Turkish women’s volleyball team drops in world rankings after Italy defeat
Players of Team Türkiye react at the end of the Women's Volleyball Semifinals match against Team Italy at Paris 2024 Olympics, Paris, Fransa, August 8, 2024. (AA Photo)
Türkiye’s national women’s volleyball team, known as the Sultans of the Net faced a tough defeat against Italy in the semifinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Italy dominated the match, winning 3-0 with set scores of 25-22, 25-19, and 25-22.
The match, held at South Paris Arena, saw Italy’s Paola Egonu play a crucial role in securing her team’s victory. With this win, Italy advanced to the final, where they will face the United States, who overcame Brazil in a five-set thriller.
Turkish women’s volleyball team falls in world rankings
The defeat had immediate consequences for Türkiye in the world rankings. Following the match, Türkiye dropped from third to fourth place, losing 8.9 ranking points, bringing their total to 359.07. Meanwhile, Italy added 8.9 points to their score, solidifying their position at the top with 428.53 points.
The United States climbed to third place with 370.77 points after their victory over Brazil. This loss was a significant setback for the Filenin Sultanlari, who had been performing strongly throughout the tournament.
| Rank | Points | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 428.53 | Italy |
| 2 | 400.63 | Brazil |
| 3 | 370.77 | USA |
| 4 | 359.07 | Türkiye |
| 5 | 350.30 | China |
| 6 | 349.75 | Poland |
| 7 | 325.18 | Japan |
| 8 | 284.76 | Canada |
| 9 | 283.99 | Netherlands |
Türkiye’s women’s volleyball team to face Brazil for bronze
Despite taking early leads in each set against Italy, Türkiye struggled to maintain their advantage. Key players such as Melissa Vargas and Ebrar Karakurt delivered strong performances, but the team was unable to overcome Italy’s consistent attack.
The Sultans of the Net will now turn their attention to the bronze medal match against Brazil, scheduled for Aug. 10.
This loss marks a challenging moment for Türkiye, which had reached the Olympic semifinals for the first time after a strong group stage and a quarterfinal victory over China.
