Turkiye roared back from a set down to beat Brazil 3-1 in the women's Volleyball Nations League final in Macao on Sunday, capturing their second VNL title and handing Brazil yet another silver medal in the competition.
Melissa Vargas was named Most Valuable Player after a record-breaking 33-point performance — the highest individual tally ever recorded in a VNL final match of either gender. The Turkish opposite spiked at 51 percent efficiency, adding three aces and three kill blocks to her dominant display.
In front of 4,000 spectators at the VNL Finals in Macao, China, Turkiye recovered from losing the opening set 25-23 to storm back 25-23, 26-24, 25-21. The victory adds the 2026 crown to the maiden title the Sultans of the Net won in 2023.
Turkiye captain and libero Gizem Orge, visibly emotional after the match, told VBTV: "I don't know how to put it in words! Really! It was a really tough game and I want to congratulate Brazil. Their fight was incredible! I played with a really big pain in my knee… I am so proud of everyone."
Brazil took the first set behind a dominant offensive display from 22-year-old outside hitter Ana Cristina, who opened a five-point gap at 23-18. Turkiye clawed back to within one but substitute opposite Kisy Nascimento fired the set-winner for the South Americans.
The second set turned into a grueling battle as Vargas began finding gaps in Brazil's floor defense. Outside hitter Hande Baladin pushed Turkiye to set point with a monster block before Vargas hammered the winner to level the match.
Set three was a high-octane affair where the lead never exceeded two points. Vargas pounded 11 points in the frame alone to push the set beyond 24-24 before an Ana Cristina attack sailed long to give Turkiye a 26-24 win.
Turkiye sprinted to a 13-7 lead in the fourth set before Brazil mounted a spirited comeback, taking a 19-18 lead on a four-point service run from Ana Cristina. But the advantage was short-lived — Vargas led the Turkish response, and setter Elif Sahin sealed the championship with a clever tip to close 25-21.
Turkiye's fewer unforced errors — 12 against Brazil's 17 — proved decisive, along with a slight 14-13 advantage in blocks. Hande Baladin added 19 points and Ilkin Aydin contributed 15 for the winners. Ana Cristina led Brazil with 25 points, followed by Rosamaria Montibeller (19), Julia Bergmann (15) and Luzia da Silva Nezzo (11).
Earlier on Sunday, Italy claimed the bronze medal by beating China in the third-place match.
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