Turkish women claim home victory at the European Olympic Qualifiers – Volleyball news
Women’s volleyball teams from Turkey and Bulgaria met in the European Olympic Qualifiers on Tuesday, May 1.
Turks hosted the match and took full advantage of familiar conditions. They displayed incredible action on the net and won the match by posting 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-15). A large number of local fans witnessed the thrilling volleyball action at the Baskent
Hall in TVF Complex, Ankara. The home audience seemed totally delighted by the convincing win of their team in the first match of qualifying phase.
Turkey’s Esra Gümüs showed great consistency in attack and defence. She totalled 18 points and settled for the position of top-scorer in the match. Her teammates Toksoy and Darnel added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Eva Yaneva of Bulgaria registered team-high
10 points in the failing effort.
The home team had the competitive edge of playing at the familiar venue. They jumped out of gate and set a perfect tone for the competition. The girls around head coach Motta formed nice combinations and promptly picked up lead.
Turkish serves, aces, and spikes created trouble for Bulgarian blockers and dragged them under pressure. Elitsa Vasileva of Bulgaria resisted in full force and tried to save crucial points but the motivated Turks cruised past to 25-21 win in the opening
stanza.
After dropping the first set, Bulgaria came from different angles and tried to cover the deficit. The visiting team paid more attention on the defence side and controlled the action in the first half of the second set.
However, Turks gradually picked up pace and managed to dominate the opponent. Turkish captain Gumus added a flurry of points and led her team to 25-17 victory in the second frame.
Bulgarian mentor made a few changes in the line-up in third set but nothing could work in his favour. Charged-up Turkish ladies attained a great rhythm and tone, which helped them to finish third set with a margin of 10 points, 25-15. The hosts finished
the match in three sets and emerged successful in the match.
The winning head coach Marco Aurelio Motta praised the wonderful effort of his team. He complimented them in the following manner, “We played very well, especially in reception, serving and blocking. We could not prepare long enough for this tournament,
but it was the same for the other teams. But our motivation was very high and I am so satisfied with our performance today. Ankara is a special place for the Turkish national teams. I also congratulate the young players of Bulgaria.”
On the other hand, his Bulgarian counterpart Marcello Abbondanza openly admitted the strength and power of Turks.
He stated, “We played against a very strong team. This makes it hard for us, but it helps us understand the distance we have to walk to catch up with those ahead of us.”
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