Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 vs. Türkiye 🇹🇷 - Highlights | Week 1 | Women's VNL 2026

First serve underway, Turkiye here in the VNL 2026 against the Dominican Republic. Big chance for both these two teams to show what they've got, the future of their pipelines. So far so good. High swing coming on the outside. That's Yaprak Erkek. She's been known to do a little bit of damage. She's been playing in Azadjabashi since 2022. And the first point on the board for Turkiye. Aggressive serve on Colon. She handles that. It goes over pass. Castillo from downtown. Push to the outside and the block again. Relentless. Again, this feels like an opportunity. Again, going up against a young Turkish squad. If they can hold their ground, they're looking for some points, looking to climb the rankings here. Blocking excellent so far. There's that number 91. Quick ball to the outside. Hands are there for Turkiye. Going again. Pena-Isabel taking some speed off it. Power is not the solution right now for Turkiye. The finesse, however, over Marca. And this feels like an opportunity moment, right? Checking in. Gets a swing immediately and does exactly as you mentioned. Swinging that little bit higher makes all the difference. Better situation. Turkiye again. Swinging low, swinging hard and finding a massive block in front for the Dominican. Turkiye trying to stay in it. It's a quick ball through the middle and that will do it. Dominican have taken the first set of the match here in Brasilia. That was everything Coach Kwiak could have asked for from his team. They were disciplined. They were playing good defense, front court and back court. 100 percent. Everything's easy from up here in the booth. Set number two underway. Dominican with the first serve this time and Turkiye taking the first rip and the point lands on their side. To the right side. There's one inside the number 91 at Brasilia. Just 19 years old. Finds some floor. Always an option if you just know you gotta do something. And Dominican again going through the middle. Dominican going back to basics with the high ball behind. Big block is there again. Line shot for the taking. Erkek on an extra mile down the line. Still set point Turkiye. Can they close it out? Yes they can. A big rip on the outside. It closes the gap and Turkiye finishes off 25 to 20. It felt like the Dominican had a handle on this match but I think you called it. Halfway through that set all you have to do is hang on and that's exactly it. And the star of the last set. Erkek on the serve and now we're seeing something. Turkiye are on their blocking game. And you were a libero at a high level. When I say high level I mean Olympic gold medalist. When do you know to take it by your hands or to take it to the platform? I think anytime you can take it with your hands. Chance for the Dominican. To the outside. Heredia line. Back again. Stays in place. Still going strong. The tip is there. That doesn't go down. Pipe is on. Clean defense. Try it, try it, and try it again because Turkiye have decided this block is theirs. Great defense both sides throughout that rally. Upgraded their scout in the middle of the Turkish block. And another scrappy play. Aydin. Short serve. Does it cause any disruption? Nope. Clean as you like over the block that looked like. Is this the one they can close it out? Some moving around going on. Service error. Set point goes Turkiye's way. 25 to 16. Improving on the score line of the second set. Let's see if she can make a difference. Set number four underway. Turkiye trying to get out of a difficult first ball. And then Isabel letting it dribble over her shoulder. Defense looking good. Martek keeps it in play. A fastball high. Marek hanging outside the court to make that defense. Isabel stepping in front of the hands. The libero has been changed on Dominican side. And I just wonder if that might have been after that final fall. Rotzer targeting the outside and it was just camping out. 16-13 the lead. Can they hang on to it? Had the lead in that second set as well. There we go. Let's have a look. Perfect pass. Lefty comes in. Hands are there. Good recycled play. Dominican trying to keep in it. Kenya Isabel. Does she go long? No touch called. Point for Turkiye. Let's get a second look at it. Third, fourth, fifth look. What's the percentage of wiggle? Zero wiggle. Another chance to close it out. Dominican. Will they take it? Oh stop block. Turkiye extending this set. Still set point. Third of them for the Dominican. And is it gone? Dominican side Alonzo was awesome for you in the fourth set. Well we shall see. The fifth set is underway and the first point going high to the pin on the right side. Big serve. Quick through the middle again and that tells you that Turkiye's is on point. Martinez is good with that. Tip coming. Well handled. Heredia is there. Pipe for Kenya Isabel against three blockers. Almost gets it down. Back to the right side. Sneaks through. What a defense. Revolt thrown into the corner. Hayden trying to power through. Not this time. Again with the tip. Dominican all over it again. Heredia to go. Not falling yet. Long rally unfolding. How does it end? Just tagging the sideline and Turkiye take the point. Big swing to the end line. Santorelli is loving it. Let somebody hit into position six outside the block there. Now the free ball. Turkiye can they handle it? Yes they can. Air cap dominant. Denied again. Turkiye have dominated the Nets. She'll serve. Out of system play and the Dominican shut down a monster block is how it's done in the fifth. Turkiye