Reigning European champions Türkiye made history on Thursday by advancing to the semifinals of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship for the first time. Despite dropping their first set of the tournament, they overcame a spirited United States team in a memorable quarterfinal clash.
In the final quarterfinal match held at Bangkok`s Huamark Indoor Stadium, Türkiye defeated the Americans with a decisive 3-1 (25-14, 22-25, 25-14, 25-23) victory. This crucial win keeps their quest for a maiden World Championship medal alive.
Upcoming Semifinal Matchup
Türkiye`s next challenge in the semifinals will be against Asian powerhouse Japan, who secured their spot by eliminating the Netherlands on Wednesday. Their highly anticipated match is scheduled for Saturday at 15:30 local time (8:30 GMT).
Key Player Performances
Star outside hitter Ebrar Karakurt delivered an outstanding performance against the USA, leading Türkiye with 23 points, comprising 20 kills and three blocks. Opposite Melissa Vargas also played a crucial role, contributing 21 points (18 kills, three aces). Team captain and middle blocker Eda Erdem added 13 points, including a match-high seven blocks and six kills.
“This is a historic day for us, marking the first time our national team has reached the Final Four of a World Championship,” Karakurt stated. “We entered this match with strong belief in our victory. Every teammate gave their absolute best, and I am incredibly proud of them. I focused on supporting the team and am pleased with my contribution today. However, it`s not over yet; we have two more matches, and our goal is to win gold.”
For the United States, Sarah Franklin was their top performer, scoring 12 points (ten kills, one block, one ace). This was one point more than her teammates, outside hitter Avery Skinner, middle blocker Dana Rettke, and opposite Stephanie Samedy.
Dana Rettke, a Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist, expressed her pride in the team: “I’m incredibly proud of this team. The growth we’ve shown from the start of the season to now is remarkable. We dedicated ourselves to intense summer training to be in peak condition for this championship, and we achieved a great result. As it’s the first year of the new Olympic cycle with a new coaching staff and players, this performance is highly encouraging.”
Match Statistics Highlight Türkiye`s Dominance
Türkiye`s dominance at the net was key to their win, as they significantly outscored the Americans in both kills (58 to 41) and blocks (19 to 11). While the USA held an advantage in aces (six to three), both teams committed a similar number of errors, with Türkiye giving away 18 points and the United States 17.
Other Semifinalists
Earlier on Thursday, Brazil also secured a semifinal spot by defeating France 3-0 (27-25, 33-31, 25-19). Brazil will now face Olympic champions Italy, who advanced after beating Poland on Wednesday. Their semifinal match is set for Saturday at 19:30 (12:30 GMT).
Oliver Wrenwick 
Finley Blackwood