Turkey’s ‘Filenin Sultanları’ Dominate Belgium in VNL Opener
Ankara, June 17, 2026 – The Turkish Women’s National Volleyball Team, affectionately known as ‘Filenin Sultanları’ (Sultans of the Net), commenced their 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) campaign with a decisive 3-0 victory over Belgium. The match, held at the Ankara Arena Sports Hall, saw Turkey secure a comfortable win in front of their home crowd.
Match Details and Set Scores
The Turkish team demonstrated strong performance throughout the match, with set scores of 25-14, 25-13, and 25-23. The entire encounter lasted 82 minutes, showcasing Turkey’s efficiency and control on the court.
SALON: Ankara Arena Sports Hall
REFEREES: Ivaylo Ivanov (Bulgaria), Karina Mirkova (Russia)
Turkish Lineup:
- Sinead Jack Kısal
- İlkin Aydın
- Melissa Vargas
- Elif Şahin
- Yaprak Erkek
- Kermen Aksoy
- Gizem Örge (L)
- (Substitutes: Buse Özden, Defne Bașyolcu, Cansu Özbay, Saliha Şahin, Hande Baladin)
Head Coach: Daniele Santarelli
Belgian Lineup:
- Pauline Martin
- Nathalie Lemmens
- Britt Herbots
- Nel Demeyer
- Britt Franson
- Elise Van Sas
- Britt Rampelberg (L)
- (Substitutes: Sear Bertels, L. Negeles, Tea Radovic, Janne Deleu, Anna Koulberg, Flore Maes)
Head Coach: Kris Vansnick
Next Challenge: France
Following their successful start, ‘Filenin Sultanları’ are set to face France in their second match of the Ankara leg. This highly anticipated game will take place on Thursday, June 18, at 7:30 PM local time.
The victory against Belgium marks a positive beginning for Turkey in the VNL, as they aim to build on this momentum in subsequent matches. The team’s strong performance, particularly in the first two sets, highlights their potential for a successful tournament run.
Fans and analysts alike will be keenly watching to see if the ‘Sultanları’ can maintain their winning streak against France and further solidify their position in the league standings.
Source: istanbulgazetesi.com.tr
