Apeldoorn, Netherlands – The Volleyball Nations League 2025 witnessed a classic encounter as the reigning champions, Italy, were pushed to their absolute limit by a resilient Türkiye squad. In a grueling five-set battle on Saturday, Italy demonstrated their championship pedigree by securing a hard-fought victory, maintaining their flawless record in the tournament.
The match, held in Apeldoorn, delivered high drama and unpredictability, captivating fans with its intensity. After trading blows across the opening sets, Italy ultimately prevailed with a final score of 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-11). This win marks Italy`s 11th consecutive victory in the VNL 2025, solidifying their position at the top of the standings.
Key Performers on Display
Italy`s attack was formidable, relying heavily on the powerful duo of opposites Paola Egonu and Ekaterina Antropova. Together, they accounted for 37 points, a significant portion of Italy`s scoring output. Antropova, making a critical impact off the bench, led the Italian effort with 20 points (18 kills, 2 blocks). Egonu added 17 points (14 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace), showcasing her consistent threat. Middle blocker Sarah Fahr also contributed significantly with 15 points (11 kills, 3 blocks, 1 ace), highlighting Italy`s varied offensive options.
Fahr commented on the demanding nature of the match: “It was a really tough match, and it feels amazing that we managed to win it. Playing Türkiye is always very difficult. The atmosphere was amazing… I’m happy with the result and with how we played.”
Türkiye, despite the loss, displayed impressive resilience, spearheaded by star opposite Melissa Vargas. After a slow start in the first set, Vargas found her rhythm and finished as the match`s highest scorer with a remarkable 26 points (21 kills, 3 blocks, 2 aces). She received solid support from outside hitters Ebrar Karakurt (15 points) and Yaprak Erkek (12 points), and middle blocker Zehra Güneş (10 points), all reaching double-digit scoring.
Zehra Güneş reflected on the contest: “It was a great match and I enjoyed a lot being on the court. I thought that both teams fought until the end and maybe it was a little more difficult for us because we had less time to get back on the court and prepare to face such a strong opponent. But I still thought we did a really good job today…”
Tournament Implications
With just one preliminary phase match remaining, Italy is on the cusp of securing the top seed for the VNL Finals, scheduled to take place in Łódź, Poland, from July 23-27. Holding 30 points from their 11 wins, Italy needs to win just two sets in their upcoming match against the Netherlands to guarantee finishing ahead of second-place Brazil.
Türkiye`s standing is currently fifth with eight wins and 23 points. While the loss to Italy prevented them from climbing higher immediately, their strong performance against the top team underscores their potential threat in the knockout stage. They have an opportunity to improve their seeding in their final match.
The victory over Türkiye underscores Italy`s dominant run in the VNL 2025. They have consistently found ways to win, even when challenged by formidable opponents. Their final preliminary match against the Netherlands will be a crucial test as they fine-tune their strategy before heading to Poland with the formidable target of defending their title.
