Ebrar Karakurt out for six weeks as injury sidelines Turkish star in VNL

Turkey’s women's national volleyball team will be without star opposite hitter Ebrar Karakurt for the third week of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and an estimated six weeks overall. The Turkey Volleyball Federation confirmed that Karakurt suffered a training injury and has begun an intensive rehabilitation program, recommending she not be risked in the current stage of the tournament.

With Karakurt sidelined, coach appointed Melissa Vargas to assume the opposite‑hitter role for the upcoming matches, while the rest of the squad adjusts its rotation. The federation expects Karakurt to return once her recovery period is complete, potentially rejoining the team for later stages of the competition.