Trieste, Italy, September 28, 2014 – Even though Turkey have rested many players on Sunday morning, including Gözde Sonsirma and Gizem Karadayi, the Europeans won the match 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-12) against Cameroon, on the fifth day of Pool B play at 2014 FIVB Women’s World Championship in Trieste.
Key facts
• This was the first meeting between the two teams at the World Championship. It was also their first meeting at a major tournament.
• Cameroon have played ten matches at World Championships with only one set won. This was the third set in a 3-1 defeat against Canada in their first match of this year’s tournament.
• Having won the first two sets, Turkey became the 24th nation with 50 sets won in the competition.
• Today’s victory guarantee Turkey a spot in the second round of the tournament.
Polen Uslupehlivan was today’s top scorer with 14 points and only another Turkish player reached double figures, Meliha Ismailoglu with 10 points.
For Cameroon Christelle Tchoudjang Nana and Stephanie Fotso Mogoung both gained seven points.
In the start of the match, Turkey swept away their Brazil hangover with six swift points including an ace from Ceylan Arisan to lead 6-1. Cameroon crept back to 8-9, but until the second technical timeout, Turkey widened the gap to 16-8. Turkey were closing in on set point and Cameroon had their moments, most notably with a couple of tough kill blocks from Victoire Pauline Ngon Ntame, but it was fairly one-sided in the latter stages. Turkey led 23-14 and wrote down the first set 25-18.
Turkey started 5-1 ahead the second set. Cameroon gathered points thanks to four spectacular blocks and Nana won the last three points to put her team into the lead, 8-10. At the second technical timeout, Turkey came back fiercely and they led 16-12. At 15-20, the match continued with long rallies of attack and defense. Turkey led 22-16 and the set was theirs at 25-18.
In the third set Turkey continued their winning streak. Meliha Ismailoglu slammed a kill home, Cameroon over hit a return to push Turkey into a 7-3 lead. At the first technical break, Cameroon reduced the gap to 8-5. Turkey climbed further up the ladder 13-5. This was the most one-sided set so far with Turkey advancing into an 18-8 lead. Turkey, with their star players on the bench, wrapped up the set and match 25-12.