Turkey edged hosts Azerbaijan in a dramatic five-set semifinal at the 2015 European Games on June 25, winning 3-2 (25-17, 21-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-10) to book their place in the gold medal match. The victory was far from easy, as Azerbaijan rode a wave of home support and the scoring power of Polina Rahimova to push the Turkish side to the limit.

Match Overview

Turkey dominated the first set, racing to a 25-17 win behind sharp serving and efficient left-side attacks. But Azerbaijan responded with confidence in front of a loud Baku crowd, taking the second and third sets by combining tough serves and successful transitions. Turkey looked in trouble heading into the fourth set, yet they responded with their best volleyball of the tournament, reestablishing their block defense and forcing Azerbaijan into long rallies that favored Turkey’s experience. The fifth set was controlled from the start, with Turkey taking a 6-2 lead and never allowing Azerbaijan to recover.

Key Moments

• First-set statement: Turkey hit .400 as a team in the opening set, with Gözde Kırdar scoring five kills.
• Azerbaijan's push: In the second set, Azerbaijan won a 15-point marathon rally to give Rahimova a kill, swinging momentum and leading to two straight set wins.
• Fourth-set response: Turkey opened the fourth set with a 7-1 run, powered by two blocks from Kübra Akman on Rahimova, and never trailed again.
• Fifth-set control: Neriman Özsoy served an ace to open a 9-5 lead, and Turkey closed the match with a 4-1 run.

Tactical Story

Turkey’s ability to adapt was key. After losing the second and third sets, head coach Giovanni Guidetti adjusted the block timing against Rahimova, committing to a double block on her slide attack and forcing Azerbaijan to use their less experienced pin hitters. Turkey also improved their serve direction, targeting Azerbaijan’s weaker passer. Offensively, Turkey went through the middle more often in the final three sets, opening up spaces on the outside for live swings.

Standout Players

Gözde Kırdar was Turkey’s most reliable scorer, tallying 19 points with impressive efficiency. Naz Aydemir orchestrated the offense beautifully and added two blocks. Polen Uslupehlivan chipped in 14 points, including three kills in the fifth set. For Azerbaijan, Rahimova scored 26 points, but her error count rose sharply in the final two sets. Libero Ceyda Aktaş of Turkey also delivered a defensive masterclass, finishing with 18 digs.

Impact

The semifinal win sent Turkey into the final, where they would go on to defeat Poland 3-0 for the gold medal. For Azerbaijan, it was a heartbreaking exit, but their run to the final four proved they could compete at a high level on home soil. The two nations would later face again in international competitions, with this five-set thriller serving as an early marker in their developing rivalry.