Ankara, Turkey, August 14, 2015 – On day 3 of the 2015 FIVB Volleyball U23 Women’s World Championship in Ankara (Turkey), Pool A Turkey and Brazil competed in the battle of favourites where Turkey won 3-0 in fierce straight sets (25-18, 25-15, 25-14).
Favourites of Pool A started a tense battle in front of a red and white host crowd at Ankara Başkent.
The game started tight as the two favourites began their battle on court head-on with Turkey blocker Kübra Akman contributing 3 early vital points. The two teams entered the first technical timeout with Turkey ahead by 8-7 after Meliha İsmailoğlu’s excellent service point. Brazil took a nervous timeout when Turkey was ahead by 3 points (13-10) later recovered their defence and didn’t allow their opponents to completely dominate (13-13) but stubborn Turkey strikes back leading again with Meliha’s and Hande’s deadly spikes when the teams entered technical timeout 16-13 and Turkey continued with 6 point series. The set ended 25-18 when Turkey overpowered by vicious attacks and 7 points by Meliha and Kübra.
A speedy start by Turkey in the second set entering the first technical timeout 8-3. Hopeless Brazil takes timeout when they were behind Turkey 11-5 in order to resolve fractured defence issues. Both teams entered technical timeout as Turkey crushed Brazil 16-6. Brazil made final attempts to save the set however Turkey’s Ezgi Dağdelenler scored the finishing valuable point 25-15. Turkey gained 8 points from nervous Brazil errors.
The third set continued with a dominance displayed by Turkey after Brazil took first timeout when Turkey scored 5 points in a row later the gap increased when the teams entered the second technical timeout 16-7. Turkey continued dominance with Kübra, Meliha, Hande and captain Ezgi’s powerful blocks and attacks. The spectators chanted as they experienced a great rally at the end when Brazil tried to save the set for a final chance until Brazil’s Gabi hit the net letting Turkey whizz through with a victory (25-14).
Turkey’s Kübra Akman became the most scorer with 18 points followed by Brazil’s Gabriella Souza contributing 14 points.