The preparations for the new season have started off wonderfully. I really missed being with my team. After the tournament we held in Kuşadası, we had the opportunity to take a two-day vacation together. This was important for getting to know each other and spending enjoyable time together at the beginning of the season. I feel hopeful and energetic for the new season. I hope we can do our best to achieve both our individual and team goals throughout the rest of the season.
I no longer have any issues related to my nose. Although wearing a mask during games was tiring, I eventually got used to it. At the moment, I feel quite good and have no injuries. I hope we all have a healthy and successful season.
The relationships within the team are the most important factor in creating our team dynamic. Everyone in the team has a certain level of harmony and self-discipline. We always strive to maintain good communication and open dialogue. Tijana and I, as team captains, work to preserve the synergy within the team. Being a captain adds a management responsibility beyond the performance concerns of a regular athlete, and I take pride in this responsibility that I have carried out for many years.
Each one is like my children! :) The European Championship we won with the national team is very precious to me. Last year’s World Championship we achieved at the club level was also very joyful. The "Best Libero" award I received during the 2019 World Club Championship was an unforgettable achievement that made me really happy and proud.
I can’t forget the final match we played against VakıfBank in the World Club Championship in China last year. We had a tournament where every individual in the team fought tremendously, and we truly reflected the team spirit until the end. This event became one of the most beautiful moments of my career. :)
I can’t really find time! :) Joking aside, I really enjoy spending time with the girls after training. Our usual meeting place is Bebek, where we sit by the sea and share things, which makes us feel good. I swam in the sea in Istanbul during the summer months. Waking up early to swim was very refreshing for me. This season, I had the chance to go to a few theater performances. Finding time for activities outside of volleyball and socializing brings me joy. This year, for the first time, I had the chance to go on vacation. My first choice for vacations is usually Greece. After Greece, I went to Alaçatı and then to Kuşadası with my family. I also visited Ayvalık, which I had never seen before, and I loved it. It was a vacation where I enjoyed good food and the sea to the fullest.
The final series we played against Fenerbahçe was a high-quality stage where both teams truly wanted to win. Maintaining high concentration, focusing on the goal, and uniting the team can be challenging in such matches. I believe we fought very well. It gave me unforgettable feelings to see how much my teammates wanted to win and the fire in their eyes from the first match to the last. I hope we can win all the cups we are targeting this season.
Wearing the crescent and star jersey, carrying national feelings, is a dream for every athlete. I feel lucky to have been realizing this dream for many years. In addition to the prestige of being a national team athlete, I have the opportunity to communicate with many athletes worldwide. I believe that spending time with and playing with those athletes has greatly enriched my performance and career. We have a long club season in the Turkish League. Following that, the national team season can be challenging, but it is a part of what we love to do. Seeing my national team friends after months and competing with them brings me extra joy. Although the work we do can be considered difficult, fighting in the crescent and star jersey is always an honor.
Being in the public eye and doing a job that is open to comments can be exhausting, but since we have been experiencing this for years, we all have some experience in coping. :) The method I set for myself is to always remind myself that I need to focus on the tournament at hand, relying on evaluations from my best coaches and myself. So, I try not to care about positive or negative comments on social media. The person who often judges themselves the hardest is oneself, and I tend to criticize myself before social media users do. As a woman achieving great success is very important for the future of Turkish women and Turkish athletes. I am happy to fulfill my responsibilities well. It makes me proud that Turkish women are successful in every field and profession, and that we can be part of and lead these successes.
I don’t think ensuring equal opportunities is a big taboo. I believe it’s more about mindset. In today’s world, creating equal opportunities for our women is becoming more achievable. The fields opened and the successes achieved show that Turkish women are capable, stable, and competitive. Eczacıbaşı, with its support and value for women, is one of the pioneers of equal opportunities. The investments made in the women’s volleyball team, the successes achieved, and the opportunities created for women within the company demonstrate the building blocks of Eczacıbaşı’s mission from past to present. We have proven multiple times what we can achieve at international standards, both as Eczacıbaşı and national team athletes, when equal opportunities are provided. I hope that this will not be limited to metropolitan areas, but that we will witness a future and development where women across the country can have equal opportunities.
I had the chance to see the project for the new hall in Kartal. I am very happy about the formation of a prestigious sports facility that will have all the necessary amenities for athletes during the intense training and match tempo. As the A team, youth teams, and club staff, we will all share the same environment. From a sports perspective, not bringing the serving machine there would motivate me! :) One of the biggest sources of motivation for the team is the opportunity to reach greater capacities and compete in front of more fans in our own venue.
I really love playing volleyball. As long as my physical condition and performance are adequate, I want to continue playing. I believe that being a coach is a tough job, and I’m not yet sure if I will want to be a coach after I finish my career. 😊 I enjoy communicating with people, solving problems, and staying in touch. I would also like to take on a different role within the team. Outside of volleyball, I dream of having a café. One of the reasons for this desire is to create an environment where I can chat with unfamiliar people and learn new things.
