Having a wow of a tournament. We are underway. Brazil in the yellow, Caracalier in the red.
First set action underway. Smooth as silk through the middle. Gunesh, the middle blocker, 198 centimetres tall. herself had a wonderful vnl this year the best middle blocker in the vnl for 2023 so she's in great form on the free ball opportunity dragged into the net that's not the perfect start so a little moment of trepidation or nerves perhaps Well that's the heat that we're expecting to see from the opposite. Vargas put the ball down hard, the ball came back off a Brazilian jig and then that lady is the captain herself, the Turcaia, Eda Erdem, 36 years of age, playing some of the best volleyball of her life right now.
Very fluent though, through the middle. Vicer, talk about experienced athletes, 36 years of age, herself an Olympic gold medalist from 2008 and 2012. There is some serious experience through the middle for Brazil. Slide attack, well executed. The captain again.
Both attacks looking pretty fluid at the moment. Nice setting. Good options. Plenty of noise.
Nice hard driven ball. Posa Maria. First back row attack we've seen from the Brazilian combination. Finding the scene perfectly.
Confidence building first back row attack. We were wondering how long it would be before Adokurt made her presence felt from the outside. What a versatile player. Can play opposite, can play outside hitter. Incredible cross-cut angle, her first swing of the match.
Well, Eriksen pretty low, good serve reception. Nice confidence from both sides of the net. The offences come through the middle of the back row.
Quite an attack from Josemaria. Four points apiece, very even. A service error from Dijs, the first one we've seen. With plenty of respect, very tall blocking units.
Vargas comes into the front court, 194cm tall. Nice response. Vargas will get another opportunity.
Great hustle, Brazil. But the siren sounded, that's fascinating. Confusion reigns.
Maybe a video official has picked up the center line fault. Yeah, that's exactly what the challenge is. Guimarães, the coach of Brazil, just calling the technology in to support him. I'm gonna check.
So he's saying center line challenge. I thought perhaps it was a challenge to back row but perhaps... Vargas has penetrated through when she's landed underneath the net. It will be some eagle-eyed coaching. Let's have a look.
Oh, well, I'll be. That is clearly a centerline fault. How is the eyesight of Jose Roberto Pujares?
Athletes have no rights to step into the opponent's court under the net like that. That is some high quality use of the technology. The Brazilian coach is up and about this evening in Tokyo.
The response from Torquay was clinical. Power through the middle. You're gonna run that attack quite a lot as by the setter Loves connecting with that middle attack as many times as possible It was just for a moment an opportunity to recycle the ball. The Brazilian power was just enough That lady Gabby, we'll be seeing a lot of her tonight. Such a powerful spiker.
Great pick up. Cycle again. Terkaye battling hard.
Wonderful, wonderful defense. Oh, it's some high quality stuff here in Tokyo. Everything just going up a notch from the defense down the line.
Naomi the libero for Brazil working very hard. The response is swift and clinical again. Andy Baladin. The Tokyo Olympian. Loading in beautifully, just finding opportunity through the block of Brazil.
Seven points apiece, nothing between these nations. Opportunity knocks. Once again, down the line. We're going to see a lot of Vargas tonight, that is for sure. Playing a club volleyball in China now.
Enjoying taking over that opposite role for Turkayeh. Oh, and for the first time tonight, the roof. Well, the hitting has been such high quality. But look at the wonderful penetration. Hande Baladan.
Perfect technique. Gets a two-point lead. Oh, and we barely use it.
What an option to have. Katakur out of the back row. And that's the strength of this. ...from Turcayet at the moment. They have so many attacking options.
It's no longer just a single point of attack through Kadokurt on those release balls. The Brazilian block really going to keep themselves on their toes tonight. Been head coach of this Brazilian team since 2003, taking them to two Olympic gold medals and Olympic silver. I know he's absolutely got them primed to get them on the road to another Olympic Games. I'd love to beat Turcay tonight.
Would almost seal the deal. But a bit of fortune off the take. Of course for Paris 2024 the host teams, host nations already qualified. What a rotational error by the setter coming in too early there. First by, in the back row, she was a little bit early on her penetration into the net.
Well spotted by the second referee. Little skill error or concentration error. Back-to-back errors, in fact, by Turque.
Well, the timeout working beautifully for Brazil. Chanting for the ace. Tough serving from Diana. Well, you could see that set up so beautifully. Vargas in a one-on-one situation.
The strength of the hands to get the ball to her. Not a lot that the Bidul could do there. Julia B stuck one-on-one. Vargas almost impossible to stop.
and defense. She's allowed to go for her serve surely. Nine aces for the tournament already for Melissa Vargas.
Brazil down by one. Maria back to the service line slide attack is so fluent so clean That lady again here to them Just absolutely picking the pockets neither Brazilian blocker really Effective there one of them has to commit to that run neither of them Really made a play back out to two Oh, she gets it done through reputation sometimes. They're catacurts.
They were braced for the hard-driven ball. All the pace taken off it. Not much the army could do, the Libero for Brazil.
14-11, a three-point lead. Very, very solid start for Turcayet. ...a bit long with the serve so two points the difference. Here in Japan the Japanese crowd not sure who to cheer for world number one world number four spoiled for riches Tokyo will have their home team up next.
Nice pick up, nice a beat Oh, but the slight attack at will. An outrageously high quality action from the Turkaye offense. Out at him again.
She's having a day out at the moment. It's her fourth attack to go with two blocks. She's leading all comers at the moment for points scored in set number one. Great touch. Oh, begging for a touch.
Urging and getting. Vargas was absolutely adamant. Oh, the pixels don't lie.
Gabi getting just the nearest touch on it. Everything going the way of Torikoya at the moment, earning every point that they make. the response though full of attitude slide attack to slide attack nice up to the service line she goes they trail by three Brazil up against Turcay set number one Quick attack, not as electric on this occasion. The tip from downtown. Just, and a net touch is going to be called.
This player doesn't believe she transgressed. A rare occasion when the offense didn't quite click for the Turk-Ia combination. Back-to-back serves for Dicer for Brazil. Caracut, such an imposing figure. Look at the contact point, so high over the top of Roberta's block.
Not much Julia B could do back in position six. A 17-14 Turcay, back in control of set number one. They've been a tiny bit wasteful with the serve in the last few opportunities. So just giving Brazil the opportunity, beside of the quality of Brazil, you don't give them too many opportunities to find their mojo again.
Roberto back to serve. Nice, controlled middle attack, steady and calm. Ganesh, best blocker at the Tokyo 2020-21 Olympics. A really great Olympic campaign, looking to make another.
Once again though, Kurt Koyeb, having been able to land a serve for the last sort of five minutes. That's how you let momentum slip through your fingers. Four serve errors to one tells a bit of a story.
So substitutions. Harakurt goes off and we see. Eye catch, come on.
27-year-old outside hitter. And their side-out game has been absolutely first-class tonight. Saladin.
Diusha's going to have a little bit of work to do, but down the side of the block, perfectly done. A serve is in. That's a good change.
And he gets an opportunity for Turkaye. Wonderful pick up. Naomi down the line again.
But the blocking unit is electric. Vargas again, look at this reach. Elbows above the net, that is imposing.
Getting the serve in, getting the transition made all the difference. So substitutions. Julie B comes off. Laroche comes on. It's blocked again.
It's recycled. Transition opportunity. Here's a free ball.
Oh, and it is dealt with hard. This lady is on fire right now. Melissa Vargas.
So fluid and dynamic, 87kmh the spike speed. She's going cross-court at will at the moment, the Brazilian block cannot find a way to stop her. Well certainly coach Guamardes has concerns about the Brazil blocking technique at the moment.
Particularly Vardegas, the number four, has had her way with him at the moment. The attack efficiency, very high. Three blocks to Brazil's nil, so blocking not quite tuned in yet for the team in yellow. The world number four, but the world number one playing with swagger right now. 21-16, set number one.
Oh, that's going to disappoint the Turcoy coaching, because that was really a ball that might be a better opportunity to dig that ball than was given. Get the side out though, 17-21, they're trailed by four. We go to 25, you need a two-point lead.
Terkaye in control of set number one, no. Well, they made the adjustment, they got two good blockers in front of this lady, Vargas, but just the presence of mind, she changed the game from sharp cross-court, tooling it off the blockers'hands and out for 22-17. And they don't get a respite when she goes back to the baseline either. Nice response Brazil. Direitx!
Pumping that one away. 18-22. Pressure still very much on the Brazilian side. Oh, that is just delicious. The slight attack has been paying such dividends for Turtkaye.
The Brazilian block cheated to follow that one out and then threw the middle, soaring. Vardegas absolutely could have hit that one wherever she wanted. What a great offense at the moment.
Busby running great options for Turcay right now. That was a hard driven ball. My goodness.
Rosamaria. This will look spectacularly. 95 kilometers an hour from the back row. Just pure power.
No one's bringing that ball back. 19-23 important moments these important rally. Sotokaihei one good rally away from set point.
Brazil needs some serve pressure. They get it and they get the point I think a little bit of a inquiry about the action at the net. 20-23 that was a much needed point. So Reutje again back to the service line a trial by three.
Oh you could see where they were thinking But they've not been able to stop this lady through the middle captain of Terkaye Over them with another slight attack brings up set point 24-20 substitution Sahin comes on the number 12. Ganesh comes on as well. Set point play. Oh!
Don't make her cranky! Oh, that might come back to bite them. One set point saved.
You might have just poked the lion down the line. Vargas wearing one. Set point number two though for Turkaye.
One good action and the first set is theirs. Perfect, absolutely perfect. What an offense this lady has run.
Chanchu Osbe, the setter for Turcay should take a lot of credit for a well constructed first set of volleyball. And it is Turcay 25 defeating Brazil 21 in set number one. In a high quality affair. Brazil, of course, went through the first four rounds of this tournament undefeated, but they did go down two sets to one against Bulgaria a few days ago, but they came back very, very strong.
Had to win that one in five. Look at that. Just clinical execution to win the set through the middle. Nice to see Özbey getting a swing at the ball. So one set to love, there it is. 25-21 Vargas with six attacks, one block, and Erdem with five attacks and two blocks leading all comers.
And for Brazil, really blocking has been their Achilles heel. They just haven't been able to effectively stop this attack from the team in red. 12 attacks to 21. No blocks. One service ace.
And plenty of errors. The world number one Turkaye playing at a higher level at the moment and their offense has been absolutely irrepressible. Very nice moments.
Thaisa through the middle was very very good at times. Rosamaria from the back row but this lady was absolutely breathtaking as was the captain. Vargas again cross-court hard. What a remarkable athlete. Let's have a look at that receiver accuracy.
Not bad. 16% in the outer zone there making a quick attack very, very difficult. Well for Turkaye, I think you're going to see a very efficient story, very much so. And that's a big reason why. The setter for Turcay Urzbay has been really able to run the offense that she's want to run because she hasn't had to go miles to track down that ball.
So a bit more serve pressure perhaps for Brazil and certainly that's going to allow their block to have to make less decisions and perhaps start getting some block pressure. There's Vargas on the left. On the right, talking to Karakurt.
What a pair of absolute guns Turkaye have in those two athletes. In their first match against Puerto Rico, Karakurt was the top scorer. In their second match, Vargas was the top scorer. In their third match, Karakurt was the top scorer. In their fourth match, Vargas was the top scorer.
So, it's no secret for Brazil where the majority of the attack... is going to come from from Terukaiye through the number 99, the number 4 on screen, but just often enough through the middle of the number 14 and captain Erte Erdem has been really really hard to stop. There's so many attacking weapons for Turkaye. We get ready to start set number two. Hello and welcome.
Hope you're enjoying the coverage on the road to Paris, the Olympic Qualifier Tournament here in Pool B in Japan. Turkaye in the red up against Brazil in the yellow. Set number two, ready to go.
First point to Brazil, a two-person wall was well positioned. Couldn't quite direct the ball back into court. There's a Maria on screen there getting a nice winner.
Oh, and that's not the way they wanted to start. Their serve reception has been excellent as we highlighted in the break, but Kande Baladin. Just losing her focus for a moment is the opportunity. What a great dig.
Well, they're working hard at the start of set number two, Brazil, and they're getting the results. Three points to nil. What a great start. Orge, the libero for Turquay, the Minister of Defence to work hard to keep that ball in play. Couldn't return it with any venom.
Much better, much better start for Brazil. Nice change of tempo though. Ballot in the seven, dumping the ball, wiping it off the block.
No service joy on this occasion. Daniele Santarelli, the coach, has been coaching Guadagniliano in Italy since the 2017 season so he'll have seen a lot of these ladies come through the Italian leagues. Nice offense again. Better read from Brazil. They got a presence above the net, but how do you stop Vargas?
Just look at that athleticism. Took off so far behind the attack line. Still brought so much heat onto the ball.
2-4. Well the overpass looked like trouble. They get away with that one Brazil. That's very very clever Roberta. Based in Poland now playing for the Lodz club in Poland.
Little set of tiff for Tapper. Can't let the other setter on the opposition team get all of the limelight for too long. We haven't seen those by a dump a ball all game.
On the back of her opposite number getting a point, she's decided to get one of her own. Recycle for Brazil. It's going to be a free ball though. Who stands up? Another opportunity.
Defense was good. Oh, and the response, excellent. Well, they're playing with a bit more purpose in set number two, Brazil. They've been stirred into action.
Gabby urging the team on. Wipes it beautifully across her body, down the line. Such a dynamic athlete. Beautiful pickup Gabby again gets it done Brazilian volleyball at its very best Defense down the line immaculate and then that lady with a full swing once again just tooling the block Josemaria down the line in position one though was outstanding Another opportunity, Brazil, Gabby again, couldn't land the blow.
And that ball, hard off Gabby, and off it goes. They needed that one. How often is that to play?
Caracur, getting them out of trouble from the outside or the opposite position. Four points to seven, well the tables have turned here in set number two, it is Brazil with a three point lead. Difficult, difficult, difficult from there. How does she get that into play?
She doesn't. Wow, does she? My word.
And then Brazil let it fly. They will get a touch off the block. Well, Karakurt had such a challenge to get that ball back into play.
Vargas getting the touch there, hard to deny. Either way Brazil out to a four point lead eight points to four now. Pass is excellent you just know she's going to connect perfectly with a middle attack don't you.
Absolute passing perfection. Thank you very much Ganesh. The 24 year old. Absolutely crushing it. Recycle ball.
Oh and off the block again. Boy oh boy she's changed the tempo hasn't she. Of this second set the captain.
Gabby once again, she's always been in these two-on-one situations that is schooling the block in every opportunity in set number two. Can't continue the lesson from the service line though. Terkaye trailing by three, 6-9, won the first set. Once again, the block out on the left side for Terkaye.
Not able to channel the ball back into court. Baladin getting the final touch. Rosamaria swinging away beautifully.
Position two, ten points to six now. That's a nice play, very fluent in offense. One-on-one situation created. Balladin sees the hands of Julia B. Very little that the one-on-one blocker can do on that occasion. Oh that's more like it.
Through the middle on the back of a jock curve. We haven't seen a block from Turkaye yet this set. What a time, what an athlete, what a captain. Out of them one on one.
Closes the gap to two. Vargas, licensed to thrill from the baseline. Cannot. 11 points to 8 now. 10 points the difference.
Gabby with 7 kills for the match. Well it's been effective. Hasn't it?
Slide attack, the back set right out to the antenna. Eridem doesn't have to hit that one hard. She sees opportunity to take the pace off the ball. Baladin back to the service line.
They trail by two. A determined swing, but she's looked really focused. Liza Maria in set number two.
She didn't really have the best spike approach, the ball dropping low and inside on her. Still found a way to turn it down the line, outside the block. High quality on a 50-50 set at best. Oh my goodness!
Sit back and feast. Absolute perfection from the back row. Vardigas. They trial by two.
Well you saw that ball dropping low and inside and even Gabby couldn't do much about it. Look at the blocking hands. Gunesh, very little that Gabi could do in that circumstance. The gap now is one.
Recycle ball, Bicer again, surely. Recycle ball, she dumps. We're all picked up. It is wild from Karakurt. Those are the moments.
They'd worked incredibly hard to get an opportunity. Absolute brick, unfortunately, from Karakurt. Would have made it 12 all but instead 13-11.
A little important moment perhaps in set number two. Defence. Both sides.
This time. Absolute demolition from Karakurt. Oh, she is such a double-edged sword, isn't she? It's feast or famine at that speed. And she filled her cup.
12-13, one point the difference. These two teams are titans of world volleyball. Turkey A, Brazil. Clever.
All the pace taken out of the play. Naomi, pardon, Diana the two hasn't had a lot of opportunity to express herself so far in this match. Playing club volleyball in Turkuayi this year so these ladies will be no strangers to her. Oh Brutal absolute brute force attack from Turcay through Vargas Turning the ball down the line pressure on Brazil now Can't converse.
14 all. Turcayet back in the game. Back in set number two.
We see a timeout call well read, I think, by Coach Guimaraes from Brazil. Just seeing a little bit of a drop in standards, perhaps. Well you saw the tail of the tape there, it was point for point and then a little group of two points in a row on the back of some great defense from Terkaye, some good serve pressure, Gabby trying to just calm down.
From the mines, Naomi Delibero for Brazil. We need a good serve received from her. They are locked at 14 apiece. Betrayal of the match, one set to love. It goes to Naomi.
Oh, but the Turkish block have found their swagger. Turkaye take the lead. Dumarez asked for exactly not that in the timeout.
Dropping low and inside, and she knew it. Rosa Maria sees the lead slip. It's a back from Oza Maria.
Face tells a tale. Went for the hard cross court. You can see where the ball landed. Not well out, but out enough. So it is a big turnaround here in set number two.
Opportunity. Another opportunity, second ball play, guts effort. Free ball, Terkaye lining up, cueing up and finishing up.
Vargas comes in clutch, really a bee with the good defence. It's not enough, so service pressure from Karakurt has given them a lot of this lead. They lead by three now.
Better. But she needed that one, Josemaria. She was on a losing streak there.
In front of Ganesh, no small feat to hit a winner. 15-17, boy oh boy they let some points slide away there as we see eye catch come on. Swing and a miss through the middle.
Gunesh has won back. You can see what she was thinking. 16-17 now, set number two, Gabi back to the service line, the captain. Delightful.
Little dump there. Aladin, alert to the opportunity. They take the two-point lead back, 18-16, Terkaye. Adding some serve havoc in the last couple of rotations for Brazil.
Oh, but the response is clinical. Diana, well, she's been infrequently used through the middle. Roberta, the setter, went to her on that occasion and did it well. Get an opportunity.
Oh, but it will be shut down right back into the face. This will not look great. I think Baladin gets the decisive touch. Just back into the body of Josemaria, but she's not had a happy time of it through the middle part of this second set. Two-point lead.
She is steaming. You can see it coming out of her ears. Vargas back to the service line on a mission. Great pick-up, Vargas.
Back to Brazil. Great blocking. Structurally sound. Turcay.
Oh, and a net touch. What a pity. They've done all the hard things well.
But as by the setter, he sensed an opportunity there. Daniele Santarelli. Substitutions for Brazil. Kizzee comes on in the front row, the 16. The 21 comes on as well in Nayani so she will be setting from the back row so a little bit more height at the front perhaps to try and manufacture another point Oh, nearly paid off too.
We haven't said a name for a while but Erdem just when the team really needs a... no subtlety, no disguise, just athleticism and power. The ball trickling off out of reach of Brazil and a 20 to 18 lead as a result. Gallatin. Well read, well dug.
It's a battle of the sixes at the moment. Help me up coach, no problem at all. Well the defense in position six on both sides of the net was was immense. Cerco a recycle it better 21-18 a three-point lead is a problem now. Chisilla gonna get called in for a bit of a lecture from dad.
Echeguemada is not happy with the progress. It can be good, it can be good. Brazil, just arrived.
The lift is at the entrance. It can be good, it can be good. It can be good, it can be good. It can be good, it can be good. It can be good, it can be good.
No signs of panic. This is a world class outfit. Brazil ranked number 4 in the world. What a record they have.
But at the moment it is 3rd place. Have the ascendancy one set to love. They were down for a lot of set number two but they've earned a three-point lead 21-18. Need a response out of the timeout from Brazil.
Wonderful. Brazil there. Stay in it. A lefty.
Another opportunity. Oh but it is Terkaye. Every facet. Defense, blocking, attack. Look at this D.
Hitting the floor hard. Vargas is putting in everything right now and Karakurt will not be denied. 22-18 So we see those substitutions reverse Roberta back on. Rosa Maria.
Four point lead now.. That is unfortunately a mental error, skill error. Rosamaria has not had the best time of it in the latter stages of this set.
It is a five point lead, 23-18. Turquay are two points from a two set to love lead over world number four Brazil. And now it is getting concerning. Yeah, called in.
You can see Gabby insisting. She knew that it had landed cleanly. Just catching the baseline. Perhaps, or a touch on the way through.
Either way, the ball and the point to Brazil. Julia B. To the service line, slight attack has been absolutely outstanding. Once again, in set number two, the captain out of them. And they've just needed another outlet when they start zoning in on Vardagas or Katakurt. As an offensive option, the captain sneaks in and earns them a set point with another delicious play.
Set point serve. Now get a chance. Oh and a net touch. Yes, it was me. Karakurt putting her hand up, fessing up.
Sorry coach. Four set points remain. It's easy to be honest when you have five set points on the board. Thysa with some work to do. They trail by four and it is set point number two for Turkaye.
That's not going to work either. Just losing a little bit of focus and I think the coach is going to call them in. He's seen enough of the party tricks. Let's finish it ladies. No, no, it's great, it's great, I like, I like.
One, you can open the net, for sure Gabi will be here in transition before she's left. So you can use it. So stand by, watch out, because she is there.
You can open very well. The attention because... Because if the ball is here, I want the two pass. If the ball is here, for sure, she pass this ball. And we open it this way.
Way to go. Bye-bye. Well, you heard it. Gabby being name-checked, the captain of Brazil, very much on their mind in terms of where she's going to be in position in this next play.
Standing at 180 centimeters she's not the tallest of the athletes so I think the intent from Coach Santorelli is to try and pick her out as the blocking option they go outside get a chance chance number two the dump not great Gabby responds Once again, through a bit of resilience from Brazil, but perhaps a little application error from Terkaye. They are staying in this set. They've saved three set points now, two remain.
22-24, set point number four for Terkaye, surely on this occasion. ...opportunity again, Brazil resilient and fighting hard and Gabi again is leading the way. They've had four attempts to close this out to Ucai and they've been their own worst enemy and they're inviting Gabi to lift her team so back-to-back timeouts call.
You play five in this rotation. It's the same. If there is the ball is dramatic, you set the ball here. Eberhard, you know that you don't close the shot, okay? This is good.
This is good power trip here, okay? Let's go, girls. Bye.
I can't help but feel it's the same talk. He gave them a number of points to go and they just didn't execute. Gabby, the number 10 for Brazil, he keeps calling her out by name.
She's standing, or she will be blocking in position 4, front left. The shorter of the blockers at the net, perhaps he thinks that that's where they should be running their offense. Let's see if Terkaye can respond.
It is set point number five but Brazil have saved four set points in a row. Can they make it five and lock it up? They sure can. Immense from Tysa.
What a serving run from the number six. She's gone back to the baseline on four occasions, set point down, and made it count. Serves an ace to lock it up. 24 all, you must win by two.
Can she get them a set point of their own? She cannot. Poor pretty shit, no?
I think a challenge is probably being called. So the point has gone nominally to the team in red. Whether it was out, in-out, I think is what the challenge is.
No, no challenge. So the call stands. It is set point number five for Turkaye. They couldn't win the first five. This is set point number six, I should say.
They've got to cash one in eventually. Not this one. 25 points apiece. Video challenge this time on the block touch. We haven't seen coach Tantarelli use the video challenge yet.
Let's see what his record is like. You can see it's brought a wry grin from a few of the athletes. I think they know what's up. Maybe he's just giving his team the opportunity to resettle and refocus.
This scoreboard is 25 points apiece. First set went for 24 minutes, 25-21 in favour of Tertkaye. Second set's been fascinating, it was absolutely brazilian.
Brazil coming out of the blocks hard, got a big lead. Ferreira ran it down, took over the lead. And a four point lead at set point.
Brazil have come back and won five points in a row to lock it up. And we are forensically checking. The challenge from coach Santarelli, I think has been dismissed by a jury of his peers. It will stand 25 points apiece Brazil to serve two-point margin required tension in Yo Yogi Stadium starting to ratchet up a little bit Pass is good the dump perfect Vargas showing a softer side for this occasion anyway 26-25 set point number seven Akaie will have Katakurt, what can she do?
No quick attack in fact it'll be picked up through the middle Oh but blocked straight back From Diana through the middle. Well, if anyone should be swinging to win the set, it's Vargas. But she couldn't get it done. Brazil finding their fighting spirit when it really counts. Called in, I believe, 27-26.
See that replay. Just rushing. Goodness me, there's nothing in that. A wry grin from Vargas. Another set point.
Can you believe it? I think set point number eight. I've run out of fingers and toes.
Right up. This time, not. Brazil again, they come again through the back row. Waiting on the call. Good enough.
Gabby, boy oh boy, she's been immense in this set. Tack number 12 for her for the match. That was as clutch as it gets Bonara comes on into the middle replaces Julia B locked at 27 apiece again It's a pity, Diana Drilling the ball into the net from the service line, another set point. How long can Brazil fight off these set points?
Vargas to light up the stadium. Set point number eight or nine. Defense, offense.
She's got it all this lady. And Vargas closes out set number two with a server dig in at the pike. And it is Turquoise who take a two sets to love lead over Brazil. Well, amazing scenes here in Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo.
You're in Pool B, the Olympic Qualified Tournament, the road to Paris. Top two teams from Pool B will go straight to Paris. They don't have to go through the rep a charge phase that is the Volleyball Nations League this year.
so that takes such pressure off their squads to to lock away that Olympic spot is all to play for at the moment as I've said it is the host nation Japan with a better for and against average leading pool number B but the winner of this match will leapfrog them until they play their game of course And they've almost guaranteed their spot in Paris with a win in this match for mine. Still two more rounds to go after this one. And there is the set scores. 25-21, 29-27. Well, Brazil had their moments.
They started so well. 20 attacks to 15. They started to get their blocking in order. They served very, very well. But this group of ladies from Terkaye absolutely...
Irrepressible in that middle part of set number two. Gee, they had their opportunities to win it. Took them nine or ten set points to get it done but they got it done eventually.
Unesh through the middle was very good. But Gabby was the story of set number two for mine. She really, really led her team out of some difficult spots.
Jose Maria had both good and bad patches, I think it's fair to say. And that lady, you just never know what she's thinking. As we look at the attack zones, really balanced. 35% through the opposite channel, 48% through the outside, 16% through the middle. Imagine it'll be slightly different the way that Turkaye set up.
They've used their middle slightly more and a bit more balanced between the left and right side of the court. So for Brazil, they have to just only go back as far as a few days ago when they were down two sets to one against Bulgaria and they came back really hard and won that one in five. And they've got an opportunity to win another match. five they just need to win the next three sets and that's Karakurt to Atiyah heap of points not always the most consistent but oh boy when it's those big moments isn't she the one that steps up with Karakurt and Vargas. They've got just two really big weapons.
Vargas with 13 attacks in one block, leading all comers. Gabi from Brazil in second place with 12 attacks in them. Out of them with eight attacks in two blocks, Karakurt with her nine winners as we've just shown you. So all in readiness, set number three, getting ready to go.
You are watching the Road to Paris, the Olympic Qualifier Tournament here in Tokyo. Brazil in the yellow. So, Terkaye in their red. Aracurt looking like she is up for another battle. We are underway.
Set number three. Strong block. Thysa going head-to-head with Vargas.
Excellent middle blocking. Doing her bit really well. She's never going to get full penetration over the net but she's got to play a role.
She's got to try and close that seam off. Did it perfectly. And the response from Baladin, very solid. We are underway.
Set number three, two sets to love. Terkaye, world number one up against Brazil, world number four. And what I said in the preamble could be the gold medal match at Paris 2024, couldn't it? These two incredible nations. And this incredible blocking, that's how they started set number one, Turkaye.
Three-person block, Vargas got all of it, but Baladin and Erdem absolutely doing their job. Very, very hard for any hitter to get through that. Nice quick attack, Kaisa.
196 centimetres tall. The 36-year-old actually played in Turkey in the 2016-2017 season with Baladin and Akos. So she knows these girls pretty well.
Gets a hand on that one. They recycle the ball. Back row from Gabi where they were waiting for it, weren't they? Captain v. Captain. Erdem, I was waiting for you.
Two absolute superstars going head to head. Bergman, Julia B. Nice outside hitting. Spent some three years at Georgia Tech playing in the US College system.
It's a three all scoreboard. Dicer back to the service line. No.
Vargas approves. Getting very jiggy with it. No block really.
Nothing to speak of. How is this setting hands though? First by just casually being remarkable.
Setting up a gem. Can back it up from the service line though. Go to Kara Kurtz highlight reel tonight. But you know, if she goes and dumps that ball into the net at a 50% effectiveness rate, the next one's coming back very, very hard.
We still take the lead 5-4. And that's so clever from Edidam. On the previous slight attack she ran, the Brazilian defence really crowded underneath the block. She went deep.
This time, one and six were playing much deeper. She drops the ball short into the open space. That's some high quality thinking by this incredible athlete.
Can't make the serve count though. Back to back service errors. Free ball comes.
How do Brazil adjust? Slide attack. Squandered, it has to be said. Diana completely overrunning the ball. Whether it wasn't the set she wanted, she lost her footwork, it's hard to know, but on a free ball, that was well below Brazilian standards.
Another opportunity overpass though that's going to be virtually unusable for Karakurt. Should be disappointed with that one they've done the hard work. The set just floating right on top of the net. Brazil getting one point lead back. Well you know she was just waiting to wail on one wasn't she?
Ibrah Karakurt hadn't had the happiest last couple of actions. She made a bad error then got a pretty poor set. The next one was going to be deep and hard to the service line. What sort of havoc can she wreak, the 99 from way back there? Very good sadly.
Another little down moment of serving from Terkaye. I'm sure coach Santorelli will review some of these patches of the match. Just highlight these moments where they've just let Brazil get their breath back.
They've just taken their foot off the throat a little bit. Recycle ball, opportunity for Gabby. For Baladin. Celebrated very early just for a moment I thought the Brazil had covered the block and the ball was still live but Gabby really had very little she could do with that ball a three-person block was immense and well positioned all in play here that's a better option now get an opportunity out of it here it comes and finally it's Down Gabby again. Vargas has played some great defence.
Gabby once again. Block a little bit disconnected. She makes them pay.
Nine points to eight now. Gabby again just tooling the ball. I beg your pardon it's that lady again the number seven. Good job done.
Jose Maria she's had so many difficult moments in this set and set number two but finding some form on that occasion So we're locked up 10 points apiece now. The headset struggles here, both teams working hard. Back row attack, well handled, Turf Daye recyclable, back row again, Brazil recycle, free ball, what can the ladies in red do, slide attack, picked up, wonderful rally this, side to side, unbelievable play.
Oh, it's a rally of the match for mine. Who's going to put it away? The block from Terkaye will not stop. Gabby. Unbelievable scenes.
Oh, the crowd is going wild here. Yoyogi Stadium are on their feet. One of the plays of the tournament. Large pick up and then wide it goes.
Net touch video challenge for no other reason perhaps than just to let both squads get their breath back. Turkey and Turkey take the lead on that rally if the call stands. Brazil throwing their heart and soul at that play.
Well, well, well. Me the team wanting to stay die. Let's have a look at the up close and personal camera. No net touch fault.
The Turkaye keep the points. They get a sneaky little 30 second breather. For Brazil they've got to let that not bother them.
They've put their heart and soul into the point. It hasn't gone their way. They've given up the lead.
For Turquoise they need to go back and focus on a serve and make it happen a bit better from the service line. Oh but it's the block of Turquoise. You can see what it means.
The B gets closed out, first by the setter. Well, well, well, you can see what she thought of that. And they take a two-point lead, middle part of set number three. They lead the match two sets to love. Still under a little bit of pressure, mental and physical.
And it's going to be a free ball. Pass is excellent. The dump picked up.
They'll get another opportunity. Front court... Seta, slide attack is excellent.
What an incredible match this lady is having. Erdem with her 12th kill. I think all of them in that slide attack mode.
What a connection she's enjoying with Shansu Ozbay, the Seta from Terkaye. Three-point lead now. Carroll comes on for Brazil. Great dig. Gabby.
Well who better in a crisis than the captain of Brazil. Everyone just getting out of the way. Didn't get a lot of top spin on that one.
You can see it bobbling left and right. She's found a way to bring up her 14th kill of the match. Get another opportunity, Brazil. Oh, but that blocking unit.
She's done it again. You cannot keep this lady out of the game. Close by for Terokaiye, closing the scene perfectly. De Roich throws a head back. 14-11.
Troubling times for the Brazilians. Recycle ball, off speed, excellent. Rosemarie needed to hit that winner.
Must needed point that one. 12-14 the trail by two. Absolute perfection.
Ibra Katakurt doesn't even celebrate. It's just another day in the life. Drilling the ball through the gap in the block. 15-12. Gabby, eyes on the prize.
They're coming at them from all angles at the moment. Vargas on that occasion. Brazil did well to keep the ball in play. Some great touches.
But turning the ball hard down the line. Not much Naomi could do about that. At the time at Brazil they are trailing by four and two sets to love.
He's going against the block, so it's hard. Throw it out. Against a high block like this, the more out, the better.
He's got to be up here. Let's go. Go again.
It's almost over, it's in the game. Go, go, go. It's in the game. It's in the game.
He positions himself, not with his hand already open, he positions himself with his hands to try to... Well, still as calm as ever, Coach Guimaraes. They've seen it all and done it all in this game from the coaches bench but he's gonna have to conjure something special to keep his team in this match. They trail by four, they trail two sets to love.
We saw them come back strong in set number two but they couldn't get over the line. Terkaye are in control. All's gonna be called out.
Right through the middle of Josemaria. Had a clean swing, couldn't snap over the top of it so five-point lead out of the timeout they've let the next one slip again. In trouble on a free ball now. Dumping is the first option, no the setter's through the middle. She's a front and a back court setter they'll get a recycled ball though.
Great defense. Oh, but wasted ultimately. What a shame.
Miami the Libero made an incredible pickup. That was incredible. And Julia B, I beg your pardon it's 17, yes Bergman ending it wide.
So 18-12 out of the last time out they then dropped the next two points. Back they go. Special time out for Julia B unfortunately.
Coach Granada is calling her out and giving her some direct feedback. Clearly not how things are going for him or how he wants them to go. So Brazil really under pressure now, they're trialled by six.
Trial by two sets to love as I've said, Terkaye In control, can they finish more strongly than they finished the second set? That's a better response out of the timeout anyway 13-18 now the score. Great pick up, Auger.
Great pick up Auger but it's just off the net and out. Minister of Defense, Aturkaye, Isamorge. Two great defensive gets, but they couldn't turn it in with offense.
Dynamic swinging from Gabby. Four points now adrift. They've closed the gap.
Brazil, determined as ever. Desperation, not enough. 19-14. How many times have we seen Vargas turn across the shoulder to go back down the line? 17 points for the match now, 15 attacks and two blocks for Vargas, leading all other athletes in this match.
Kyser determined to see a touch call off the block and she gets it. Yep, absolutely clear as day coming off Baladin's right hand. The katakurt comes off. My catch comes on the 27-year-old.
Part of the club that got second in the Club World Championships this year. Vakif Bank in Turkey. That's going to be called a throw I think. You can see the Brazilian ladies responded very quickly that ball has come to rest in the hand of Ganesh. Not a clean contact, it's not a dump.
Didn't really put up much of a complaint because it looks worse in slow motion. I think it's a good call 16 19 three-point gap now Brazil fighting back getting a response out of Vargas though brings up point number 20 she's smiling again look at that turn once again turning it back across her shoulder needed Almost take a little bit more of a cheat on that line. You know she's setting him up for the big cross-court as soon as they do though.
How do you read an athlete of the skills of Alyssa Vargas? Close that line down and she'll snap it. Hard cross-court for sure. Oh and a misfire. Thysa through the middle.
Couldn't connect with the setter. The pass was right on top of the net. Barata quite able to put it into this the hitting zone of a middle blocker so 21-16 the lead back out to five nice response go back to that same athlete bring it back into the game that's clever setting and good hitting 17-21, running out of runway though Brazil.
That's not going to make it any easier. Apology from Baladin. For the havoc that she wreaked.
22-17 now, Terukoye. Two sets to love and up by five are absolutely in control of the narrative. And this lady has been immense.
Leading point scorer with 16 attacks, two blocks. How she'd love to add an ace to that tally. Some running repairs. Gabby not sure what to do to drag her team back into this, but you know she's going to put everything into it.
The gap is five again. The crowd hushed. A lot of them in for the next match. Looking forward to the home team who will be on court next.
But for now, enjoy the world number one with the ball, Terkaye. Great serve. Your response was perfect from Dysa.
She's been really good at this match. Another kill for her. The sixth winner.
18-22 now. Recycled ball. Vicky, great pick up under the block.
Goes to Brazil. Well, they had their opportunities. Blocked from Brazil was pretty good. A video challenge coming up on the block touch.
He's not had a good run so far in this match, Daniele Santorelli, with his video challenges. This is the point in set number two where his team looked like they were running away with the victory. And then they absolutely zoned out.
So maybe this is him trying to get their head back in the game. No block touch. Beautiful technique though, look at the shoulder pivot. Absolutely perfectly executed block by Brazil, and they did everything perfectly, including not touching the ball that was going out. The point stands 19-22, Paisa back to the service line.
The lead now only three, three points away from the match though, Turcayet. Oh, she's been everywhere, hasn't she? Vargas from the macro, that was an imperfect strike on the ball. She looked like she mistimed her approach and was on the way down when she hit it.
But either way, good enough to wipe the ball off the block and bring up point number 23. Surely, Turcayet will learn from set number two and they will not let Brazil work their way back into the set at the death. Well, it was coming from a long way away. Eda Erdem, the captain, was waiting to go one-on-one again with the captain of Brazil.
Gabi is trying to drag her team forward. But instead it is five match points. Turkaye serving for the match. And they finish it.
as they started it with a massive block first by gets it done in brazil have been blown away here in tokyo because the world number one have beaten them three sets below 25 21 29 27 25 19 and the world number one are surely halfway onto the plane to paris undefeated through five matches who is going to stop the team in red absolutely massive still got games against host nation Japan and Belgium but surely Turk IA need to win only One more match and they will be qualified for Paris. For Brazil, well they've still got to play Belgium and host nation Japan. It could go either way but you can see what it means.
Terkaye, undefeated after five matches. Defeating world number four Brazil, three sets to love. But certainly all not lost for Brazil.
They still absolutely can finish top two in this tournament. But they're going to have to get past host nation Japan, you would think. But for now it is Turquoise night and you can see how happy they are. Here are some highlights of what was an exciting and expansive match. The blocking from Erzbein, the setting from Erzbein was just first-class.
She closed it with a one-on-one block for a 25-19 shutout. Vargas with 17 attacks and two blocks and Erdem with 12 attacks and four blocks. Our two leading point scorers just confirming the scores 25-19 the final set.
Karakurt enjoying the moment with the poor mascot who's done nothing to them except Anson be happy. Great to see the ladies from Turkuye enjoying the moment. They've earned everything they get. As I've said, maybe only one more match away from doing enough to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The VNL champions of 2023, there are the stats.
79 points to 67, 53 attacks to 36, 14 blocks to 4. Tells you almost everything you need to know. They were impenetrable at times, Terkaye. Absolutely breathtakingly good for that lady, Gabby. Well, she will be doing some soul-searching, but she was very good tonight.
She just needs a few more ladies to go with her. Thaisa was very good as well, the middle blocker. Rosa Maria had her moments, but made some errors. Turkish fans or Japanese fans, whoever they are, happy to be here. Let's have a look at some of the attack placement.
Brazil. Pretty balanced on both sides of the net. The left and right sides for Cherokee.
The left side probably more heavily favoured. That's certainly the case. Equal through the middle, but certainly their middle attack was really Erdem, the skipper, running the quick attack, slide attack to her right.
And there is confirmation of the matches. Puerto Rico beating Argentina, Bulgaria over Peru, and then that match, Terkaye over Brazil. So that will update the standings. You'll see Terukoe leap to the top of the table.
Japan yet to play. They'll play Belgium in a little while tonight. And a must-win match for Japan, and that just makes life a little bit interesting for Brazil.
Only the top two go through, as I've said, to the Paris Olympics. For the teams that don't qualify through this tournament, though, of course... They have the opportunity to go through the VNL, but for now...
Brazil came out with a lot of hope and a lot of noise and energy and a lot to play for. But Turcoye threw that lady, Melissa Vargas, in great settings, some great middle attacking from their captain. And of course, Caracurte doing Caracurte things.
There's the captain. They were immense and deserved their three-set stellar victory to go to the top of the table and half-book themselves, surely, a spot in Paris in 2024. Still a little bit of volleyball to play. Stunning volleyball here.
Hope you've enjoyed the match. I'm Jonathan Fogarty. It's been a privilege to bring it to you. Till next time. Bye for now.