Turkish Women's National Volleyball Team Becomes 2026 European Champion
Defeating Italy in the final played at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, the national team earned the right to participate in the 2028 Olympic Games.
The Turkish Women's National Volleyball Team defeated Italy 3-2 after coming from behind in the 2026 CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship final, becoming European champions for the second time in their history and securing a spot at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Details of the Final Match
In the final match played at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, the Nationals lost the first set 16-25, but leveled the score by winning the second set 25-22.
Losing the third set 12-25, the red-and-whites took the fourth set 25-21 to push the match into a tie-break set, and reached the championship by winning the deciding set 15-10.
Performance Shown Throughout the Tournament
Under the management of head coach Daniele Santarelli, the team suffered only one defeat throughout the tournament, against Poland.
The national team achieved great success by securing 8 victories in a total of 9 matches played throughout the championship.
Turning Points and Expert Opinions
Former national volleyball player Esra Gümüş Kırıcı evaluated the unforgettable comeback against Italy and the turning points of the match.
Kırıcı stated that tactical rotations from the wings and the crowd pressure in the stands played a decisive role in the victory.