Volleyball
The Round of 16 at the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship in Thailand has concluded, with the United States and Türkiye securing the final quarterfinal spots. Both teams advanced after dominant straight-set (3-0) victories in their respective matches.
USA Dominates Canada 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-21)
Team USA secured their quarterfinal berth at the 2025 FIVB Women’s World Championship in Bangkok by convincingly defeating Canada in straight sets. The Americans showcased superior blocking, registering 11 kill blocks compared to Canada`s 6, and a slight edge in attacks (42-38). Canada also struggled with unforced errors, committing 19 to USA`s 12.
Avery Skinner and Sarah Franklin led the scoring for the USA, each contributing 13 points, with Franklin adding three crucial blocks. Madisen Skinner also made a significant impact with 12 points. Key contributions came from middle players Chiaka Ogbogu (6 spikes, 1 block, 1 ace) and Dana Rettke (3 blocks), while Morgan Hentz excelled defensively with 11 digs.
For Canada, 21-year-old Anna Smrek was the standout performer, scoring 12 points, including an ace and three blocks. Despite the loss, Smrek highlighted the valuable experience gained and expressed optimism for future competitions.
Türkiye Overcomes Slovenia 3-0 (30-28, 25-13, 29-27)
World No. 5 Türkiye overcame a determined Slovenia, ranked 20th globally, in a challenging match that saw close first and third sets. Despite Slovenia`s resilience, Türkiye`s experience prevailed.
Key Players:
- Melissa Vargas was instrumental with 20 points (19 spikes, 1 block).
- Captain Eda Erdem contributed 17 points, including 12 spikes, 2 blocks, and 3 aces, securing the decisive point.
Slovenia`s top scorers were Fatoumatta Sillah with 15 points (12 spikes, 2 aces, 1 block) and Evá Zatkovič with 14 points (attacks and a block).
Match Statistics:
- Errors: Türkiye 16 vs. Slovenia 20
- Kills: Türkiye 47 vs. Slovenia 42
- Blocks: Türkiye 10 vs. Slovenia 7
- Aces: Türkiye 7 vs. Slovenia 3
This victory propels Türkiye into the quarterfinals, where they will face the United States in pursuit of their first World Championship title.
#Volleyball
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood