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Türkiye’s national women’s volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 FIVB Women’s World Championship for the first time in its history after defeating the United States 3-1 in Bangkok on Thursday.
The team had previously swept past Spain, Bulgaria, and Canada in the group stage, as well as Slovenia in the round of 16, without dropping a single set. The United States match marked the first time they conceded a set in the tournament, yet Türkiye still secured a decisive victory to extend its unbeaten run.
With this result, "The Sultans of the Net" are matched against Japan in the semifinal on Saturday, September 6, with both teams vying for a place in the championship final.
Head coach Daniele Santarelli said he was proud of the players’ performance despite the challenging nature of the match.
"They did an incredible job. We started very well, with strong tactical play and many blocks. We lost focus at some moments in the second set, but then returned to our game and won 25-14. The last set was tense, but I think it was good for us. Now we are happy to have reached the semifinal, the most important moment of this summer for the team," he said.
Santarelli added that the next opponent, Japan, is "one of the best teams in the world," highlighting their defensive skills and persistence on the court.
Libero Gizem Orge described the victory as part of the team’s continuing story. "At times we were under stress and lost control briefly, which the U.S. used well. But we knew how to win. We continue to write history, and we believe we will reach the final," she said.
Setter Cansu Ozbay emphasized the pride shared among the players. "Maybe many people did not believe we could come this far, but we proved otherwise. I am proud of all my teammates. We will keep fighting until the last point and prepare as best as we can for Japan, which we know will not be an easy match," she added.
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