On July 16, Beijing time, the 2023 Women's World Volleyball League entered the semifinals.
In the first semifinal, the Chinese women's volleyball team defeated the Polish women's volleyball team 3-0 and advanced to the final first.
The second semifinal was played by the United States women's volleyball team against the Turkish women's volleyball team. In the sub-tournament, the US women's volleyball team achieved a 10-2 record, and the Turkish women's volleyball team achieved a 9-3 record. In the tournament, the US women's volleyball team defeated the Turkish women's volleyball team 3-2.
The Turkish women's volleyball team defeated the United States women's volleyball team 3-1 and advanced to the final.
In the first game, the Turkish women's volleyball team made a 4:1 start. Drews hung the ball and scored, Ilkin smashed straight out of bounds, and the United States scored two straight points to close the gap. At 7:6, the United States made consecutive mistakes, and Turkey scored four consecutive points, bringing the difference to five points.
Although the American team played tenaciously, the Turkish team could always maintain the advantage of 3~6 points. Vargas was blocked for the smash and the score came to 23:21. The U.S. team missed a serve and lost points directly. After the Turkish team serves, the American team receives a pass. Turkey was fortunate to score two points in a row to win the first set 25:21.
In the first game, Turkey scored 12 points on offense, four points less than the United States. Turkey scored four points on the net, two more than the United States. Both sides scored only 1 point on their serves. The U.S. team missed eight points, six more than Turkey. Team USA missed too much.
After the two sides drew 4 in the second game, Turkey scored three consecutive points to take the lead. Karakurt and Vargas flew together on both wings and were super attacking. The Turkish team gradually opened the point difference. At 17:12, Turkey scored six consecutive points, bringing the difference to 11 points. Team America was crushed. The offense is not good, the defense is not good. Vargas smashed the ball like no man's land. Vargas smashed the ball out of bounds, and the United States stopped the round. Team USA scored from the net, closing the gap. At the moment of truth, Team USA served out of bounds again. Team USA missed too much. After the Turkish players scored the ball, the Turkish team won another game 25:14.
In the second game, Turkey scored 12 points on offense, while the United States scored only 6. Turkey scored five points on the net and the United States with just one. Neither serve scored. The U.S. team missed eight points, one more than Turkey. The host American team was completely destroyed.
In the third game, the two sides played unusually glue, leading each other, and the difference was within 2 points. Team USA doesn't want to give up the game easily. Vargas fell in the audience to save the ball, looking more painful. However, Vargas chose to continue playing. After the two sides drew 22, Turkey scored two consecutive points to win match points.
Team USA's Drews hit out of bounds, and Team USA scored twice. Karakult smashed the ball out of bounds and Franti attacked. The U.S. team scored four straight points and miraculously pulled a game back 26:24. Franky, who came off the bench for Team USA, made a contribution. The tall deputy attacked Retek and scored several blocks, which greatly boosted the morale of the team. In this game, the U.S. team scored 6 points on the net, three more than the Turkish team. Other data are close.
The fourth game was a thrilling game. The United States took a 9-7 lead, and Turkey scored five consecutive points. The Turkish team held the lead and won the match point 24:21. Unexpectedly, Karakult touched the net at the critical moment, and then Karakult hit the pole. Team USA hit the probe and won the hand. Karakurt's attack was blocked. Team USA scored four straight points to overtake the score. Karakurt lost three points in a row and was very upset. The U.S. team also made a mistake, and Kara Kurt scored with a late-minute dunk. Turkey won the game 27:25.
In the end, Turkey defeated the United States 3-1 and advanced to the final. The Turkish team competed with China for the final title.
Poland, the first-place team and the second-place United States, were both out of the tournament and did not qualify for the final.
After the match, Turkey's two aces, Carakurt and Vargas, both cried. Karakult, in particular, cried with joy. It is rare to see Karakult crying. It may be that Karakulter lost consecutive points in the final moments of the fourth inning, and she was under a lot of pressure. In the end, the Turkish team won, and Karakult could finally be released.