The "Filenin Sultanları" rose to world third place

Turkey's "Filenin Sultanları" (Ladies of the Net) have achieved a significant milestone, climbing to third place in the FIVB world rankings after a dominant performance in the second week of the 2026 Volleyball Nations League (VNL). Hosting the event in Ankara, the national team secured victories in all four of their matches against Belgium, France, Germany, and China.

The team's undefeated run in Ankara marks a historic first for Turkey in a VNL home week. They defeated Belgium and France 3-0, staged a comeback to win 3-2 against Germany after being down two sets, and closed out the week with another 3-2 victory over China. With these wins, Turkey concluded the Ankara leg with a perfect record, contributing to their overall VNL standing of 6 wins and 2 losses after 8 matches, earning them 15 points and placing them sixth overall.

Melissa Vargas emerged as a standout performer, contributing an impressive 107 points during the Ankara stage alone. Her individual scores included 17 points against Belgium, 22 against France, 32 against Germany, and a remarkable 36 points against China. Vargas's offensive prowess was instrumental in the team's success.

Following their strong showing in Ankara, Turkey surpassed the United States in the FIVB world rankings, securing the third position with 362.35 points. Italy leads the rankings with 466.32 points, followed by Brazil in second place with 427.21 points. The VNL's third and final stage will take place from July 8-12 in Japan and China, where the Turkish team will face Poland, the USA, Japan, and Thailand.

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Melissa Vargas, with her 107 points in the Ankara leg, played a crucial role in the national team's success.