MATCH INFO

 Ankara, Turkey, August 12, 2011- European champions Turkey electrified their hometown crowd with a straight sets win (25-8, 25-13, 25-) against Pool A rivals Algeria in their opening match of the 2011 Girls’ Youth World Championship at baskent Hall in Ankara, Turkey on Friday.

  The World no 5 recorded their first victory against the African runner up Algeria ranked 17 to show their consistency as one of the big contenders for the crown. The Turkish head coach Sahin Catma fielded all the players of his list in the match to alow them getting ready for the rest of the competition.

 Star Asli Kalac led the home team's scoring with  9 points although she didn’t start in the line up of the first set, while the Algerian attacker  Sarra Belhocine scored 7 and comes as her team best scorer.

 Turkey started the first set with successful spikes but lost the next one. However, almost immediately Turkey gained initiative. Ace service by Ece Hocaoglu helped Turkey to go into first technical timeout 8-2 ahead.

 After a mistake on Algerian part, Turkey fulfills successful spike and reaches 10-3. Toward the second TTO, Turkey had a double score over the Algeria 16-8. Then Turkey started their run of attacks. Several ace services and precise spikes led to obvious victory in the first set, 25-8. During the first set Turkey could make eleven successful attacks, what was answered only by three attacks of Algeria by Sarra Belhocine and Louiza Bayou.

 Second set started with more tension and very close points but several Damla Carikoglu's ace services, led Turkey to the first TTO with 8-5 lead. After the timeout the teams continued to fight tightly with only little advantage on Turkey's part. With such a little lead Turkey went into the second technical time-out, 16-13. Again after the break Turkey started a 9-0 run which led them to their victory in the second set as well, 25-13.

The third set started by a mistake made from Belhocine, after Buket Yilmaz made a series of aces. With only two points scored by Algeria, Turkey went to the first TTO 8-2 ahead.  Following later precise attack by Sabriye Gonulkirmaz it was impossible to receive by the Algerian player. But Algerian team still did not lose their commitment to fight in this match, so that some of following rallies were not the easiest ones for Turkey. However despite the resilience of Algeria with spike of Asli Kalac Turkey went to the second technical timeout with a lead 16-9.

Using advantage of Kubra Akman, the tallest Turkish player, was both successfully blocking some of attacks made by Algeria and attacking the opponents herself. With a last spike Turkey won their first match.