The number four team in the FIVB World Ranking came back from a set down to celebrate a 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-17) turnaround against a spirited Canada, thus making it to the semifinals for the sixth time in VNL history and returning among the last four for the first time since 2023.
With opposite Kiera Van Ryk on fire, Canada prevailed on the court through most of the first set. Turkiye denied their first set point with a kill by opposite Melissa Vargas, but on the second, Canadian outside hitter Alexa Gray nailed the 25-22 set winner. The second set went the other way, with Vargas dominating on the court with as many as 11 points, including two aces, and the block-out shot that ended the set at 25-21 and leveled the match score.
Canada could not hold on to the five-point advantage they had piled up at 17-12 in set three. With five in a row, Turkiye caught up at 17-17. After 20-20, they added another four consecutive points to reach set point. A moment later, outside Hande Baladin closed the set at 25-21 Turkiye’s way with a sharp-angle cross-court kill. Riding the momentum, the European side stayed in control and cruised on to a 25-17 close, shaped up with a successful swing by outside Ilkin Aydin for the match winner.
