- Gülden Kayalar
Gülden Kayalar (born
5 December 1980 inSamsun ) is a Turkishvolleyball player. She is 168 cm and plays as libero. She plays forEczacıbaşı Zentiva since 2003 and wear 2 number. She also played for Ankara Numunespor, Şanlıurfa Gençlikspor."I started playing volleyball in Elementary school in Samsun at the age of eight", she describes the start of her career. Her first club team was Ladikspor. After Ladikspor she transferred to Samsun Atakum and DSI Spor before playing for the first division team Şanlıurfa Gençlikspor (2002-03). Then she signed a contract with Ankara Numunespor. At the beginning of the preparation phase for the
European Championships , Gülden was chosen (out of a selection of many experienced libero players) as a candidate for the libero position in the national team. To her surprise, and to the amazement of manyvolleyball authorities, the national team coaches chose her to represent the Turkish colors in the European Championships 2002-03. Gülden tried her utmost to deserve this honor. "Being a part of the National Team means everything to me. I was very excited as I was just at the beginning of my career and was so afraid of not being successful. My team mates were very understanding and supportive. At the first national camp there were already two liberos and I didn’t expect to be chosen for the team. However, when they finally announced my selection, I was extremely excited"" she said.During her first international appearance at the 23rd European Championships she demonstrated her defensive strengths with some great actions, thus becoming a very effective weapon and the mascot of the national team of
Turkey . At the end of the EC she was declared the best digger of the tournament. Although having lost the final to Poland, it has nevertheless been Turkey’s biggest success in the history of the European Championships.Individual Awards
* "2003 European Championship "Best Digger""
* "2005 European Championship "Best Receiver""External links
* [http://www.cev.lu/mmp/online/website/main_menu/volleyball/2224/2226/2229/2808_EN.html Profil]
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