With Turkey’s 3-1 victory over the USA, the women’s volleyball World Championship semifinalists are set: Italy, Brazil, Japan, and Turkey, with the semifinal matchups confirmed.

On September 5th Beijing time, the women’s volleyball World Championship quarterfinals wrapped up. In the last key match, Turkey fought through four sets to eliminate the USA 3-1, clinching a semifinal berth as the last qualifier. Consequently, the semifinalists are Japan, Italy, Brazil, and Turkey, with matchups set as Italy against Brazil and Turkey versus Japan!

Turkey faced off against the USA. The USA is a strong team with a rich history, though this season they have clearly lacked competitiveness, currently ranked sixth in the world. They lost 0-3 to Italy in the Volleyball Nations League, exiting at the quarterfinal stage. Although they topped their group in this tournament, they still dropped sets and cruised past Canada 3-0 in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals. Turkey, boosted by Vargas’s addition, has become a truly strong team, winning the 2023 Volleyball Nations League and currently ranked fifth globally, maintaining a high level. They advanced in this tournament without dropping a single set, the only team to do so!

Thus, Turkey and the USA met in the quarterfinals. At the start, Turkey took the initiative, scoring from multiple points to gain control. The USA couldn’t keep up and quickly fell behind, losing the first set 14-25. In the second set, the USA adjusted quickly, strengthening their blocks to limit Turkey’s attacks, resulting in a back-and-forth battle. The USA scored consecutive points to build a four-point lead and held off Turkey’s comeback to take the set 25-22. In the third set, Turkey’s offense surged again, bombarding the USA especially after mid-set, winning decisively 25-14. In the fourth set, the USA was pushed to the brink but fought hard to keep pace with Turkey. However, at the crucial moments, the USA failed to deliver a finishing blow, and Turkey calmly closed the set 25-23, winning the match 3-1 and securing the final semifinal spot!

It must be said that the USA women’s team has indeed declined, struggling to win championships in recent years. They might be slightly better off than China’s team but are both in phases of rebuilding. Currently, European volleyball looks poised to dominate the world stage. The semifinal matchups for this tournament are confirmed: Italy will face Brazil, and Japan will challenge Turkey!

Written by / Sports Fiction