VNL Women’s Semifinals: USA face 2018 rivals Turkey

The 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Finals are set with defending champions the United States, final four regulars Brazil and Turkey, and new team in the mix, Japan, vying for the title of the third edition in Rimini, Italy.

VNL 2019 runners-up Brazil will fight to overcome a determined Japanese side in the first semifinal match at 16.00 local time on Thursday and claim a VNL medal upgrade.

USA are two victories away from completing a three-peat in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League, but will have to face their 2018 rivals Turkey in the 2021 edition’s second semifinal at 19.30.

USA aiming for three-peat, Turkey playing for gold

USA were on a 14-match winning streak before reigning Olympic champions China prevented a sweep of the Preliminary Round on Sunday, with a straight-set win over the two-time VNL winners, indicating that they are still contenders for the Tokyo 2020 gold medal.

The double VNL titlists are still the team to beat, and they are on track for a three-peat, but it will be tough as they will be facing their former rivals Turkey in the semifinals.

These two squads faced each other in the 2018 VNL Finals, when USA made a tiebreaker comeback to win the inaugural title after a 2-1 Turkish advantage in the finale.

Turkey redeemed their loss in the 2019 VNL Preliminary Round with a 3-0 triumph, then USA settled their 2021 VNL Week 4 matchup with a four-set win.

The Turkish side are hoping to make it to the podium this year after losing the bronze medal match to China in 2019. Also, they are looking for an upgrade to their silver medal in 2018.

It will be a battle of the opposites for these two squads, as Turkey’s leading scorer Ebrar Karakurt, who tallied 243 markers in the Preliminary Round, will go up against USA’s Annie Drews and Jordan Thompson who scored 127 and 122 points, respectively.

• Check out the final standings of pool play at the 2021 Women's VNL

• Check out the full results and details of all matches, plus remaining schedule