News

Volleyball 17/09/2017

Merciless Turkey scatter Slovenia for Women's U23 world gold

Ljubljana, Slovenia, September 17, 2017 - Turkey pounded Slovenia from the service line to deny the hosts any kind of play as they sailed to a 4-0 (15-12, 15-11, 15-13, 15-8) sweep here on Sunday at Arena Stozice in the final of the 2017 FIVB Women's U23 World Championship.

All matches in Ljubljana are played under a new scoring system currently being tested: a best-of-seven, 15-point set format.

Turkey, who improved on their previous best of silver in the 2015 edition at home in Ankara, created all sorts of problems to Slovenia's reception above and beyond their nine direct aces (to Slovenia's none). This helped the block immensly to provide a total of eleven stuffs (to Slovenia's five).

Ebrar Karakurt of Turkey tries to get past the block of Slovenia's Tina Grudina and Iza Mlakar in the final of the 2017 FIVB Women's U23 World Championship in Ljubljana.

Ebrar Karakurt was practically unstoppable at 60% (12/20) in attack and the blocking duo of Beyza Arici and Asli Kalac brought in three stuffs each to carry the well-rounded Turkish side.

It was Slovenia's first defeat in the tournament. Turkey had lost in pool play to Brazil (though they still topped their pool).

Slovenia tried to react in the third set, taking an early lead, but eventually Turkey caught up at 12-12 and was first to reach set point at 14-13 on a kill from the middle by Asli Kalac that left libero Maja Pahor gasping for air. A double block by Hande Baladin and Saliha Sahin on Iza Mlakar finished it off in the very next rally.

Failing to find any way to counter Turkey, Slovenia collapsed in the fourth as the Balkan side cruised to overall victory.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, was amongst the fans who cheered on the home side, waving the country's special flag that carries the signatures of all the top sports personalities of Slovenia.