The Turkish Women’s National Volleyball Team is bracing for a fierce quarterfinal clash against Japan in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, a matchup rich with both tactical nuance and emotional stakes.
Set for July 24, at the Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland, the encounter pits the 2023 champions, known as the "Sultans of the Net," against one of the tournament’s most technically polished teams.
While the winner advances to the semifinals to face either Brazil or Germany, the tension runs deeper than the bracket.
Japan’s head coach, Ferhat Akbaş, knows his opponents all too well.
The Turkish tactician, also the coach of Turkish club giants Eczacıbaşı Dynavit and brings a deep understanding of the very system he’s now plotting to outwit.
His inside knowledge of Türkiye’s top players and style adds a layer of intrigue few matchups can offer.
Türkiye enter the knockout stage after finishing the expanded preliminary round with eight wins and four losses, securing the sixth seed out of 18 teams.
Their journey across host cities – from Istanbul and Ottawa to Beijing and Belgrade – was marked by consistency, grit, and the leadership of seasoned veterans like captain Eda Erdem, dynamic outside hitter Hande Baladın, and the explosive Melissa Vargas.
This year’s VNL, the seventh edition of the tournament, features an expanded field with no relegation from 2024.
Newcomers Czechia and Belgium joined the fray, with the former qualifying through the 2024 Challenger Cup and the latter earning their spot based on FIVB rankings.
Japan, meanwhile, looked sharp throughout the preliminary phase, finishing third overall.
Known for their speed, tight formations, and nearly flawless defense, they rely heavily on stars like Sarina Koga and Mayu Ishikawa.
Their silver-medal finish in 2024, where they fell to Italy in the final, showed they are more than capable of going the distance.
The quarterfinal clash against Türkiye will test Japan’s system like few matches have.
While their fast-paced offense and disciplined backcourt are strengths, the physicality of Türkiye’s front line and the firepower Vargas brings at the net could stretch their limits.
The psychological edge may rest with Akbaş’s knowledge, but Türkiye’s experience in pressure situations could be the difference.
Elsewhere in the quarterfinals, Italy, the 2024 champions, face eighth-seeded U.S.
Brazil, one of the tournament’s most consistent performers, takes on Germany, while host nation Poland, who earned their spot with a fourth-place finish, goes up against China.
For Türkiye, a victory over Japan would mark a return to the semifinals and put them two wins away from reclaiming their title.
