Julia Kudiess, Iman Ndiaye, Martyna Czyrnianska, Nanami Seki, Monica De Gennaro, and Mayu Ishikawa also achieved top statistical honors.
Turkish powerhouse Melissa Vargas, born in Cuba, not only earned a spot on the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Dream Team as the tournament’s premier opposite but also led in three crucial individual statistical categories: best scorer, best attacker, and one of the top three servers. She shared the best server title with Poland`s Martyna Czyrnianska and France`s Iman Ndiaye. Brazil’s Julia Kudiess was recognized as the best blocker, while Italy’s Monica De Gennaro excelled as the best digger. Japan`s Nanami Seki and Mayu Ishikawa topped the rankings for best setter and best receiver, respectively.
Vargas`s exceptional scoring ability was particularly evident in Turkiye`s final two matches. She registered 28 points in the semifinal against Japan and an impressive 33 points in the final match against Italy, a tournament high. Accumulating a total of 151 points, Vargas secured the top scorer position, nine points ahead of Brazil`s Gabriela Guimaraes (Gabi) and ten points clear of Japan`s Mayu Ishikawa.
With 134 successful spike kills, Vargas also led the best attackers` chart. She was followed by Dream Team outside hitters Ishikawa (128 kills) and Gabi (125 kills).
The Turkish star`s offensive arsenal also included 10 aces. Four of these aces were critical in the World Championship final against Italy, allowing Vargas to tie with Poland`s 21-year-old Martyna Czyrnianska and France`s Iman Ndiaye, who also recorded 10 aces each, for the top spot in the best servers ranking.
Brazilian players notably dominated the best blockers` chart. Twenty-two-year-old Julia Kudiess achieved an impressive 30 kill blocks, including nine in the semifinal against Italy. Her teammate, middle blocker Diana Alecrim, finished second with 27 kill blocks. Turkish players Eda Erdem (a Dream Team member) and Zehra Gunes followed closely with 20 and 19 kill blocks, respectively.
Newly crowned world champions Italy also saw one of their players among the statistical leaders. Veteran Monica De Gennaro, securing her place on the Dream Team, led the best diggers ranking. The 38-year-old libero recorded 81 digs, eight more than the second-best defender, Mayu Ishikawa. Dutch libero Florien Reesink and Turkish libero Gizem Orge tied for third place, each with 69 digs.
Japanese captain Mayu Ishikawa, who was a runner-up in three other rankings, also topped a category herself: best receiver. She registered an impressive 73 successful receptions, surpassing Brazil’s Julia Bergmann (65). Gabi and France’s dynamic leader Helena Cazaute shared third place with 64 receptions each.
Japanese setter Nanami Seki showcased excellent playmaking throughout the championship. In her team`s final match, she managed to overtake her Dutch counterpart Sarah van Aalen for the leading position in the best setters chart. Seki accumulated 231 successful sets, narrowly beating van Aalen`s 229. Van Aalen`s tournament ended after the quarterfinals, where the Netherlands lost to Japan in a tie-breaker. Both setters significantly outpaced the rest, with Turkiye`s Cansu Ozbay being the next best with 151 successful sets.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick