Zurich, Switzerland, August 10 – Volero Zürich have signed Turkish elite libero Gizem Karadayi from Fenerbahçe Istanbul. The multiple Swiss champions will be the first foreign club the Turkish national player wil play for.
Quick links:FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship Manila 2016 - WebsiteFIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship Manila 2016 - ScheduleFIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship Manila 2016 - TeamsThe club season is coming closer. While the best national teams are fighting for glory in the spotlight of Rio 2016, the elite clubs are preparing with utmost care for the upcoming season behind the scenes.
This includes reigning Swiss champions Volero Zürich. The team from the economic heart of Switzerland spare no effort to defend their position among Europe’s top sides.
And with the season being around the corner, the Swiss top side scored another big coup on the transfer market. Zürich have just announced the signing of the Turkish national player Gizem Karadayi. The top libero played at Fenerbahçe Istanbul in the past season and is going to join the “Ladies in Purple” in the upcoming weeks.
Karadayi has made a name for herself at three of the biggest clubs in Turkey. Volleyball giants Galatasaray Istanbul, VakifBank Istanbul, and Fenerbahçe Istanbul have been the most important stations in Karadayi’s career until now. This is very impressive considering that Karadayi is just 29 years young.
The libero celebrated the biggest successes in her career with VakifBank Istanbul: two Champions League titles in 2011 and 2013 and FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship gold in 2013 as well as silver in 2011 are just some examples from her impressive palmarès.
At Fenerbahçe Istanbul, on the other hand, the libero claimed the bronze medal at the CEV Champions League last year.
In the jersey of the Turkish national team, also known as the ‘Filenin Sultanlari’ (Sultanas of the net), Karadayi has also been on the up and up. The libero has represented her home country in over 100 games and collected the bronze medal at the CEV Volleyball European Championship in 2011, the gold medal at the first-ever gold medal at the European Games in Baku last year, and the Montreux Volley Masters crown.
Volero coach Zoran Terzic is sure that Karadayi is the perfect addition to the team. “Gizem is a big shot in Turkish Volleyball. She is a very experienced player and knows what it takes to prevail in do-or-die games. I think Silvija and Gizem will give our team security in the reception and defence. This will be very crucial in the big matchups in the Champions League and in the Club World Championship where you have to pay dearly for every error committed,” Terzic says.
Karadayi, on the other hand, can’t wait to start the preseason with her new team and explains, “Volero Zürich is one of the best addresses in the world for women’s Volleyball. I am already looking forward to meet the other players and to start our training.”
“The squad are very strong and the offensive power is very impressive. I am willing to do my share in the defence and the reception. Because I want to hunt for trophies together with Volero Zürich,” Karadayi says.