Türkiye Wins U20 Women's Volleyball European Championship
vdTürkiye’s U20 women’s volleyball team claimed the European Championship title on August 17, 2024, with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Italy in Sofia, Bulgaria.
This win marked the end of an outstanding tournament for Türkiye, where they maintained a perfect record by winning all nine of their matches. The final match took place at the Hristo Botev Arena and was a closely contested five-set battle.
Final Match Recap
The final match was a testament to Türkiye’s resilience and tactical precision, with set scores of 22-25, 25-16, 25-19, 17-25, and 15-11. The total match duration was 117 minutes, with the teams showing intense competition throughout the game. Below are the set details:
| Set | Duration | Partial Scores | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26' | 8-6, 14-16, 19-21, 22-25 | 22-25 |
| 2 | 21' | 8-6, 16-15, 21-16, 25-16 | 25-16 |
| 3 | 26' | 8-4, 16-10, 21-17, 25-19 | 25-19 |
| 4 | 26' | 6-8, 13-16, 16-21, 17-25 | 17-25 |
| 5 | 18' | 5-2, 10-8, 12-9, 15-11 | 15-11 |
Türkiye’s Journey to Victory
Head coach Gokhan Durmaz reflected on the team’s successful journey, noting that they played 18 official matches this year and won all of them, culminating in this prestigious title. He highlighted a critical comeback during the group stage against the Netherlands as a key moment that boosted the team’s confidence.
Individual Player Contributions
The final match saw standout performances from several players, including:
- Beren Yesilirmak: 21 points, 5 serves, 43 attacks (49% success rate), 1 block
- Begum Kacmaz: 14 points, 5 serves, 10 attacks (80% success rate), 5 blocks
- Nisan Eroguz: 8 points, 6 serves, 3 attacks (100% success rate), 4 blocks
- Liza Safronova: 7 points, 4 serves, 29 receptions (42% success rate), 1 block
- Eylul Durgun: 10 points, 7 serves, 34 receptions (31% success rate), 1 block
Recognitions and Achievements
Türkiye Volleyball Federation (TVF) President Mehmet Akif Ustundag lauded the team’s achievement, emphasizing the strength of the country’s volleyball infrastructure. He praised the players and technical staff for their hard work and dedication.
Several players received individual honors for their exceptional performances throughout the tournament:
- Liza Safronova: Best Outside Hitter
- Beren Yesilirmak: Best Opposite Hitter
- Dilay Ozdemir: Best Setter and Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Türkiye’s U20 women’s volleyball team was warmly welcomed back to Istanbul with flowers and celebrations, marking the beginning of a bright future for the country’s volleyball prospects.