The Turkey women's national volleyball team () is formed by the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) and represents Turkey in international CEV and FIVB organizations.
The team is the most successful national sports team in the country and has been nicknamed "Filenin Sultanlarñ" () since the 2003 Women's European Volleyball Championship hosted in Ankara, Turkey. As of 8 September 2025, the team is ranked third in the FIVB World Rankings. Daniele Santarelli is the head coach of the team.
History
Sabiha Gürayman was the first Turkish woman to engage in the game of volleyball, which was introduced in Turkey in the 1910s. As a young woman Gürayman founded and played for the Fenerbahçe women's volleyball team, having previously played in the men's team of that club.
Turkey debuted at the European Championship in 1963, finishing 10th, and hosted the 1967 edition, finishing 12th. In 2003, Turkey won the silver medal at the European Championship on home soil, with Neslihan Demir as their top player. Turkish women's volleyball has undergone a rapid transformation since the 2000s, achieving many successes at both club and national team level.
The team became the first women's volleyball team to score a perfect season by winning 22 consecutive games between June 29 and September 24, 2023. In that period, it completed the final stage of the Nations League, European Championship and Olympic Qualification Round. The team furthermore played the semi-final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, and won the silver medal at the 2025 FIVB World Championship.
Due to the national team's recent successes, particularly since the 2019 summer season, women's volleyball has surged in popularity and is now among the most widely followed sports in Turkey.
Achievements
Summer Olympics
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
World Championship
Champions Runners up Third place Fourth place
FIVB World Cup
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
World Grand Prix
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Nations League
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Mediterranean Games
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
European Championship
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
European Games
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
European League
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Montreux Volley Masters
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Islamic Solidarity Games
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Team
Current squad
Roster for the 2025 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship.
Former squads
- 2003 European Championship â Silver Medal
- : Bahar Mert, Esra GümüÃ
Â, Sinem Akap, ÃÂzlem ÃÂzçelik, Aysun ÃÂzbek, Natalia HanikoÃÂlu, Mesude Kuyan, Pelin ÃÂelik, ÃÂiÃÂdem Can, Gülden Kayalar, Seda TokatlñoÃÂlu and Neslihan Darnel. Head coach: ReÃ
Âat YazñcñoÃÂullarñ.
- 2009 European League â Silver Medal
- : ðpek SoroÃÂlu, Pelin ÃÂelik, Neslihan Darnel, Nihan Yeldan, Seda TokatlñoÃÂlu, Deniz Hakyemez, Naz Aydemir, Esra GümüÃ
Â, Eda Erdem, Duygu Bal, Gözde Kñrdar and Gülden Kayalar Head coach: Alessandro Chiappini.
- 2011 European Championship â Bronze Medal
- : Asuman Karakoyun, Gözde Kñrdar Sonsñrma, Gizem GüreÃ
Âen, Elif Onur, Ergül Avcñ, Polen Uslupehlivan, Bahar Toksoy, Güldeniz ÃÂnal, Naz Aydemir, Esra GümüÃ
Â, Neriman ÃÂzsoy, Eda Erdem, NeÃ
Âve Büyükbayram, Selime ðlyasoÃÂlu, Neslihan Darnel, ÃÂzge Kñrdar ÃÂemberci and Ceren Kestirengöz. Head coach: Marco Aurelio Motta.
- 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix â Bronze Medal
- : Gülden Kayalar KuzubaÃ
ÂñoÃÂlu, Gözde Kñrdar Sonsñrma, Gizem GüreÃ
Âen, Ergül Avcñ, Bahar Toksoy, Güldeniz ÃÂnal, Naz Aydemir, Esra GümüÃ
Â, Neriman ÃÂzsoy, Eda Erdem, Neslihan Darnel and Nilay ÃÂzdemir. Head coach: Marco Aurelio Motta.
- 2014 European League â Gold Medal
- : Ezgi Dilik, Kübra Akman, Ceylan Arñsan, Bihter DumanoÃÂlu, Polen Uslupehlivan, Yeliz BaÃ
Âa, Hatice Gizem ÃÂrge, Cansu ÃÂetin, Gözde Yñlmaz, Meliha ðsmailoÃÂlu, ÃÂaÃÂla Akñn and ÃÂzgenur Yurtdagülen. Head coach: Ferhat AkbaÃ
Â.
- 2015 Montreux Volley Masters â Gold Medal
- : Seniye Merve Dalbeler, Gizem Karadayñ, Dicle Nur Babat, Kübra Akman, Polen Uslupehlivan, Seda Aslanyürek, BüÃ
Âra Cansu, Güldeniz ÃÂnal PaÃ
ÂalñoÃÂlu (C), Naz Aydemir Akyol, Neriman ÃÂzsoy, Gözde Yñlmaz, Meliha ðsmailoÃÂlu, Aslñ Kalaç, ÃÂaÃÂla Akñn and Ezgi DaÃÂdelenler. Head coach: Ferhat AkbaÃ
Â.
- 2015 European Games â Gold Medal
- : Seniye Merve Dalbeler, Gizem Karadayñ, Dicle Nur Babat, Kübra Akman, Polen Uslupehlivan, Seda Aslanyürek, BüÃ
Âra Cansu, Güldeniz ÃÂnal PaÃ
ÂalñoÃÂlu (C), Naz Aydemir Akyol, Neriman ÃÂzsoy, Gözde Yñlmaz, Meliha ðsmailoÃÂlu, Aslñ Kalaç and ÃÂaÃÂla Akñn. Head coach: Ferhat AkbaÃ
Â.
- 2015 European League â Silver Medal
- : Melike Yñlmaz, Birgül Güler, Buse Kayacan, Fatma Yñldñrñm, Ceren Kestirengöz, Ezgi Dilik, Ezgi DaÃÂdelenler, Meryem Boz, AyÃ
Âe Melis Gürkaynak, Damla ÃÂakñroÃÂlu, Cansu AydñnoÃÂullarñ, Serpil Ersarñ. Head coach: ðsmail Yengil.
- 2023 FIVB Volleyball Nations League â Gold Medal
- : Gizem ÃÂrge, Simge Ã
Âebnem Aköz, Cansu ÃÂzbay, Melissa Vargas, Ayça Aykaç, Kübra Akman, Hande Baladñn, Yasemin Güveli, Meliha Diken, Derya CebecioÃÂlu, Elif Ã
Âahin, Eda Erdem (C), Saliha Ã
Âahin, Zehra GüneÃ
Â, Aslñ Kalaç, ðlkin Aydñn, Ebrar Karakurt. Head coach: Daniele Santarelli.
- 2023 European Championship â Gold Medal
- : Gizem ÃÂrge, Simge Ã
Âebnem Aköz, Cansu ÃÂzbay, Melissa Vargas, Ayça Aykaç, Kübra Akman, Hande Baladñn, Derya CebecioÃÂlu, Elif Ã
Âahin, Eda Erdem (C), Zehra GüneÃ
Â, Aslñ Kalaç, ðlkin Aydñn, Ebrar Karakurt. Head coach: Daniele Santarelli.
- 2024 Summer Olympics â 4th place
- : Gizem ÃÂrge, Cansu ÃÂzbay, Melissa Vargas, Hande Baladñn, Meliha Diken, Derya CebecioÃÂlu, Elif Ã
Âahin, Eda Erdem Dündar(C), Zehra GüneÃ
Â, Aslñ Kalaç, ðlkin Aydñn, Ebrar Karakurt. Head coach: Daniele Santarelli.
- 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games â Gold Medal
- : Selin Adalñ, Ege Melisa Bükmen, Berka Buse ÃÂzden, Aslñ Tecimer, Nazlñ Eda Kafkas, Merve Nur ÃÂztürk, Dilay ÃÂzdemir, Liza Safronova, Deniz Uyanñk, Defne BaÃ
Âyolcu AyÃ
Âe ÃÂürük Karmen Aksoy. Head coach: Yunus ÃÂçal
See also
References
External links