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Türkiye advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship with a 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan on Tuesday in Istanbul.
Türkiye won 25-14, 25-16, 25-22 at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall after finishing Pool A in second place behind Poland.
Melissa Vargas led Türkiye with 16 points, while Zehra Gunes scored 12 and Hande Baladin added 10. Polina Rahimova, playing her final international match, was Azerbaijan's top scorer with 12 points.
Türkiye made a strong start and took the opening set 25-14. Azerbaijan opened the second set more confidently, but Türkiye regained control to win it 25-16.
Azerbaijan mounted a stronger challenge in the third set, but defending champions Türkiye secured a 25-22 victory to complete the sweep.
Speaking after the match, head coach Daniele Santarelli said Azerbaijan played a different style of volleyball than Türkiye's previous opponents in the tournament, with taller players and strong attackers on a high-ball offense, which required tactical adjustments.
He said the team could not describe the performance as perfect, noting Türkiye played better in the first two sets before dropping in level in the third, while Azerbaijan's level also fluctuated at times.
"Pressure is something we've felt since the day we arrived, something we feel every match," Santarelli said. He added that pressure is not inherently negative, since it often reflects that the team is fighting for something significant.
The Italian coach also spoke about captain Eda Erdem, describing her as a highly experienced player and a great asset on court. He noted it was her first tournament appearance in Istanbul and called her an important player for the national team.
Türkiye will face Germany in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Istanbul.
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