Ankara, Turkey, May 23, 2018 - Gamze Alikaya's wonderful individual performance inspired Turkey to a rare home victory as they saw off the Dominican Republic in four sets 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-20, 25-19) in the women's FIVB Volleyball Nations League at the Baskent Volleyball Hall in Ankara.
Turkey were good value for their victory and showed real tenacity and courage to recover from Tuesday's defeat to Brazil in the same arena as they posted a fourth victory in five Volleyball Nations League matches. Dominican Republic were a threat from spike range, but their form from Tuesday's impressive 3-0 victory over Argentina largely deserted them as they were outgunned by the hosts, whose victory sparked jubilant scenes at the final whistle.
Seyma Ercan was Turkey's top scorer with 17 points, including 16 spikes, but it was setter Alikaya's display which provided the creative spark to propel the hosts to an impressive victory. Libero Hatice Orge Guner was a pivotal figure defensively, while Zehra Gunes (15 points) and Hande Baladin (14 points) were excellent attacking outlets as Giovanni Guidetti's women added attacking flair to their renowned defensive strength and blocking capabilities.
Dominican Republic were indebted to their Volleyball Nations League top scorer Brayelin Martinez, who chipped in with a game-high 26 points. Yonkaira Pena Isabel weighed in with 15 points, but their attacking verve wasn't enough as they were too often carved open - with their serving particularly erratic.
The first set was a slow burner with neither side able to get a stranglehold. Pena Isabel was a menace for the Dominican Republic and she tied it up at 8-8, but five straight points for the Turks, including three successive spikes from Ercan, put the host nation 13-8 in front and in control. Alikaya's creativity and the sound defensive work of Orge Guner were providing the bedrock while Meryem Boz was the early attacking force, but the visitors were always a threat with Martinez firing home a few powerful spikes. Turkey though weathered the storm and took the first set 25-20.
The Caribbean nation, who came into this match having won only once in their opening four Volleyball Nations League encounters, came out all guns blazing in the second set with Martinez increasingly prolific with her spikes as the visitors reached the first technical time out 8-3 in front. That lead increased further with the Dominican Republic utilising their power as Lisvel Eve crashed home a spike to make it 16-10. The visitors' Brazilian coach Marcos Kwiek was enjoying what he was seeing. Martinez showed her subtle side with a wonderful finish to push her team onto the 20-point mark, and they went from strength to strength to finish off the set at a canter (25-17) and level the match at one set apiece.
Turkey, who had won just one of their last ten home matches at world level, looked jittery at the start of the 3rd set, but a couple of points from captain Erdem Dundar had them 8-7 in front at the first technical time out. But the Caribbean nation, who had won nine of their previous 12 matches in Europe prior to this contest, levelled the set at 12-12, only for Turkey to score three successive points to regain control. With visiting libero Ana Binet struggling under intense Turkish serving, the hosts managed to forge a lead with Gunes providing two crucial blocks. Guidetti's players wrapped up the set 25-20 to move to within touching distance of victory.
Turkey had a 5-1 winning record against Dominican Republic prior to this match and they sensed victory again with a ferocious start to the fourth set. With Baladin increasingly influential, the hosts built up a sizeable four-point lead at the first technical time out. The Caribbeans were continuing to make service errors, but their aerial scoring power always made them a threat and it took real Turkish resilience to put them away. Alikaya's majestic touch made it 16-11 as Dominican Republic heads began to drop, and Turkey moved through the gears to wrap up the set 25-19 in relatively serene fashion to seal just a 2nd home win in 11 attempts. The hosts move up to fourth place in the Volleyball Nations League table, while it's back to the drawing board for the Dominican Republic who have just one win from five outings.