Asli Kalac and libero Ayca Aykac celebrate Turkey's semifinal win over the Dominican Republic as Ebrar Karakurt falls on the floor after scoring the last point at the 2017 FIVB Women's U23 World Championship in Ljubljana.
Ljubljana, Slovenia, September 16, 2017 - Turkey came back from two sets down at 1-3 to edge the Dominican Republic 4-3 (11-15, 16-14, 11-15, 13-15, 15-7, 16-14, 15-8) here on Saturday at Arena Stozice to make the final of the 2017 FIVB Women's U23 World Championship. In Sunday's final they will face the winner of the second semifinal between Slovenia and Bulgaria.
It is the second appearance in a Women's U23 World Championship final for Turkey, who lost to Brazil 3-1 in 2015.
All matches in Ljubljana are played under a
new scoring system currently being tested: a best-of-seven, 15-point set format.
The loss of Madeline Guillen who had to be carried off to hospital in a stretcher after a left knee injury at 3-3 in the fifth set clearly disrupted the Dominican Republic. The 16-year-old outside hitter had been her side's best scorer to that moment with 12 points.
Madeline Guillen is carried off on a stretcher in a game-changing moment for the Dominican Republic.After the substitution with Natalia Martinez Turkey made a 12-4 run to take the fifth and then held the Caribbean side at bay to force a seventh.
The Dominican Republic could have closed the deal in six sets when they came back in the sixth from 5-11 and 11-14 to cancell three set points of Turkey and tie the score at 14-14, before the Balkan side brought in the next two points.
The fifth was too close to call until the two team switched courts with Turkey ahead by a point. But with Beyza Arici pounding the Dominican Republic from the service line and the block from the right allowing nothing through, Turkey made a 5-0 run for 13-7 and essentially bring it home.
Match point in Ljubljana as Turkey eliminate the Dominican Republic to make the final of the 2017 FIVB Women's U23 World Championship.Hande Baladin with 22 points and Ebrar Karakurt with 21 led Turkey as their side dominated the scoring skills to compensate for their 24 unforced errors. Gaila Gonzalez was the Dominican Republic's best scorer with 16 points.
Quick links - Volleyball:FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017
FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017 - ScheduleFIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017 - Teams
FIVB.com - VolleyballFIVB.com
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