28/09/2017 13:49
Meryem Boz – Turkey’s opposite stands out in #EuroVolleyW Playoffs
2017 CEV Volleyball European Championship - Women
Baku, Azerbaijan, September 28, 2017. The Playoff round of the 2017 women’s EuroVolley provided fans with four closely contested, exciting matches – where The Netherlands, Belarus, Turkey and Germany eventually secured their progression to the quarterfinals. There have been many outstanding rallies and individual performances – but Turkey’s Meryem Boz certainly had a major impact on her team’s success in a dramatic matchup with Poland.
Turkey have struggled to find their best game in this tournament – and ended up in third place in Pool C after losing to Russia and Bulgaria before recording a 3-1 victory over Ukraine in a do-or-die bout. They seem to have lacked an undisputed leader but Boz rose to the occasion on Wednesday as she scored as many as 26 points for her side – to win the duel with Poland’s rising star Malwina Smarzek, who chipped in with 25 in her losing effort to remain the best scorer of the competition.
Meryem Boz is probably not as known to an international audience as other Turkish Volleyball superstars such as Neslihan Demir Güler – who could not represent Turkey at the 2017 women’s EuroVolley due to injury – but she has already made a name of herself especially while playing for BURSA BBSK. She indeed won the 2015 edition of the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup, where she received also the award for the Most Valuable Player of the finals against Russia’s heavyweight Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG.
Turkey will rely on her – as well as on the many other star players on their roster – on Friday when they go for a repeat of their Pool C match with Russia – this time with a spot in the #EuroVolleyW semis at stake.
Turkey have won silver in 2003 on home soil and bronze in 2011 in Belgrade – and are vying in Baku for their third European Championship medal after they finished in fourth place two years ago in Rotterdam.
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