Turkey stun Serbia in EuroVolley 2026 semifinal, clinch 2028 Olympic berth

In the EuroVolley 2026 semifinal played at the Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul, Turkey delivered a commanding performance to defeat Serbia 3-0. This result not only sends Turkey to the final but also secures their spot in the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. From the very beginning, the hosts showed excellent preparation and determination. Their powerful, precise serves troubled Serbia's reception line, making it difficult for the opponent to build attacks. Serbia could only hold on briefly at the start of each set before Turkey pulled ahead and maintained a safe margin. In the first set, Turkey dominated; in the second set, they surged to an 8-3 lead, forcing Serbia to call an early timeout. The third set followed a similar script as Turkey led 7-2 and controlled the game to finish convincingly. The biggest highlights were Turkey's superiority in serving and blocking. They recorded 6 aces to Serbia's zero. This was not a coincidence but the result of a tactical serving strategy targeting weak reception positions. Turkey also out-blocked Serbia 10-7, neutralizing dangerous attacks. The middle blocker duo of Eda Erd... (tiếp tục)