Italy edge Türkiye to clinch Volleyball Women's World Championship title

In a pulsating finale befitting their status atop the volleyball world, Italy narrowly outlasted Türkiye to claim their second FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship title on Sunday.

The reigning Olympic champions extended their unbeaten streak in international competition to an eye-watering 36 matches, sealing a 25-23, 13-25, 26-24, 19-25, 15-8 victory that was as much a test of nerves as of skill.

Paola Ogechi Egonu led the charge with 22 points, her offensive artistry matched by Myriam Fatime Sylla's 19 and Ekaterina Antropova's steady 14. Türkiye's Melissa Teresa Vargas was a tour de force in her own right, scoring an impressive 33 points and propelling her team to their best-ever result at a World Championship.

The opener set the tone, with Italy overcoming a 22-20 deficit to reel off four points in succession. Türkiye valiantly saved a set point, only for Stella Nervini to misfire on the subsequent rally, handing the set 25-23 to Italy.

Türkiye stormed back in the second set, racing to an 8-2 lead that prompted Italy's coach Julio Velasco to bench the struggling Egonu in favor of Antropova. Yet the substitution failed to stem the tide as Türkiye crushed the set 25-13, evening the match.

Set three was a seesaw battle. Italy surged to an 11-6 advantage, only for Türkiye to claw back to 16-16 and eventually seize a narrow 21-20 lead. Italy responded with a decisive four-point run to lead 24-21, but a late rally by Türkiye leveled the set at 24-all. In the end, Egonu delivered under pressure, smashing an ace that sealed the set and gave Italy a 2-1 lead.

Türkiye refused to wilt, taking the fourth set 25-19 behind Vargas's blistering spikes and serves. But in the end, Italy's resilience and experience carried the day, as they sealed the final set and with it, the championship.