The Turkish team started strong, establishing a 4-point lead (6-2). The Netherlands increased their effectiveness on serves and tied the game at 7-7. Despite taking the lead at 11-10, the Netherlands were met with resistance as Turkey tied the game at 16-16. However, a 5-point run by the Netherlands led them to win the first set 25-19.
The Netherlands began the second set more effectively, gaining a 3-point lead (3-6). This lead grew to 10 points (11-21) in the middle and latter parts of the set. Despite efforts from Turkey’s Eda Erdem Dündar, Melissa Vargas, and Aslı Kalaç to reduce the gap to 5 points (18-23), the Netherlands won the second set 25-19.
The third set started with both teams scoring points back and forth, reaching an 8-8 tie early on. The Netherlands took a 13-10 lead midway through the set, but Turkey responded with points from Melissa Vargas, Hande Baladın, and Meliha Diken to lead 18-16. Turkey won the closely contested set 25-22.
In the fourth set, the Netherlands took an early 2-point lead (6-8) and extended it to 5 points (11-16). However, Turkey, with scores from Eda Erdem Dündar and Ebrar Karakurt, went on a 4-point run to close the gap to 1 point (15-16). The final stages of the set saw the teams tied at 21-21, but Turkey pulled ahead with points from Melissa Vargas to win the set 25-22, leveling the match at 2-2.
The final (deciding) set saw both teams exchanging points early on. The Netherlands established a 3-point lead (3-6), but Turkey, led by Eda Erdem Dündar and Ebrar Karakurt, closed the gap and took the lead at 7-6. The Turkish Women’s National Volleyball Team clinched the tightly contested final set 15-13, completing a comeback from 2-0 down to win the match 3-2.
This victory continues Turkey’s unbeaten streak against the Netherlands, who last defeated them 3-0 in August 2018. Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak attended the match, and Turkish supporters from France and across Europe filled the stadium to support the team. The Turkish team will face the Dominican Republic in their second group match on Thursday, August 1, at 10:00 AM local time.
