Tirana, Albania, September 8, 2018. Turkey’s fans called the attention in ‘Feti Borova’ sport hall in Tirana during the pool stage of the 2018 CEV U19 European Volleyball Championship – Women, as they attended all the matches of their favourites so far, showing great support even and especially in the most difficult moments.

Qualifying for the semi-finals means that the Turkish team, headed by Sahin Catma, deserved this warm encouragement and later on Saturday they will meet on court the strong team of Italy for a spot in the title deciding match. Turkey are not to be underestimated as they finished in third place in the previous edition of #EuroVolleyU19W that was held in Slovakia and Hungary in 2016 and this year are showing some great skills again, working and functioning as a real team. And a lot to do with that has one of the liberos in the team – Gülce Güctekin.

The 15-year-old Güctekin was chosen as part of the Dream Team of the 2018 CEV U17 Volleyball European Championship, that was held in Bulgaria back in April, and is now part of Catma’s roster on their way to achieving the ultimate goal, winning the U19 tournament.

Gülce is ‘leaving her soul’ during the matches of #EuroVolleyU19W and that could be easily seen by everybody in the sport hall. Apart from shining with amazing skills and fighting for each point, she is constantly talking to her teammates, smiling and calming them down when needed. 

“I am so happy to play at the #EuroVolleyU19W here in Albania. It is a big honour to me,” the 157cm tall libero says.

“We want to reach the final, but we will see. We hope to perform well. With the U17 team we finished in third place in Bulgaria. We played very well there and I hope that this team here can also show their best.”

Being part of major international tournaments is something new for the Turkish libero and she hopes that, step by step, after the U17 and the U19, she will reach an even higher level in her career: “This competition in Albania is my second big tournament and I hope that I am giving my best.  I am really trying to and I really want to help my teammates.”

Back in Turkey, Güctekin is competing for the team of  Fenerbahçe SK: “Fenerbahçe SK is a big club with great history, great fans and great atmosphere. This club is a top one in my country and on the international stage as well. Playing in the first team is a dream for every player. Maybe someday I will fulfil that dream, we will see,” Güctekin concludes.

Keep an eye on her on the final days of #EuroVolleyU19W, for she will give her best to help her team!

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