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Romania to host CEV EuroVolley 2025 Men pool phase!

by Press
written by Press

After a truly successful experience last year with the women’s competition, CEV EuroVolley will return to Romania in 2025 when the Balkan country plays host to one of the four pools that will get the men’s premier competition for national teams underway! This is excellent news for European Volleyball and especially for the Romanian Volleyball family – with their men’s national team due to compete in the 2023 edition of CEV EuroVolley, namely in the pool due to be contested in Tel Aviv, Israel.

In 2025, Romania will welcome CEV EuroVolley Men matches for the first time since 1963. That year, Romania hosted both the men’s and women’s competitions – eventually seizing gold in the men’s tournament, which remains the best result achieved by this country on the international stage to this day – together with a bronze medal won by the men’s national team at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

Most recently, Romania qualified for EuroVolley in 2019 – doing so for the first time since 1995 – and achieved the same feat earlier this summer in the qualifiers for the 2023 edition, finishing first in Pool G on a record of five wins and one loss only. Moreover, Romania won the European Silver League title in 2022, which is further testament to the continuous growth of their men’s national team over the past few years.

“It is truly very exciting and rewarding for us to see Romania joining the CEV EuroVolley fever once again. This provides a clear proof that being bold and taking the initiative to host such competitions undoubtedly benefits the growth of a National Federation, as well as the growth of Volleyball in their respective home country. It is a source of inspiration for all of us. With this said, we can be sure that our institution’s flagship competition is in very good hands” – Aleksandar Boričić,  CEV President.

The news that CEV EuroVolley 2025 will be taking place in Romania will certainly galvanise the local Volleyball community and capitalise on the success of last year’s EuroVolley Women matches held in Cluj-Napoca. Moreover, only a few days ago, the CEV confirmed that Romania’s third-largest city, Timisoara, would be hosting the 2023 edition of #EuroBeachVolleyU22. All of this speaks for the increasingly relevant role that Romanian Volleyball is playing on the European stage – thus living up to the legacy from the ‘golden era’ that the country experienced in the 50s and 60s when Romania was a real Volleyball powerhouse.

“For Romania and for Romanian Volleyball, it is a great honour to host one of the four pools of CEV EuroVolley 2025 Men. It is a real arch over time, considering that our country hosted another Men’s EuroVolley in 1963. We gained experience with CEV EuroVolley Women in 2021 when we hosted a pool in Cluj and we are certain that all our guests will feel at home, this time also. I hope this competition will inspire the Romanian Volleyball team and all our young players who will meet their idols” – Adin Marian Cojocaru, President of the Romanian Volleyball Federation.

The CEV will announce the remaining CEV EuroVolley 2025 Men host countries in due course following the ongoing negotiation process with interested National Federations.

Source: CEV

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MainNEWS

Obituary – Dragan ‘Čeda’ Cvetković

by Press
written by Press

Dragan Cvetković, aka Čeda, a former Volleyball player, statistician, analyst, and electrical engineer, has died after a long illness at the age of 69 in Belgrade.

During his competitive years, Cvetković played for Belgrade’s Volleyball clubs Železničar and Trudbenik. The popular Čeda was the forerunner of today’s scouts, since he was the first to process statistical data from Volleyball matches at a time when computers were rare and when statisticians mostly used paper and pencil. With much dedication and hard work, he reached global heights with the national team and worked with the best players and coaches from the former Yugoslavia.

Cvetković worked for Partizan from 1994 to 1998, before sticking with Crvena Zvezda with occasional breaks until 2017. In his international career, he collaborated with famous coaches in the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and North Macedonia.

Dragan Cvetković was a member of the professional staff of the men’s senior national team of Yugoslavia, then Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia from 1995 to 2011 and had an immeasurable contribution to winning the most important medals in the country’s history, namely gold at the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000, silver at the World championship in Japan in 1998, as well as gold medals at the European Championships in 2001 and 2011 in the Czech Republic and Austria, respectively.

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BALKAN STARSMain

The Next Big Thing on Volleyball: Gülce Güçtekin

by Press
written by Press

If you have been following underage Volleyball for some years now, chances are you have come across the name Gülce Güçtekin. The 20 years old libero from Türkiye has been playing a pivotal role in the youth national teams of her country, bringing success and pride to her fellow compatriots. One of her last achievements dates back to this summer – when she and her team grabbed the bronze medals from the U21 European Championship, and she was named Best Libero of the competition. From 2013 to 2021 she competed with Fenerbahce Sport Club (with one break at the Mehmet Erdem Marmara Akademi). With Fenerbahce, she played under the guidance of Zoran Terzic, while in 2019, coached by Emre Nur, led her team to the prestigious national championship title. 

Since this season, she is playing in the U.S. team of Wisconsin University, where she also intends on majoring in business. Gaining important experience, Gülce is preparing herself to reach the heights of Volleyball in the future. Get to know her now, as he might very well be The Next Big Thing in Volleyball.

The Beginning

Gülce started with Volleyball when she was 10. In the beginning, she used to practice two times per week, and it was all just a hobby to her.

“I will never forget my first practise. It was at 8:50AM, and there were nearly 40 people in the hall. I just loved it being there! From that point on, I have always wanted to be part of the team . I can say I am an energizer, so Volleyball is the best sport for me . I started with it at Fenerbahçe, and I have always been a libero. I have always been the shortest in my team.”

Gülce Güçtekin

Going Pro

Smiling, Güçtekin says that she didn’t choose Volleyball. Instead, Volleyball choose her and she’s developed a great passion for it.

“Actually, I did not decide to become a professional Volleyball player. Volleyball choose me. I am so passionate about it, I always want to play it – even when I am on holidays. I am a huge fan!”

Gülce Güçtekin

The National Team

In the summer, Gülce won a bronze medal with team Türkiye at the #EuroVolleyU21W. Furthermore, she was named Best Libero of the competition, making it to the Dream team (she’s been chosen for Best Libero in various European tournaments already – #EuroVolleyU19W in 2020; #EuroVolleyU17W in 2018; Balkan Championship U19 in 2018).

 

“I am so proud of my teammates”, Gülce recalls the tournament in 2022. “We tried to do our best, we never gave up. We had an amazing staff, we were so lucky to count on them. It was a very precious moment for me, an unforgettable one in my Volleyball journey. Everybody supported me a lot and I enjoyed a lot playing in Italy. I still feel goosebumps.”

Gülce Güçtekin

Wisconsin University

This season, the Turkish libero started a new adventure – playing abroad, for the University of Wisconsin University.

“Wisconsin Volleyball Team is amazing, and the level of Volleyball they are delivering is very high. They have many opportunities, and everybody in this team always wants to work more. The players of Wisconsin are super talented. 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.”

Actually, Gülce had to serve for a first time in her career in a match just some weeks ago, as liberos in the USA are allowed to serve. And besides the new experience on the Volleyball court, the young libero has set up some high goals as well for her team as well.

“First, we want to the Big10 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 

To no surprise of Turkish fans, Gülce has found her biggest inspiration in a compatriot.

“Simge Aköz is my idol. I love her Volleyball style and I love her warrior spirit. Also, I get inspired a lot by Kelsey Robinson…I love her technique ad I love watching her passing. She is so confident.”

Gülce Güçtekin

The Dream

Passionate about her Volleyball life, Gülce dreams of never losing her love for the game. Until the very last day of her career.

“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.”

Source: CEV

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MainNorth Macedonia

Petar Jovanovski: We already have a victory by bringing Euro Volley to Macedonia!

by Press
written by Press

The first reaction after the draw for the groups for the Euro Volley 2023, whose co-organizer is Macedonia, came from Petar Jovanovski, president of the Volleyball Federation Macedonia.

“Macedonia won its first victory by organizing this European Championship itself”. There are no easy opponents, this is the final stage, all opponents are more or less known to us, we just have to prepare well and achieve that second victory. The absolute favorite is Poland, in Skopje, we will have the vice-champions of the world, they are indisputable, we will play with them for the first time, and all the other opponents are already known to us. We hope for victories in Macedonia,” says Jovanovski.

Macedonia, together with Italy, Bulgaria and Israel, hosts the first phase of Euro Volley, which begins on 28th August next year.

Balkan player Filip Madjunkov from North Macedonia participated in the drawing of cups for EuroVolleyM 2023.

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