Istanbul: Trkiye's women's national volleyball team triumphed in 2026 by securing their second consecutive European Championship title, marking a year of unprecedented success for the nation in both club and international volleyball competitions.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trkiye celebrated its first European crown in 2023 after a gripping victory over Serbia in a 3-2 final held in Belgium. Fast forward three years, the national team once again lifted the prestigious trophy, this time in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Istanbul. This victory increased Trkiye's European Championship medal tally to seven, consisting of two golds, two silvers, and three bronzes. Impressively, the national team has now secured a medal in five consecutive editions of the tournament.
Turkish women's volleyball gained significant international recognition throughout 2026, as the nation claimed victories in several high-profile competitions. Highlighting the domestic prowess, two Turkish clubs, VakifBank and Galatasaray, reached the finals of the CEV Champions League and the CEV Cup, respectively, with VakifBank emerging victorious in the Champions League and Galatasaray securing the CEV Cup. These achievements underscored Trkiye's dominance in European club volleyball.
On the international stage, the national team clinched the Volleyball Nations League and the Mediterranean Games titles, alongside their European Championship win. The VNL victory marked Trkiye's second triumph in the competition's history. Furthermore, Trkiye earned Europe's qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, solidifying their position as a volleyball powerhouse.
Adding to the year's achievements, the country will be represented by two teams, VakifBank and Eczacibasi, at the FIVB Women's Club World Championship scheduled from December 8 to 13, 2026.
In a notable highlight, Trkiye's European Championship victory ended a 15-year drought for host nations, becoming the first since Serbia in 2011 to win the tournament on home soil. Previous hosts such as Germany, the Netherlands, Azerbaijan, and Italy had failed to secure the title in their respective editions.
The 2026 triumph also added to the illustrious career of Trkiye's captain, Eda Erdem, who claimed her sixth European Championship medal. Her impressive haul includes bronze medals in 2011, 2017, and 2021, a silver in 2019, and golds in 2023 and 2026, establishing her as a cornerstone of the national team's success.
Additionally, Trkiye's Melissa Vargas was recognized as the MVP of the 2026 European Championship, repeating her 2023 accolade and bringing her total career MVP awards to 10, spanning various prestigious tournaments.
Source: Anadolu Agency