VNL: Türkiye beats Japan and guarantees place in the final stage of competition
Turkey secured its early qualification for the final stage of the 2026 Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL). The team confirmed its place after overcoming Japan in a crucial match, held last Saturday, July 11, in Osaka, Japan.
The clash, which marked the penultimate round of the third stage of the tournament, ended with a score of 3 sets to 1 for the Turks. The splits were 25-22, 22-25, 25-22 and 25-22, demonstrating the balance of the dispute at Asue Arena Osaka.
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Classification scenario and upcoming challenges
With this result, the Turkish team joins four other teams already guaranteed in the decisive phase: Brazil, United States, Italy and China, which will host the finals. For Japan, the defeat complicated the situation in the competition.
The Japanese are facing a delicate moment, needing to perform well in the next game. This Sunday, they will have a direct confrontation against Poland, where the loser will be eliminated from the VNL, raising the tension for the final round.
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In the general classification table, Turkey advanced significantly, moving from seventh to fourth position, adding eight wins and 22 points. Meanwhile, Japan registered a drop, moving from sixth to eighth place, with the same number of wins and points as Poland, but a disadvantage in sets average.
Individual highlights in the decisive match
The performance of opposite Melissa Vargas was fundamental to the Turkish victory. The player led coach Daniele Santarelli’s team with 20 points, 19 of which were in attack, reaching an efficiency of 47%. Center Sinead Jack-Kisal contributed 14 points, and Zehra Gunes added 13 points to the scoreboard.
On the Japanese side, opposite Yukiko Wada had a remarkable performance, scoring an impressive 27 points, standing out in the team’s offensive. Pointer Mayu Ishikawa also had a good individual performance, adding 15 points during the match against Turkey.
