Türkiye rallied from two sets down to beat Italy 3-2 in a dramatic final in Istanbul on Sunday, successfully defending their European women's volleyball championship and securing a place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Playing before a packed crowd at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, the Turkish women overcame Italy in a thrilling five-set final to claim their second consecutive European title and their second championship overall.
The victory capped a dominant 2026 campaign for the defending champions, who also secured the European crown on home soil after a tournament filled with tense matches and strong performances.
Türkiye reached the final for the fourth time in European Championship history. They finished second in Group A behind Poland with four victories and one loss, defeating Latvia, Slovenia, Hungary and Germany while falling to Poland.
The team then moved through the knockout stage without dropping a set against Azerbaijan, beating them 3-0 in the round of 16. Germany were next, with Türkiye winning 3-1 in the quarterfinals before sweeping Serbia 3-0 in the semifinals.
That set up a final against Italy, and the match lived up to its billing as one of the tournament's most closely contested encounters.
Daniele Santarelli's team ultimately prevailed 3-2 to retain the title and add another major trophy to a golden period for Turkish volleyball.
Back-to-back European champions
The championship marked Türkiye's second straight European title.
The Turkish women won their first European Championship in 2023 and returned to the final this year as defending champions. Their previous appearances in the title match came in 2003 and 2019, when they finished with silver medals.
They also won bronze in 2011, 2017 and 2021.
The latest triumph further strengthened Türkiye's status as one of the leading powers in international women's volleyball.
Vargas leads individual honors
Türkiye dominated the tournament's individual awards after their championship victory.
Melissa Vargas was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and also earned the award for best opposite hitter.
Derya Cebecioğlu was selected as one of the best outside hitters alongside Italy's Myriam Sylla, while Zehra Güneş was named one of the tournament's best middle blockers alongside Hena Kurtagic.
Gizem Örge was selected as the best libero, while Elif Şahin was praised for her contribution as the team's setter.
Santarelli also received the award for best coach after guiding Türkiye to another European title.
Bak praises team's comeback
Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak watched the final from courtside alongside Istanbul Gov. Davut Gül and Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ.
Bak praised the team's resilience after they fell behind twice in the final.
"We fell behind twice but knew how to win," Bak said after the match. "We Turks have a saying: 'It isn't over until we say it is over.' They put up a tremendous fight."
Bak said the victory had given millions of Turkish fans another reason to celebrate and praised the atmosphere inside the arena.
He said about 17,000 spectators attended the final, describing the crowd as a record and saying CEV officials had told him they had never witnessed an atmosphere like it.
Bak also credited investments in volleyball and sports facilities across Türkiye, while praising the Turkish Volleyball Federation, coaching staff and players for their roles in the championship.
He singled out Vargas, Güneş, Şahin, captain Eda Erdem and Hande Baladın for their performances.
"Vargas being named the MVP is very important," Bak said. "Zehra, Elif Şahin, our captain despite her age, Hande Baladın and all the other players made tremendous contributions."
Bak also said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the team to congratulate them after the victory.
"Türkiye is a volleyball country," Bak said. "We are proving that with our results."
Fans celebrate across Türkiye
The championship sparked celebrations well beyond the Istanbul arena.
In Istanbul's Kartal district, hundreds of fans gathered at Neyzen Tevfik Square to watch the final on a giant screen. Supporters waved Turkish flags, sang songs and cheered after every point as Türkiye battled Italy.
Similar scenes unfolded in Mersin, where hundreds of fans watched the final on a giant screen set up near the marina.
The crowd celebrated together after Türkiye completed their comeback, turning the waterfront into a celebration of the team's latest international success.
"We held our breath watching the women's success on the coast and celebrated the championship shoulder to shoulder," Mersin officials said.
The celebrations reflected the growing popularity of women's volleyball in Türkiye, where the national team has become one of the country's most successful and closely followed sporting sides.
A bridge becomes a volleyball net
The team's European triumph was also celebrated with a special visual display on Istanbul's 15 July Martyrs Bridge.
Adidas, a sponsor of the Turkish national volleyball teams, released a CGI film depicting the iconic bridge transforming into a giant volleyball net.
A huge volleyball appeared in the sky and crossed the net, referencing the point that secured the championship. The film then showed the entire Turkish team alongside the message, "Congratulations, Filenin Sultanları."
The European title also delivered another major reward for Türkiye: a direct place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The qualification means the Turkish women will compete at their fourth consecutive Olympic Games and their third in a row.
Türkiye previously competed at London 2012, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.