-2 victory for Türkiye, giving the team a strong start to the tournament. The intense match, lasting a total of 118 minutes, was part of the first week of matches in the league phase, which will be hosted across three different countries.

The match commenced at 19:00 Türkiye Time on Wednesday 3 June 2026 and was hosted at the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasília Brazil. The chief referee was Nathan Mahaven from the United States, with Ricardo Borroto from Cuba serving as assistant referee.

Reviewing the team rosters, the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team, under head coach Daniele Santarelli, fielded fourteen players for the Brazil leg of the tournament. The setters were Dilay Özdemir and Buse Ünal Pehlivan. The outside hitters were İlkin Aydın, Saliha Şahin, Yaprak Erkek and Ayşe Çürük. The middle blockers were Deniz Uyanık, Berka Buse Özden, Karmen Aksoy, Merve Atlıer and Ezel Balık. The opposite hitters were Beren Yeşilırmak, Defne Başyolcu and Aylin Uysalcan. The libero positions were entrusted to Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın and Melis Yılmaz. Türkiye’s starting six consisted of setter Dilay Özdemir, opposite hitter Defne Başyolcu, outside hitters İlkin Aydın and Yaprak Erkek, middle blockers Berka Buse Özden and Deniz Uyanık, and libero Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın. The Dominican Republic’s starting lineup consisted of Pena, Gonzalez, Tapia, Heredia, Jineiry Martinez and Marte, while Castillo, Larysmer Martinez, Rodriguez, Matos, De la Rosa and Alonzo were listed as substitutes.

^{First Match: Türkiye 3-2 Dominican Republic (AA)}

The match, played over five sets and with the outcome uncertain until the final moments, followed a highly fluctuating course. In the first set, the Dominican Republic gained control and overcame an early deficit to win the set 25-17, taking a 1-0 lead in the match.

In the second set, Türkiye regained composure and established dominance over their opponents, winning the set 25-20 to level the match at 1-1.

The third set was a period of complete control by the Türkiye national team, who led from start to finish and imposed their dominance on the opposition. Türkiye won this set comfortably 25-16, taking a 2-1 lead in sets.

^{First Match: Türkiye 3-2 Dominican Republic (AA)}

The fourth set became one of the most critical moments of the match, featuring a fierce battle. As the Dominican Republic neared victory, Türkiye, trailing 24-20, fought back with three consecutive points to show remarkable resilience. However, the opposition refused to yield and clinched the set 25-23, forcing a decisive fifth set. In the fifth and final set, played to fifteen points, Türkiye fell behind early but maintained discipline and gradually turned the tide, scoring consecutive points to secure a 15-11 victory and win the match 3-2.

^{First Match: Türkiye 3-2 Dominican Republic (AA)}

The challenging match against the Dominican Republic marked significant individual milestones for several players of the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team. The top scorer of the match was Yaprak Erkek, whose performance in offensive plays delivered a total of 21 points for her team. Additionally, 2009-born opposite hitter Aylin Uysalcan and 2009-born middle blocker Ezel Balık made their international debuts in this match, playing their first official senior national team match. Furthermore, experienced national outside hitter İlkin Aydın assumed the captain’s armband for the first time in her career during an official match for the Türkiye national team.

Türkiye’s second match in the first phase of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) was against the Netherlands national team. Played on 4 June 2026, the match ended in a 3-0 victory for the Netherlands. This match marked Türkiye’s first defeat in the tournament.

The match was held at the Nilson Nelson Indoor Arena in Brasília Brazil, which hosted the Brazil leg of the tournament. It began at 22:30 Türkiye Time and lasted a total of 80 minutes. The chief referee was Ricardo Iglesias Borotto of the Cuban Volleyball Federation. The assistant referee was Angela Grass of the Brazilian Volleyball Federation.

Türkiye’s starting six for the match consisted of Berka Buse Özden, Defne Başyolcu, İlkin Aydın, Deniz Uyanık, Dilay Özdemir, Yaprak Erkek and libero Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın. The substitutes were Melis Yılmaz, Buse Ünal Pehlivan, Beren Yeşilırmak, Aylin Uysalcan, Karmen Aksoy and Ezel Balık. Other players included in Türkiye’s VNL 2026 first-week roster but not listed in the starting or substitute lineups for this match were outside hitters Saliha Şahin and Ayşe Çürük and middle blocker Merve Atlıer.

The Netherlands’ starting six consisted of Van Aalen, Knollema, Baijens, Dambrink, Kok, Stuut and libero Reesink. The substitutes for the Netherlands were Jansen, Bongaerts and Van De Vosse.

^{Second Match: Türkiye 0-3 Netherlands (AA)}

The match was played over three sets, all of which were won by the Netherlands. The set scores were 23-25, 17-25 and 18-25 respectively.

The first set ended 25-23 in favor of the Netherlands. During the set, İlkin Aydın of Türkiye scored an ace serve to boost her team’s morale and brought the score to 14-13. In the closing stages, a spike from the right side by Vosse of the Netherlands hit the block and bounced out, giving the Netherlands a 17-20 lead.

The second set ended 17-25 in favor of the Netherlands, extending their lead to 2-0. Türkiye encountered difficulties in their central offensive plays; in one instance, the ball landed on the net.

^{Second Match: Türkiye 0-3 Netherlands (AA)}

The third set concluded 18-25 in favor of the Netherlands, sealing their 3-0 victory. Türkiye’s first point in the set was scored by İlkin Aydın. After a long rally, Kok delivered a point for the Netherlands. Additionally, a ball directed toward the net was completed by Dambrink, extending the Netherlands’ lead to 10-14. In the later stages of the set, a spike from behind the end line by the Netherlands’ Vosse landed out of bounds, resulting in a point for Türkiye and a score of 16-23.

The match was held at the Arena Nilson Nelson sports hall in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. The match was officiated by Daniel Gonzalez of the Mexican Volleyball Federation as head referee, and Angela Grass of the Brazilian Volleyball Federation as assistant referee. The official attendance was recorded as 3,200 spectators.

Prior to this match, the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team began the tournament with a victory against the Dominican Republic but suffered a defeat against the Netherlands in their second match. The loss to Italy marked Türkiye’s second defeat in the tournament.

The performance of both teams in this match was reflected in their respective VNL season statistics. The Italy team won all three of its matches, achieving a 100 percent win rate. During this period, Italy recorded 152 attacks, 23 blocks, and 17 service aces. Türkiye, on the other hand, achieved one win and two losses in three matches, resulting in a 33 percent win rate. The team recorded a total of 157 attacks, 28 blocks, and 5 service aces.

The match was completed over four sets. The set scores, in order, were 25-16, 26-28, 25-19, and 25-15 in favor of Italy. Only the second set was won by Türkiye; the other three sets were won by Italy.

^{Third Match: Türkiye 1-3 Italy (TVF)}

In terms of overall team performance statistics at the end of the match, Italy recorded 57 attacks, 9 blocks, and 10 service aces. Italy’s reception success rate was measured at 51 percent. In contrast, Türkiye finished the match with 54 attacks, 6 blocks, and 2 service aces.

The starting lineups and substitute players for each team during the match were as follows:

• Italy National Team Roster: Denise Meli, Carlotta Cambi, Oghosasere Loveth Omoruyi, Linda Nwakalor, Merit Chinenyenwa Adigwe, Stella Nervini, and libero Eleonora Fersino took the court. The substitute players were Ilaria Spirito, Binto Diop, Francesca Scola, Ekaterina Antropova, Gaia Giovannini, Linda Manfredini, and Yasmina Akrari.
• Türkiye National Team Roster: Dilay Özdemir, Yaprak Erkek, Karmen Aksoy, Defne Başyolcu, İlkin Aydın, Deniz Uyanık, and libero Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın played in the match. Other players on the roster were Saliha, Melis Buse Özden, Aylin, Buse, Beren Yeşilırmak, and Berka Buse Özden.

The top scorer of the match was Merit Chinenyenwa Adigwe of Italy, playing as an outside hitter, who scored a total of 19 points. Other notable point contributors for Italy were: outside hitter Stella Nervini with 17 points, middle blocker Linda Nwakalor with 16 points, Oghosasere Loveth Omoruyi with 10 points, and Ekaterina Antropova with 9 points. Additionally, Carlotta Cambi, Gaia Giovannini, and Linda Manfredini each scored 2 points, while Denise Meli contributed 1 point.

^{Third Match: Türkiye 1-3 Italy (AA)}

For Türkiye, the highest-scoring player was Yaprak Erkek, an outside hitter, who scored 16 points. The match data also noted that middle blockers Karmen Aksoy and Berka Buse Özden were part of Türkiye’s rotation.

Following this match, Türkiye’s Women’s National Volleyball Team is scheduled to play its fourth and final match in Brazil against the Bulgaria national team. According to the fixture, the match is planned for Monday, 8 June at 00:00 (the night of 7 June into 8 June).

This was the fourth match of the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team in the first week of the 2026 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL). The match, held in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, ended with Türkiye defeating Bulgaria 3-1 in sets. With this result, Türkiye secured their second win in the first phase of the tournament.

^{Fourth Match: Türkiye 3-1 Bulgaria (AA)}

The match was scheduled as the final fixture of the Brazil leg of the Nations League and began at 00:00 on 8 June 2026, bridging the night of 7 June to 8 June 2026. It was held at the Nilson Nelson Sports Gymnasium (Arena Nilson Nelson) in Brazil. The match was officiated by the refereeing duo of Aleksander Sikanjic from Liechtenstein and Nathan Mahaven from the United States. The total duration of the match was recorded as 90 minutes.

The player rosters for the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team and the Bulgaria National Volleyball Team were reflected in the match report as follows:

• Türkiye Roster: Dilay Özdemir at setter; Yaprak Erkek and Saliha Şahin at outside hitter; Karmen Aksoy and Deniz Uyanık at middle blocker; Defne Başyolcu, Aylin Uysalcan and Beren Yeşilırmak at opposite hitter; and Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın and Melis Yılmaz as liberos. The starting lineup for Türkiye consisted of Dilay Özdemir, Defne Başyolcu, Yaprak Erkek, Saliha Şahin, Karmen Aksoy, Deniz Uyanık, and libero Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın.
• Bulgaria Roster: The roster included Slavcheva, Milanova, Saykova, Stoyanova, Paskova, Naneva, Krasteva, Veneva, Guncheva, Illieva and Nikolova, with Pashkuleva and Todorova as liberos.

^{Fourth Match: Türkiye 3-1 Bulgaria (AA)}

The match was played over four sets, with Türkiye scoring the first point. The set scores were recorded in Türkiye’s favor as 25-12, 25-9, 22-25 and 25-18.

• First Set: Türkiye started the first set strongly. The gap in points widened quickly, and Türkiye won the set 25-12 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
• Second Set: In the second set, Türkiye improved its statistics in spikes and blocks. Holding Bulgaria to only nine points, Türkiye won the set 25-9, extending the overall match score to 2-0. In the first two sets combined, Bulgaria managed only 21 points.
• Third Set: The third set was a more evenly contested battle compared to the previous sets. Bulgaria, making fewer errors in the closing stages, won the set 25-22 to bring the match score to 2-1.
• Fourth Set: Türkiye raised the quality of its serves in the fourth set and reasserted its dominance, closing the set 25-18. With the completion of the fourth set, the match officially ended with Türkiye’s 3-1 victory.

Deniz Uyanık of the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team scored a total of 19 points during the match, becoming the top scorer of the game.

^{Fourth Match: Türkiye 3-1 Bulgaria (AA)}

With the result against Bulgaria, Türkiye concluded the first week of the 2026 VNL Brazil leg with two wins and two losses. The results of Türkiye’s other matches in the first week were as follows: Türkiye defeated the Dominican Republic 3-2 in their first match, won 3-0 against the Netherlands in their second match, and suffered a 3-1 defeat against Italy in their third match.

Following the completion of the Brazil leg, the second leg of the VNL will be held in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye, from 17 to 21 June 2026. The official schedule for Türkiye’s matches in the Ankara leg is as follows:

• 17 June 2026, 19:30: Türkiye vs Belgium
• 18 June 2026, 19:30: Türkiye vs France
• 20 June 2026, 19:30: Türkiye vs Germany
• 21 June 2026, 19:30: Türkiye vs the People’s Republic of China

^{Fifth Match: Türkiye 3-0 Belgium (AA)}

The match between the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team and the Belgium Women’s National Volleyball Team took place on 17 June 2026 as part of the second week of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) hosted in Ankara. The match, held at the Ankara Sports Hall, ended in a 3-0 victory for Türkiye. This was Türkiye’s fifth match in the 2026 VNL tournament, and with this result, the team secured its third win in the competition.

The match was officiated by the referee duo Michail Koutsoulas from Greece and Denis Fabian Carbajal Mozzo (Fabián Denis Carbajal Mozzo) from Uruguay.

The lineups for the match were as follows:

• Türkiye Roster: Sinead Jack Kısal, Elif Şahin, Yaprak Erkek, Karmen Aksoy, Melissa Vargas, İlkin Aydın, Gizem Örge, Cansu Özbay, Saliha Şahin, Hande Baladın, Berka Buse Özden, Defne Başyolcu.
• Belgium Roster: Van Sas, Herbots, Lemmens, Martin, Demeyer, Fransen, Rampelberg, Debouck, Bertels, Radovic, Koulberg, Nagels, Deleu, Maes.

The match was played over three sets, all of which were won by Türkiye.

^{Fifth Match: Türkiye 3-0 Belgium (AA)}

• First Set (25-14): At the start of the match, Türkiye established an 8-4 lead through a series of consecutive points and the effective spiking of Melissa Vargas. Türkiye countered Belgium’s offensive attempts with effective blocks, and when the score reached 12-4, Belgium called a timeout. Sinead Jack Kısal, playing as middle blocker, extended Türkiye’s advantage with her blocking performance, and the first set concluded 25-14 in Türkiye’s favor.
• Second Set (25-13): The second set began with exchanged points, but Türkiye regained control of the game to extend the score to 10-6. Following Belgium’s offensive errors, Türkiye’s effective serving increased the gap to seven points (16-9). Elif Şahin, playing as setter, stood out with her blocking and playmaking, and the set ended 25-13 in Türkiye’s favor.
• Third Set (25-23): Türkiye started the third set with strong offensive coordination from Melissa Vargas and Sinead Jack Kısal, taking an early 10-7 lead through effective blocking and attacks. However, errors in serving and defense allowed Belgium to equalize the score at 13-13. After a series of back-and-forth points, Türkiye regained the upper hand through Melissa Vargas’s attacks and won the set 25-23, securing the match 3-0.

^{Fifth Match: Türkiye 3-0 Belgium (AA)}

With this result, Türkiye has recorded three wins and two losses in its five matches in the tournament. Belgium suffered its third defeat in the competition. Historically, Türkiye last lost to Belgium in 2019; with this victory, Türkiye has now won six consecutive matches against Belgium.

Approximately 10,000 fans attended the match at the Ankara Sports Hall. Members of the official delegation present included Mehmet Akif Üstündağ, President of the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF); Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Av. Doç. Dr. Safa Koçoğlu Gürsoy; General Director of Sports Services Prof. Dr. Ozan Veli Çakır; and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş.

During the match, Türkiye Women’s National Team player Karmen Aksoy suffered an injury to her right knee following a play. Subsequent orthopedic examination and imaging tests confirmed an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. In an official statement by the Turkish Volleyball Federation, it was announced that, based on the medical team’s evaluation, surgical treatment has been decided upon and a rehabilitation program will be planned.

^{Fifth Match: Türkiye 3-0 Belgium (AA)}

Following the match, Türkiye team players shared their reflections:

• Spiker Saliha Şahin: She stated that the team prepared well for the match, took advantage of playing at home, and were satisfied with the clean 3-0 victory.
• Middle Blocker Sinead Jack-Kısal: She noted that there were ups and downs during the match but emphasized that the team fought hard through internal communication to secure the win. Jack-Kısal also praised the energy provided by the Ankara crowd and stressed that they would not underestimate their next opponents, France.
• Defne Başyolcu: She said the team gave its best and thanked the Ankara crowd for creating such a powerful atmosphere. She added that playing in front of such a large crowd in Türkiye filled her with excitement and moved her emotionally during the singing of the National Anthem.

Türkiye’s match schedule for the Ankara leg is as follows:

• 18 June Thursday: Türkiye vs France
• 20 June Friday: Türkiye vs Germany
• 21 June Saturday: Türkiye vs China

Statistically, Türkiye has won its last four official matches against France, its second opponent in this leg.

^{Sixth Match: Türkiye 3-0 France (TVF)}

The sixth match of the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team in the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) was played on 18 June 2026 against the France Women’s National Volleyball Team. This match, held at the Ankara Sports Hall, ended in a 3-0 victory for Türkiye without losing a single set.

This match was the second of the second week of the 2026 VNL tournament held in Ankara. Prior to the match, Türkiye had three wins and two losses in the tournament, while France had one win and four losses. Türkiye had won all four of its previous official matches against France. The match began at 19:30 on Thursday, 18 June 2026, and was broadcast live free-to-air on TRT Spor, with alternative coverage available on S Sport and S Sport Plus. The match was attended by protocol members including Mehmet Akif Üstündağ, President of the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF); Alper Sedat Aslandaş, Acting President of TVF; Ozan Veli Çakır, Acting General Director of Sports Services and President of the Türkiye National Olympic Committee; and Mansur Yavaş, Mayor of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.

The match was officiated by Argentine referee Nicolas Casado and Bosnian referee Sinisa Ovuka.

The squad selected by Türkiye for the second week of the tournament included setters Cansu Özbay, Dilay Özdemir, and Elif Şahin; outside hitters Aylin Uysalcan, Defne Başyolcu, and Melissa Vargas; opposites Hande Baladın, İlkin Aydın, Saliha Şahin, and Yaprak Erkek; middle blockers Berka Buse Özden, Deniz Uyanık, Karmen Aksoy, Sinead Jack-Kısal, and Zehra Güneş; and liberos Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın and Gizem Örge. (Karmen Aksoy, who was on the roster, had suffered an injury in the previous match against Belgium.)

The starting six players and libero for each team were as follows:

• Türkiye: İlkin Aydın, Berka Buse Özden, Melissa Vargas, Saliha Şahin, Sinead Jack-Kısal, Elif Şahin, Gizem Örge (Libero). (Substitutes: Eylül, Defne, Cansu, Hande)
• France: Sylves, Selosse, Rotar, Elouga, Ndiaye, Cazaute, Gelin (Libero). (Substitutes: Jaegy, Schalk, Stojilijkovic, Depie)

The match, lasting a total of 80 minutes, began with Türkiye serving. It concluded with set scores of 25-17, 25-23, and 25-20 in favor of Türkiye.

• First Set (25-17): Türkiye started strongly with effective blocks and powerful spikes from outside hitter Melissa Vargas, quickly establishing a 5-1 lead. As the set progressed, both teams exchanged points, and France narrowed the gap to 13-11. In the closing phase, Türkiye reduced its unforced errors and closed the set with 8 points from Vargas, winning 25-17 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
• Second Set (25-23): The second set began with evenly matched points, resulting in a 7-7 tie after the first 14 points. Türkiye gained the upper hand through French serving errors and service aces by İlkin Aydın, extending the score to 13-10. France then won seven of the next eleven points to level the set at 17-17. France responded with spikes and blocks from Depie and Elouga, and took the lead for the first time in the set at 21-20. In the decisive phase, Türkiye regained momentum with a service run from setter Elif Şahin and won the tightly contested set 25-23, extending the match lead to 2-0.
• Third Set (25-20): France started the third set with a 5-1 run, forcing Türkiye to call a timeout. Upon returning from the break, Türkiye closed the gap with points from Melissa Vargas and Sinead Jack-Kısal, taking a 10-9 lead. After France’s offensive pressure, serving errors from the French side led to a 15-15 tie. As Vargas and Jack-Kısal increased their effectiveness, Türkiye pulled away and won the final set 25-20 to secure a 3-0 victory.

With this result, Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team recorded its fourth win in the 2026 VNL, while France suffered its fifth loss. The top scorer of the match was Melissa Vargas with 22 points.

In the post-match press conference, Türkiye head coach Daniele Santarelli acknowledged that despite the 3-0 scoreline, the match was challenging and that France is a strong team. He emphasized that his team has not yet reached its peak form and still requires development. Santarelli also highlighted the support from the Ankara crowd, describing it as a “dependency” for him. Gizem Örge of the national team stated in her remarks that France is a formidable opponent that never gives up, and that the team demonstrated strong effort and character throughout the match. She added that the final score was a true reflection of this hard-fought contest.

^{Seventh Match: Türkiye 3-2 Germany (AA)}

The Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team and the Germany Women’s National Volleyball Team faced each other in the third match of the second week of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL). The match, held on 20 June 2026 at the Ankara Sports Hall in Ankara, Türkiye, ended with a 3-2 victory for Türkiye. With this result, Türkiye secured their fifth win in the tournament, while Germany suffered their fifth defeat.

Before the match, the players of the Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team entered the court holding a banner with the theme “Climate Friendly Volleyball” as part of their sustainability initiatives. Among the dignitaries observing the match from the protocol tribune were Mehmet Akif Üstündağ, President of the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF); Alper Sedat Aslandaş, Vice President of the TVF; Sibylle Katharina Sorg, Ambassador of Germany; Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zahid Sobacı, General Director of TRT; and Gürsel Baran, President of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce. The match, broadcast live on TRT Spor, was officiated by Bernard Valentar from Slovenia and Stefano Cesare from Italy. The total duration of the match was recorded as either 127 or 145 minutes across different sources.

The lineups for the competing teams were as follows:

^{Seventh Match: Türkiye 3-2 Germany (AA)}

• Türkiye: The starting lineup included Melissa Vargas, Hande Baladın, Sinead Jack-Kısal, Cansu Özbay, Yaprak Erkek and Berka Buse Özden. The substitutes and libero positions were filled by Gizem Örge (L), Saliha Şahin, Elif Şahin, Deniz Uyanık, Defne Başyolcu, Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın and İlkin Aydın.
• Germany: The starting six consisted of Straube, Alsmeier, Weitzel, Weske, Timmer and Cekulaev. The bench and libero position were occupied by Cesar (L), Nestler, Kohn, Kindermann, Strubbe and Pfeffer.

The match, played over five sets, was won by Türkiye 3-2 after coming back from a 0-2 deficit. The chronological progression of the sets was as follows:

^{Seventh Match: Türkiye 3-2 Germany (AA)}

• First Set (18-25): Germany started the match strongly, capitalizing on Türkiye’s serving errors to establish a 12-8 lead. Maintaining control throughout the set, Germany won the first set 25-18 and took a 1-0 lead in the match.
• Second Set (24-26): The early stages of the second set featured alternating points between the teams. Thanks to effective serves by Melissa Vargas, Türkiye pulled ahead to a 6-3 lead and forced a timeout from Germany. After the timeout, Türkiye extended their advantage to six points through mid-court attacks and blocks, reaching a 14-8 score. However, Germany closed the gap with points from Weske, Alsmeier and Cekulaev, tying the set at 19-19. Germany won the tightly contested set 26-24 and extended their overall lead to 2-0.
• Third Set (25-19): The opening phase of the third set mirrored the previous sets with alternating points. In the final stages, Türkiye, led by points from İlkin Aydın, widened the gap and won the set 25-19, bringing the match score to 2-1.

^{Seventh Match: Türkiye 3-2 Germany (AA)}

• Fourth Set (25-22): The fourth set remained balanced, with Germany taking a 15-14 lead thanks to a point from Cekulaev. Türkiye capitalized on Germany’s errors and strong offensive performances by Melissa Vargas and İlkin Aydın to win the set 25-22, leveling the match at 2-2 and forcing a deciding fifth set.
• Fifth Set (15-13): Türkiye demonstrated superior performance in the deciding set and won it 15-13 to claim the match 3-2.

Following the match, Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach Daniele Santarelli and player Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın made statements to the press.

Head Coach Daniele Santarelli emphasized that the team never gave up despite falling behind. He noted that he made player substitutions to support the team and included players who had not played for a long time, expressing satisfaction with this decision. Santarelli stated that although the team struggled at times, he reminded his players to keep fighting, and stressed that they would continue battling until the final point. He also praised the atmosphere created by the fans at the Ankara Sports Hall and expressed happiness that the victory was dedicated to the supporters who provided unwavering encouragement throughout the match. Regarding their next opponent in Ankara, China, Santarelli described them as highly technical with strong spikers and well-structured systems, and added that they must start the next match against China better than they did against Germany.

National player Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın stated in her assessment that the team failed to reflect their desired performance on the court during the first two sets and acknowledged Germany’s effective blocking defense. She expressed satisfaction that the team did not give up and managed to turn the match around to win 3-2. Yatgın added that they would begin preparations for the match against China and aim to close this Ankara leg with four wins out of four matches, thanks to the support of the Ankara spectators.

It was announced that Türkiye Women’s National Volleyball Team’s next match in Ankara will be against China on Sunday, 21 June at 19:30. On the same day in another Ankara leg match, Brazil defeated China 3-1 (26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 15-25).

^{Eighth Match: Türkiye 3-2 China (AA)}

Türkiye A National Women’s Volleyball Team played against the China Women’s National Volleyball Team on 21 June 2026 in the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL). This was the fourth and final match of the Ankara leg of the tournament and also Türkiye’s eighth match in the competition. The match, held at the Ankara Sports Hall, ended in a 3-2 victory for Türkiye.

The match was played with a closed ticket system. The chief referee was Sinisa Ovuka from Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the assistant referee was Michail Koutsoulas from Greece. The total duration of the match, according to various reports, ranged between 139 and 157 minutes.

The rosters of the competing teams were as follows:

• Türkiye Roster: The starting six players were Berka Buse Özden, Melissa Vargas, İlkin Aydın, Sinead Jack-Kısal, Elif Şahin and Yaprak Erkek. Gizem Örge played as libero. The substitutes were Cansu Özbay, Hande Baladın, Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın, Defne Başyolcu and Saliha Şahin. The head coach was Daniele Santarelli.
• China Roster: The China team’s starting lineup consisted of Li, Guo, Tang, Zhuang, Aoqian Wang and Zhang. The libero and other substitute players included Mengjie Wang, Gong, Yuanyuan Wang, Dong, Xie, Ni, Yang and Chen.

Various ceremonies and events were held before the match. The Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ presented a commemorative plaque and flowers to former national team spiker Meliha Diken in recognition of her contributions and dedication to Turkish volleyball. Additionally, as part of sustainability initiatives, both teams’ captains were awarded the “Climate-Friendly Award”.

Protocol members in attendance included TVF President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Assoc. Prof. Dr. Safa Koçoğlu Gürsoy, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) President Gürsel Baran, along with numerous members of parliament and bureaucrats.

The match was played over five sets, with the set scores recorded in Türkiye’s favor as 25-21, 26-28, 23-25, 25-16 and 15-12.

^{Eighth Match: Türkiye 3-2 China (AA)}

• First Set (25-21): Türkiye started strongly and established a 12-8 lead in the early stages of the set. As setter Melissa Vargas increased her offensive impact, the point gap widened to six points, bringing the score to 16-10. Although China attempted to narrow the gap in the closing moments, Türkiye won the set 25-21 to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Türkiye’s scoring distribution in the first set was as follows: 7 points from Sinead Jack-Kısal, 6 from Melissa Vargas, 4 from İlkin Aydın and 1 from Berka Buse Özden.
• Second Set (26-28): Türkiye carried their momentum from the first set into the beginning of the second, again achieving a 16-10 advantage. However, China capitalized on Türkiye’s errors in offense and defense during the latter stages, mounted a comeback and won the set 28-26 to level the match at 1-1. In this set, Türkiye’s Melissa Vargas scored a total of 10 points with an 83% attack success rate, while China’s Gong Xiangyu accumulated 11 points across the first two sets.
• Third Set (23-25): China began the third set strongly, building a 9-3 lead. Türkiye, led by Melissa Vargas’s effective play, closed the gap to 12-14, reducing the difference to two points. China displayed strong defensive resilience in the final moments and won the set 25-23 to take a 2-1 lead in the match. During this set, China had three set point opportunities; Türkiye saved the first two but could not prevent China from converting the third.

^{Eighth Match: Türkiye 3-2 China (AA)}

• Fourth Set (25-16): Türkiye began the fourth set with a 14-9 advantage and dominated throughout, exploiting China’s weaknesses in both offense and defense. Melissa Vargas’s powerful serves and direct aces sealed the set at 25-16 in Türkiye’s favor, tying the match at 2-2.
• Fifth Set – Deciding Set (15-12): In the deciding set, Türkiye maintained their advantage and won 15-12 to clinch the match with a final result of 3-2.

The most notable individual statistic of the match was Melissa Vargas’s 36 points for Türkiye. Across the four matches in the Ankara leg (17 points against Belgium, 22 against France, 32 against Germany and 36 against China), Vargas accumulated a total of 107 points, playing a pivotal role in the team’s success.

^{Eighth Match: Türkiye 3-2 China (AA)}

This 3-2 victory over China had multifaceted implications for the Türkiye A National Women’s Volleyball Team’s tournament trajectory:

1. Leg Performance: Türkiye defeated all four opponents in the Ankara leg — Belgium, France, Germany and China — finishing the week with a perfect 4-0 win record.
2. Historical Record: With this result, Türkiye became the first team in VNL history to complete a host leg without a single loss.
3. Overall Standings: After the match against China, Türkiye had six wins and two losses in eight matches, accumulating 15 points and placing sixth in the tournament standings at the end of the second week. China, following this match, had five wins and two losses in seven matches, and five wins and three losses in eight matches overall, remaining on 14 points and falling to eighth place behind Türkiye.
4. Impact on World Ranking: The consecutive victories in Ankara, culminating in the win against China, directly improved Türkiye’s position in the FIVB World Ranking. Türkiye increased its points to 362.35, surpassing the United States of America (USA), and rose to third place behind Italy (466.32) and Brazil (427.21). Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also congratulated the team on social media for achieving third place in the world ranking.

Following the match, Türkiye A National Women’s Volleyball Team Head Coach Daniele Santarelli assessed the match’s difficulty and the team’s response. Santarelli acknowledged China’s strong performance and high level of play, expressing satisfaction at completing the Ankara leg without a loss. He emphasized to his players the importance of maintaining composure, noting that losing a set or occasionally playing poorly is normal; the key is for the team to remain ready for changes and new tactics at all times. Santarelli also highlighted the challenges of the upcoming third leg in Japan (against Poland, USA, Japan and Thailand), indicating that some players, such as Melissa Vargas, might be rested in upcoming matches.

^{Dokuzuncu Maç: Türkiye 3-1 Polonya (AA)}

A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı's first match in the third week of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and its ninth overall match in the tournament was against Poland. The match took place at the Asue Arena in Osaka, located in Japan’s Kansai region, and began at 06.00 Türkiye Time (TSİ) on 8 July 2026, concluding with a 3-1 victory for Türkiye. With this result, Türkiye secured its sixth consecutive win and seventh overall victory in the tournament.

Prior to the match, the A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı had accumulated 15 points from eight matches in the first two weeks of the VNL, with six wins and two losses, placing sixth in the standings. Poland entered the match in fourth place with 17 points. Türkiye had won four of the previous six matches against Poland in VNL history and had also defeated them 3-2 in their most recent encounter during last year’s tournament. Additionally, middle blocker Zehra Güneş, who had been sidelined due to injury during the first two weeks of the tournament, returned to the lineup for this match against Poland and started for the first time in six matches.

The match was officiated by Jiang Liu from the Chinese Federation and Sumie Myoi from the Japanese Federation. The match lasted a total of 114 minutes, with the team rosters and starting lineups as follows:

• Türkiye Starting Six: Melissa Vargas, Elif Şahin, Yaprak Erkek, İlkin Aydın, Sinead Jack-Kısal, Zehra Güneş.
• Türkiye Libero: Gizem Örge.
• Türkiye Substitutes: Cansu Özbay, Saliha Şahin, Hande Baladın, Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın, Berka Buse Özden, Defne Başyolcu.
• Poland Starting Six: Magdalena Stysiak, Katarzyna Wenerska, Agnieszka Korneluk (Lampkowska), Julita Piasecka, Aleksandra Koput, Weronika Obiala.
• Poland Libero: Aleksandra Szczyglowska.
• Poland Substitutes: Julia Szczurowska, Justyna Lysiak, Marlena Grabka, Paulina Damaske, Magdalena Jurczyk.

The match concluded with Türkiye winning 3-1, with set scores recorded as 27-25, 20-25, 25-19 and 25-19.

^{Dokuzuncu Maç: Türkiye 3-1 Polonya (AA)}

• First Set (27-25): Türkiye began the first set with a 10-6 advantage, forcing Poland into an early timeout. Consecutive points from Zehra Güneş and Melissa Vargas brought the score to 21-19, prompting Poland to call another timeout. In the tightly contested final phase of the set, Türkiye clinched the set 27-25 to take a 1-0 lead in the match. At the end of the first set, Melissa Vargas had scored 10 points, while Magdalena Stysiak led Poland with 8.
• Second Set (20-25): The second set featured alternating points. A rally lasting over 40 seconds ended with a block by Yaprak Erkek and Sinead Jack-Kısal, giving Türkiye a 6-5 lead. Middle blocker Sinead Jack-Kısal reached four blocks in just over one and a half sets. Towards the end of the set, Poland extended their lead to three points at 20-17 and held on to win the set 25-20, leveling the match at 1-1.
• Third Set (25-19): Türkiye started the third set with a 4-0 run, prompting Poland to use an early timeout. Hande Baladın replaced Yaprak Erkek at the beginning of the set and scored Türkiye’s first point. Another 40-second rally was won by Türkiye through a defensive save by İlkin Aydın and an attack by Hande Baladın. Türkiye extended their lead to seven points at 15-8. In the closing stages, Cansu Özbay and Defne Başyolcu made their tournament debuts. Türkiye won the set 25-19 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
• Fourth Set (25-19): In the fourth set, middle blocker Sinead Jack-Kısal injured her left foot while converting an advantage point and was carried off the court with medical assistance. Türkiye maintained their dominance for the remainder of the match and won the set 25-19, securing the match 3-1 and extending their winning streak in the tournament.

At the conclusion of the match, Türkiye demonstrated variety in their offensive distribution, with individual performances directly impacting the score. The total points scored by each player were as follows:

^{Dokuzuncu Maç: Türkiye 3-1 Polonya (AA)}

• Melissa Vargas: 23 points (top scorer of the match).
• İlkin Aydın: 14 points. Also recorded 19 successful digs, the highest defensive tally of the match.
• Hande Baladın: 10 points.
• Zehra Güneş: 10 points.
• Sinead Jack-Kısal: 9 points.
• Yaprak Erkek: 6 points.
• Elif Şahin: 1 point.

Following this match, the A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı surpassed Poland in the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League standings, continuing their upward trajectory. Türkiye is scheduled to face the United States in their second match of the third week of the VNL.

A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı’s second match of the third week of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and the tenth match of the tournament overall, the Türkiye–USA encounter, was played on 10 July 2026 in Osaka, Japan. The match concluded with a 3–2 victory for the United States of America.

Before the match, Türkiye stood in fourth place in the standings with seven wins and 18 points from its first nine matches in the tournament. The United States of America, leading the standings, was playing its 11th match of the tournament. Sinead Jack-Kısal did not feature in Türkiye’s squad for this match due to injury.

The match took place at the Asue Arena in Osaka, Japan, and began at 07:00 Türkiye Time (TSİ). The chief referee was Vladimir Simonovic from Switzerland, while the assistant referee was Sumie Myoi from Japan. The total duration of the five-set match was recorded as 135 minutes.

^{Onuncu Maç: Türkiye 2-3 ABD (}TVF⁾

Türkiye started the match with Elif Şahin, Melissa Vargas, İlkin Aydın, Hande Baladın, Zehra Güneş, Deniz Uyanık and libero Gizem Örge as the starting six. The other players in Türkiye’s match squad were Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın, Cansu Özbay, Saliha Şahin, Defne Başyolcu and Yaprak Erkek.

The United States of America started the match with Thompson, Poulter, Skinner, Eggleston, Ogbogu and Rettke as the starting six. The other players in the USA squad were Hentz, Rodriguez, Samedy, Banks, Ka'aha'aina-Torres and O'Neal.

The match was played over five sets, with the set scores recorded as 22–25, 25–23, 27–29, 25–21 and 15–8.

The first set was won by Türkiye 25–22. Türkiye recorded six aces during the set, three of which were served by Melissa Vargas. At the end of the set, the scoring distribution for Türkiye was as follows: Melissa Vargas 9, Zehra Güneş 4, İlkin Aydın 4, Deniz Uyanık 2, Hande Baladın 2 and Elif Şahin 1.

^{Onuncu Maç: Türkiye 2-3 ABD (}TVF⁾

In the second set, the United States of America established an early lead, extending the score to 14–11 and then 18–13, forcing Türkiye to use both of its timeouts. Although Türkiye later closed the gap to level the score at 19–19, the set ended with a 25–23 victory for the United States of America. At the end of the second set, Thompson and Eggleston of the USA each reached nine points, while Türkiye’s scoring distribution was: Vargas 14, İlkin 8, Hande 6, Zehra 6, Deniz 4 and Elif 2.

The third set progressed with alternating points and reached a 24–24 tie. During the extension phase, the United States of America requested a video review citing a block touch, and the referee upheld the call. Subsequently, following objections from Hande Baladın and head coach Daniele Santarelli of Türkiye, a second review from a different angle determined that the point should be awarded to Türkiye. The set ended with a 29–27 victory for Türkiye. At the end of the set, Melissa Vargas was credited with 23 points and had also recorded 14 successful defensive actions up to that point. The other players’ point totals in the third set were: Hande Baladın 12, İlkin Aydın 11, Zehra Güneş 7, Deniz Uyanık 5 and Elif Şahin 3. For the USA, Eggleston and Thompson each reached 13 points.

^{Onuncu Maç: Türkiye 2-3 ABD (}TVF⁾

At the start of the fourth set, the United States of America gained a 9–6 advantage and won the set 25–21 to level the match at 2–2. By the end of the fourth set, Eggleston’s total points for the USA had risen to 18. Türkiye’s scoring distribution at the end of the fourth set was: Vargas 30, İlkin 15, Hande 14, Zehra 10, Deniz 7 and Elif 4.

The fifth set, which decided the match winner, ended with a 15–8 victory for the United States of America.

After five sets, the United States of America left the court as the 3–2 winner. The top scorer of the match was Melissa Vargas of Türkiye, who scored 35 points. Türkiye’s other scoring contributions were: İlkin Aydın 16 points, Hande Baladın 14 points, Zehra Güneş 11 points, Deniz Uyanık 7 points and Elif Şahin 4 points.

With this result, A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı suffered its third defeat in its 10th match of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League. The United States of America, leading the standings, secured its ninth win in its 11th match of the tournament.

^{On Birinci Maç: Türkiye 3-1 Japonya (}TVF⁾

This was the third match played by the Türkiye Women's National Volleyball Team in the third week (third stage) of the 2026 FIVB Women's Nations League (VNL) and their eleventh match overall in the tournament. The match took place on 11 July 2026 at the Asue Arena in Osaka, Japan, and ended with a 3-1 victory for Türkiye. With this result, Türkiye moved up to fourth place in the standings and secured qualification for the 2026 VNL Finals to be held in Macau Special Administrative Region of China.

The match began at 13:20 Türkiye time on Saturday 11 July 2026. It was broadcast live on TRT Spor and S Sport channels. The chief referee was Joo-Hee Kang from South Korea, while the assistant referee was Ibrahim Ismail Alblooshi from the United Arab Emirates. The total duration of the match was recorded as 107 minutes.

The host nation Japan fielded a team under the head coaching of Turkish head coach Ferhat Akbaş. Japan’s match roster consisted of Seki, Ishikawa, Yamada, Wada, Sato, Shimamura, Fukudome (Libero), Iwasawa, Kojima (Libero), Shigihara, Kitamado and Akimoto.

Türkiye A Women's National Volleyball Team’s roster included Hande Baladın, Zehra Güneş, Melissa Vargas, İlkin Aydın, Sinead Jack-Kısal, Elif Şahin, Gizem Örge (Libero), Saliha Şahin, Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın, Cansu Özbay, Defne Başyolcu and Yaprak Erkek.

^{On Birinci Maç: Türkiye 3-1 Japonya (}TVF⁾

• First Set (22-25): In the opening phase of the match, both teams exchanged points to reach a 4-4 tie. As the set progressed, Türkiye took a 9-7 lead over Japan. After Japan scored two consecutive points, the score was tied again at 9-9. Türkiye then extended their lead with a three-point run to make it 12-9. Following a series of alternating attacks, the score was tied at 13-13 before Japan gained a 17-16 advantage. Although Türkiye briefly led 21-19 in the final phase of the set, Japan leveled the score at 21-21. The first set ended with a block by Sinead Jack-Kısal, giving Türkiye a 25-22 victory.
• Second Set (25-22): The early stages of the second set featured alternating points, resulting in a 10-10 tie. Japan then took a 15-13 lead with a series of consecutive points. Türkiye responded with three straight points to go ahead 16-15. However, after Zehra Güneş’s middle attack went out of bounds, Japan extended their lead to 19-17 and later increased it to four points, reaching 22-18. Türkiye narrowed the gap to 23-21 with two consecutive points, but Japan won the second set 25-22. With this result, the match stood at 1-1.
• Third Set (22-25): Japan held a 16-15 lead in the third set. Türkiye then took the lead at 18-17 after consecutive points from İlkin Aydın and Sinead Jack-Kısal. Following a service error by Japanese player Wada and a spike by Hande Baladın, the score became 21-19 in Türkiye’s favor. At 23-20, Sinead Jack-Kısal’s spike went out of bounds, but Japanese players appealed to the referee claiming contact, resulting in the point being awarded to Türkiye. Türkiye won the third set 25-22 to take a 2-1 lead in sets.
• Fourth Set (22-25): Türkiye started the fourth set with a 10-5 advantage. Their dominance continued as the score reached 13-9 and then 19-14. Towards the end of the set, Türkiye maintained a 23-20 lead and ultimately won the set 25-22. With the four-set result, Türkiye won the match 3-1.

^{On Birinci Maç: Türkiye 3-1 Japonya (}TVF⁾

Following this match, the Türkiye Women's National Volleyball Team achieved their eighth win in their eleventh match of the 2026 Volleyball Nations League, with only three losses. After this victory, their total points rose to 22, placing them fourth in the overall standings. Japan remained at seven wins after eleven matches.

This win marked Türkiye’s eighth consecutive qualification for the quarterfinals of the Volleyball Nations League. The team has now officially secured their place in the 2026 FIVB Women's Nations League Finals, to be held in Macau Special Administrative Region of China from 22 to 26 July. The United States team, leading the standings, was reported to have nine wins in eleven matches.

Following this match, Türkiye’s final match in the third stage of the VNL, their twelfth overall, was scheduled for Sunday 12 July 2026 at 09:30 Türkiye time against Thailand.

^{On İkinci Maç: Türkiye 3-1 Tayland (AA)}

This match between the Türkiye Women's National Volleyball Team and the Thailand Women's National Volleyball Team was the fourth match of the third week and the twelfth overall match of the group stage in the 2026 FIVB Women's Nations League (VNL). Played on Sunday 12 July 2026, the match ended with a 3-1 victory for Türkiye, securing fourth place in the VNL regular season with nine wins and 25 points.

The match began at 09:30 on 12 July 2026 at the Asue Arena. The officiating team consisted of Ibrahim Ismail Alblooshi from the United Arab Emirates and Joo-Hee Kang from South Korea. The match was broadcast live and free-to-air on TRT Spor and lasted a total of 112 minutes.

^{On İkinci Maç: Türkiye 3-1 Tayland (AA)}

The match rosters for both teams were as follows:

• Türkiye: Yaprak Erkek, Zehra Güneş, Melissa Vargas, Saliha Şahin, Sinead Jack-Kısal, Elif Şahin and Libero Gizem Örge (Substitutes: Cansu Özbay, İlkin Aydın, Defne Başyolcu).
• Thailand: Pornpun, Sasipaporn, Thatdao, Pimpichaya, Ajcharaporn, Kaewkalaya and Libero Piyanut (Substitutes: Warisara, Kalyarat, Natthanicha, Serah).

The match was played over four sets, with the scores being 25-27, 25-21, 25-19 and 25-22 respectively.

^{On İkinci Maç: Türkiye 3-1 Tayland (AA)}

• First Set (25-27): Türkiye started strongly and led 7-5 in the early stages. During a sequence where Zehra Güneş and Melissa Vargas each scored three points, Türkiye extended their lead to 12-9, and then to 15-9 after Vargas scored two consecutive points. Towards the end of the set, thanks to standout performances by Sinead Jack-Kısal, Melissa Vargas and Zehra Güneş, Türkiye held a 21-17 advantage. However, after a timeout, Thailand scored consecutive points to level the score at 22-22. The set went into extension after reaching 24-24. Türkiye briefly led 25-24 after a spike by Yaprak Erkek, but the score was tied again at 25-25 when Elif Şahin’s serve went directly out of bounds. Thailand then scored two more consecutive points to win the first set 27-25.
• Second Set (25-21): Türkiye began the second set with a strong start and built a 16-9 lead early on. Thailand then began closing the gap with consecutive points, reducing the deficit to 17-14 and later to 20-19. After a series of alternating points, Türkiye scored four consecutive points to earn the right to serve for the set. Although Saliha Şahin’s serve was attacked and the score became 24-20, Türkiye won the set 25-21, leveling the match at 1-1.
• Third Set (25-19): Thailand took an early lead in the third set, reaching 7-5 and then 10-8. After a series of exchanged points, the score was tied at 12-12 following a point by Sinead Jack-Kısal. Türkiye took the lead at 16-14 thanks to a block by Zehra Güneş (her 10th of the match). With consecutive points from Melissa Vargas, Türkiye extended their lead to 22-16. Saliha Şahin closed the set with the final point, giving Türkiye a 25-19 win and a 2-1 lead in sets.
• Fourth Set (25-22): The fourth set began evenly, with Türkiye holding a slight 8-7 advantage in the early stages. Türkiye gradually took control of the match, and consecutive blocks by Sinead Jack-Kısal pushed the score to 16-11. Three more consecutive points by Jack-Kısal extended the lead to 21-16, bringing her total match points to 18. The fourth set ended with a 25-22 victory for Türkiye, sealing the match with a 3-1 win.

Having already secured a place in the finals after eight wins in their first eleven matches, the Türkiye Women's National Volleyball Team completed the regular season in fourth place with nine wins and 25 points after their victory over Thailand. According to the VNL format, the team finishing fourth in the group stage faces the team finishing fifth. Canada, which finished fifth with eight wins and 24 points, became Türkiye’s quarterfinal opponent.

The quarterfinal match is scheduled for Wednesday 22 July 2026 at the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Macau Special Administrative Region of China. Canada’s head coach, Giovanni Guidetti, previously coached the Türkiye Women's National Volleyball Team from 2017 to 2022. If Türkiye defeats Canada, they will face the winner of the USA versus China match in the semifinals, as per the tournament bracket. The other quarterfinal matchups in the 2026 VNL Finals are Italy versus Netherlands and Brazil versus Japan.

^{2026 FIVB Kadınlar Milletler Ligi Finalleri Basın Toplantısı (AA)}

An official press conference was held prior to the 2026 FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) Women's Nations League (VNL) finals, attended by head coaches and players of all teams competing in the tournament. The media event took place at the Andaz Hotel within the Macao Special Administrative Region of China, the host of the competition. The press conference served as a platform for technical staff of the finalist national teams to deliver official assessments regarding the overall structure of the tournament, the difficulty level of the matchups, the current status of the teams, and their objectives.

Türkiye Women's National Volleyball Team Head Coach Daniele Santarelli made statements at the press conference regarding his team's overall condition and their quarterfinal matchup. Santarelli noted that the power balance among teams in the tournament was extremely close, resulting in a highly competitive quarterfinal challenge awaiting his team. The head coach emphasized that all teams qualifying for the finals had earned their place and predicted that the finals would be a true volleyball celebration.

^{2026 FIVB Kadınlar Milletler Ligi Finalleri Basın Toplantısı (AA)}

Speaking specifically about the quarterfinal match against Canada, Santarelli congratulated the Canadian National Team, its coaching staff, and players for reaching this stage. He highlighted that he and Canadian Head Coach Giovanni Guidetti have faced each other numerous times over the past decade, with each encounter always creating a strong competitive atmosphere. Santarelli stated that his team expects a "different kind of quarterfinal" against Canada. Finally, he expressed satisfaction with the team's presence in Macao and affirmed that their goal is to deliver their best possible volleyball performance on the court.

^{2026 FIVB Kadınlar Milletler Ligi Finalleri Basın Toplantısı (AA)}

Canada's quarterfinal opponent, Head Coach Giovanni Guidetti of the Canada National Team, emphasized during the conference the historical significance of the event for Canadian volleyball. Guidetti recalled that this was the first time in Canadian history that the national team had qualified for the VNL finals, expressing pride and excitement at competing alongside the world's best teams under the same tournament umbrella. He stated that Canada's strategic and psychological objectives for the finals were to enjoy every match, extract valuable experience and lessons from each game, and compete at the highest possible level on this platform.

In later segments of the press conference, head coaches of the other finalist teams presented official assessments on behalf of their national teams:

^{2026 FIVB Kadınlar Milletler Ligi Finalleri Basın Toplantısı (AA)}

• Japan National Team: Japan National Team Head Coach Ferhat Akbaş, a Turkish coach, stated that his team felt immense honor to participate in the finals. Akbaş described the journey to qualify for the finals as extremely challenging yet enjoyable. He identified Brazil, their quarterfinal opponent, as a high-quality rival that had taught his team a great deal. He emphasized that playing against Brazil offers Japan continuous opportunities for growth and affirmed that the team would act as a unified unit to deliver their best performance in front of all spectators.

^{2026 FIVB Kadınlar Milletler Ligi Finalleri Basın Toplantısı (AA)}

• Italy National Team: Italy National Team Head Coach Julio Velasco highlighted that all matches in the VNL finals are of high difficulty and stated that, for now, his team's strategy focuses solely on their first match. He indicated that planning for a potential second match would only begin after the first game. Velasco reported that the team's physical and mental condition was at a good level. He noted that Italy had used different player rotations in their first three tournament matches but had now included all players in the main squad for the finals in Macao and was fully prepared for the competition.
• Netherlands National Team: Netherlands National Team Head Coach Felix Koslowski noted that this was their second time in Macao and described the region as an excellent location. He recalled that the path to qualifying for the finals in Macao had been extremely demanding for the Dutch team and stated that they aimed to deliver their highest possible performance during the tournament and give their absolute best.

The 2026 FIVB Women's Nations League Final press conference, during which technical staff of participating teams shared assessments on the tournament, opponents, and team objectives, concluded with an official group photo session featuring all head coaches and players together.

^{Çeyrek Final: Türkiye 3-1 Kanada (AA)}

Türkiye A National Women’s Volleyball Team faced Canada’s National Women’s Volleyball Team in the quarterfinal stage of the 2026 FIVB Women’s Nations League (VNL), with Türkiye winning 3-1. The match was held at the East Asian Games Dome in Macau, the Special Administrative Region of China, the host of the tournament. The match started at 11:00 TRT, and with this victory, Türkiye A National Women’s Volleyball Team advanced to the semifinals.

Based on the group and league phase results, Türkiye finished fourth in the league stage with nine wins. Their opponent, Canada, ended the league stage in fifth place with eight wins, earning them a quarterfinal matchup against Türkiye. With this match, Türkiye A National Women’s Volleyball Team secured their eighth consecutive appearance in the VNL quarterfinals.

When reviewing the historical head-to-head record between the two teams, Türkiye has demonstrated a clear advantage over Canada. Türkiye has won 11 of the last 12 matches against Canada and also defeated them 3-0 in a match at the World Championship. Regarding coaching staff, Canada’s head coach is Giovanni Guidetti, who previously coached the Türkiye A National Women’s Volleyball Team from 2017 to 2022 and has been managing VakıfBank Women’s Volleyball Team since 2008.

The match officiating team consisted of international volleyball referees. Vladimir Simonovic from the Swiss Volleyball Federation and Sinisa Ovuka from the Volleyball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina served as match officials. The rosters for both teams were as follows:

^{Çeyrek Final: Türkiye 3-1 Kanada (TVF)}

• Türkiye Roster: Elif Şahin, Hande Baladın, Zehra Güneş, Melissa Vargas, İlkin Aydın, Sinead Jack-Kısal, Gizem Örge (Libero), Saliha Şahin, Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın and Yaprak Erkek.
• Canada Roster: Fransen, Gray, Thokbuom, Van Ryk, Guezen, Maglio, Jost (Libero), Baker, Smrek, Andulajevic and Georgiadis.

The match was played over four sets, with the dynamics and scoring of each set detailed below:

• First Set (22-25): The first set began with both teams exchanging points. After an early 5-5 tie, Canada pulled ahead with consecutive points to reach 7-5, gaining the upper hand. During this phase, Türkiye reduced the deficit to a single point through effective performances by libero Gizem Örge in defense and attackers Sinead Jack-Kısal and Hande Baladın. Nevertheless, Canada maintained their lead at 21-22. In the closing moments, Canada, without committing errors, secured the set 25-22 and took a 1-0 lead in the match.

^{Çeyrek Final: Türkiye 3-1 Kanada (TVF)}

• Second Set (25-21): Türkiye entered the second set with strong offensive play from Melissa Vargas. Her performance helped Türkiye establish an 8-4 lead early in the set. The Turkish national team capitalized on Canada’s defensive errors and dominated the middle attacks, extending their lead to 15-10. Türkiye, the first team to reach 20 points, maintained their momentum until the end of the set. The second set ended 25-21 in Türkiye’s favor, leveling the match at 1-1.
• Third Set (25-21): Canada took advantage of Türkiye’s defensive lapses in the backcourt at the start of the third set. With effective blocking, Canada built a 15-10 lead, creating a five-point advantage. To recover from this deficit, Türkiye responded with strong offensive play from İlkin Aydın and Zehra Güneş, and effective net battles by Sinead Jack-Kısal. These efforts brought the score level at 17-17. In the critical phase of the set, Türkiye took a 19-18 lead, forcing Canada to call a timeout. After the timeout, Türkiye maintained their advantage through outstanding blocking performances by Hande Baladın and Zehra Güneş, winning the third set 25-21 and taking a 2-1 lead in the match.

^{Çeyrek Final: Türkiye 3-1 Kanada (AA)}

• Fourth Set (25-17): In the fourth set, Türkiye continued the psychological and tactical momentum gained in the previous set. Controlling the game throughout, Türkiye completed the set with a decisive 25-17 victory.

Following the conclusion of the fourth set, Türkiye won the match 3-1 and advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 VNL. The total duration of the match was recorded in reports as either 76 minutes or 113 minutes. Türkiye’s semifinal opponent was determined by the winner of the match between the United States and China, played on the same day at 14:30 TRT. The semifinal match is scheduled for Saturday, 25 July.

A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı played its semifinal match in the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) final stage on 25 July 2026 in Macao, the Special Administrative Region of China. Türkiye defeated the host nation China 3-0 to advance to the final. The set scores were 25-21, 25-15 and 25-20 in favor of Türkiye.

^{Yarı Final Maçı: Türkiye 3-0 Çin (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Prior to the semifinal, Türkiye qualified for the final four by defeating Canada 3-1 in the quarterfinals. With this result, the A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı reached the semifinals of the VNL for the sixth consecutive time. China, as the tournament host, was one of the teams known for its strong defensive performance and faced Türkiye in the semifinal.

Türkiye and China had also met during the league phase of the tournament. Despite falling behind, the A Milli Takımı won the match 3-2 in the deciding set. The semifinal match between the two teams began at 14:30 Türkiye time on 25 July 2026 and was broadcast live by TRT 1.

It was announced before the match that Italy and Brazil would face each other in the other semifinal, with the winner of that match advancing to the final against the winner of Türkiye-China. After Brazil defeated Italy, Türkiye’s opponent in the final became Brazil.

The setters in Türkiye’s 2026 VNL squad were Cansu Özbay, Dilay Özdemir and Elif Şahin. The opposite positions were filled by Defne Başyolcu and Melissa Vargas.

The outside hitters in the team were Hande Baladın, İlkin Aydın, Saliha Şahin and Yaprak Erkek. The middle blockers were Berka Buse Özden, Deniz Uyanık, Sinead Jack Kısal and Zehra Güneş. The liberos were Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın and Gizem Örge.

The match was completed in three sets, with the set scores for Türkiye being 25-21, 25-15 and 25-20 respectively.

The first set began with alternating points, and after the first 14 points the score was tied at 7-7. As China increased its offensive effectiveness, Türkiye dominated at the net through Sinead Jack Kısal and took the 10th point to lead 10-9.

With offensive contributions from Elif Şahin and İlkin Aydın, Türkiye extended its lead to seven points, bringing the score to 19-12. In the later stages of the set, Hande Baladın’s attacks at the net helped Türkiye maintain its advantage. China narrowed the gap to three points thanks to an effective performance by Yuanyuan Wang, reducing the score to 21-18.

In the final phase, as China attempted to apply pressure through serves, Türkiye responded with offensive points and won the first set 25-21 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

^{Yarı Final Maçı: Türkiye 3-0 Çin (Anadolu Ajansı)}

At the start of the second set, China gained an early lead and took the score to 5-3. Türkiye countered with organized attacks and, after a series of consecutive points, took the lead 8-6. This run by Türkiye forced China to call a timeout.

The A Milli Takımı capitalized on gaps in China’s backcourt, widening the gap with contributions from Zehra Güneş and Melissa Vargas. Türkiye led 14-8 in the middle of the set and extended its advantage to 18-12. With attacks from Zehra Güneş and Melissa Vargas, the score reached 18-12, and by the end of the set Türkiye’s lead had grown to eight points.

Türkiye maintained its point advantage throughout the set and won the second set 25-15. With this result, the A Milli Takımı led the match 2-0 and moved one set away from reaching the final.

At the start of the third set, both teams showed strong defensive performances. After a series of alternating points, the score was tied at 10-10. Türkiye then regained its offensive momentum and re-established its advantage over China.

The A Milli Takımı led 8-6 in the early part of the set and extended its advantage to 18-15 as the set neared its conclusion. While Türkiye was leading 20-17, İlkin Aydın collided with Gizem Örge, causing a brief stoppage in play. It was confirmed that İlkin Aydın had no serious injury and she resumed playing.

Türkiye maintained its point advantage in the final phase and won the third set 25-20. Thus, the A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı defeated host nation China 3-0 without dropping a set and advanced to the final of the 2026 Volleyball Nations League.

After three sets, Türkiye won the match 3-0. With this result, the A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı reached the final of the VNL for the third time in its history. Türkiye won the silver medal in 2018, the inaugural edition of the tournament, and in 2023 defeated China 3-1 in the final to become champions.

Türkiye’s opponent in the final was Brazil. It was announced that the final match would be played on 26 July 2026 at 14:30 Türkiye time. The bronze medal match between China and Italy was scheduled for the same day at 10:30 Türkiye time.

In her post-match assessment, Melissa Vargas noted that Brazil is a strong and challenging opponent. Vargas stated that Türkiye aims to win the championship in every tournament and emphasized that the team must perform exceptionally well against Brazil to secure the final victory.

National libero Gizem Örge said that after the semifinal against China, the team’s energy was high and the players felt confident. Örge noted that only the final match remained and declared that the team would give its all on the court to bring the trophy back to Türkiye.

^{Yarı Final Maçı: Türkiye 3-0 Çin (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Örge also pointed out that the final stage of the tournament had produced surprising results and that no easy opponents remained after reaching the semifinals. She described Brazil as a powerful team that plays excellent volleyball and said the team would focus on its game plan for the final after a short rest. Örge highlighted that Türkiye consistently reaches the final stages of international tournaments and noted that Turkish volleyball continues to develop through both its men’s and women’s teams.

Türkiye Volleyball Federation President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ stated that the team’s performance graph has improved daily and that the players’ determination remained strong throughout the match. Üstündağ praised the team for its minimal errors and strong will to win against China and expressed his hope that Türkiye would emerge victorious in the final.

Üstündağ added that the European Championship, to be hosted by Türkiye after the VNL, will provide the team with a separate preparation and motivation process. He affirmed that the federation aims to continue Turkey’s international success in volleyball and thanked the fans who supported the team in Macao.