Gülce Güçtekin, a 20-year-old libero from Türkiye, has consistently stood out in junior volleyball, playing a crucial role in her country`s youth national teams. Her recent achievements include winning a bronze medal with the U21 European Championship team this past summer, where she was also honored as the Best Libero of the tournament. Güçtekin spent 2013-2021 with Fenerbahce Sport Club (with a brief stint at Mehmet Erdem Marmara Akademi), playing under Zoran Terzic and winning a national championship in 2019 coached by Emre Nur. Currently, she is gaining valuable experience playing for the University of Wisconsin in the U.S., where she is also pursuing a business degree. Gülce is poised to achieve significant success in volleyball, making her a player to watch.
The Beginning
Gülce began her volleyball journey at age 10, initially treating it as a hobby with two practice sessions per week.
Going Pro
Güçtekin lightheartedly states that volleyball chose her, rather than the other way around, fostering a deep passion for the sport within her.
The National Team
This past summer, Gülce earned a bronze medal with Team Türkiye at the #EuroVolleyU21W. Her exceptional performance also garnered her the Best Libero award for the tournament, securing her a spot on the Dream Team. This adds to her impressive record of being named Best Libero in several European competitions, including #EuroVolleyU19W in 2020, #EuroVolleyU17W in 2018, and the Balkan Championship U19 in 2018.
Wisconsin University
This season marks a new chapter for the Turkish libero as she embarks on an international journey, playing for the University of Wisconsin. Gülce describes the Wisconsin Volleyball Team as “amazing” with a “very high” level of play, offering numerous opportunities. She highlights the team`s dedicated work ethic and the exceptional talent of its players. Güçtekin expressed her motivation: “That’s why I want to be here. I want to gain experience. I want to challenge myself because the Volleyball system is different in here.”
Notably, Gülce recently served in a match for the first time in her career, a practice permitted for liberos in the USA. Beyond personal adjustments, she has ambitious team goals: “First, we want to win the Big Ten championship, and then we want to win the National Championship again. I am sure that we can do it. We are playing better and better in each game, and we are growing so much.”
The Inspiration
Unsurprisingly for Turkish volleyball enthusiasts, Gülce draws her greatest inspiration from a fellow countrywoman.
The Dream
Gülce`s passion for volleyball fuels her dream of sustaining her love for the sport throughout her entire career. Her aspirations include: “I want to play for the Turkish senior National Team and I want to go to the Olympics. And I believe that success is always achieved with hard work and the right motivation.”
