Vargas takes the VNL by storm with MVP award

The Volleyball Nations League 2023 was the international breakthrough of Turkish star opposite Melissa Vargas, who, in her first appearance in the event, led her new national team to its first-ever title in the tournament, while also taking home the Most Valuable Player award.

• The Volleyball Nations League 2023 matches are available on demand on VBTV

The 23-year-old Cuban-born opposite also earned a spot in the tournament’s Dream Team, alongside two of her teammates, three players from second-placed China and one from third-placed Poland.

Most Valuable Player: Melissa Vargas (Türkiye)
Best Setter: Diao Linyu (China)
Best Opposite: Melissa Vargas (Türkiye)
Best Outside Hitters: Li Yingying (China) and Martyna Łukasic (Poland)
Best Middle Blockers: Zehra Gunes (Türkiye) and Yuan Xinyue (China)
Best Libero: Gizem Örge (Türkiye)

Vargas was the top scorer of the VNL Finals with 65 points, nine more than Poland’s Magdalena Stysiak – she tallied 16 points in the quarterfinals against Italy, 23 in the semifinals against the United States and 26 in the gold medal match against China. The Turkish opposite also ranked first in kills (55) and aces (five) among the players that competed in Arlington.

Considering all 11 matches she played in the tournament, Vargas ended her first VNL appearance with 227 points – 194 kills, 19 aces and 14 blocks. She ranked sixth in scoring, seventh in kills and second in aces.

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