Turkey ease past China, Brazil finally beat Italy in Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals
Brazil edge five-set thriller to set up gold medal clash with Turkey. China to face Italy for bronze in Macau
Turkey ended China’s hopes of a springing a surprise and Brazil dethroned defending champions Italy in a five-set thriller as the Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals neared a conclusion in Macau on Saturday.
Fresh from upsetting top seeds the United States in the quarter-finals, the hosts had harboured hopes of battling for gold for the first time in three years, but were ultimately no match for side that has beaten them several times on the big occasion.
Turkey swept China aside in straight sets, winning 3-0 in the second of the evening’s semi-finals at the East Asian Games Dome.
Melissa Vargas was on fire on the court, powering her team to an emphatic 25-21, 25-15, 25-20 victory in front of a 5,000-strong crowd.
“It was a very important victory for Turkey that took us to the final. Against a big Chinese team, we fought for every point,” Vargas said. “I expect a very tense game and a point-for-point fight against Brazil tomorrow.”
China made fewer unforced errors than Turkey, but outside hitter Zhuang Yushan, with 15 points, was their only player to reach double digits.