Your volleyball journey started when you were young: you were in sports school and progressed through youth teams, ultimately joining the A National Women’s Volleyball Team. You’re following a path that countless young athletes aspire to achieve — what was the key to your success?
I began playing volleyball at Fenerbahçe when I was eight years old. I wore the Fenerbahçe jersey for 15 years, progressing through Fenerbahçe Sports Schools (Fenerbahçe Spor Okulları), the youth team, and ultimately the A Team. I began my professional journey in a large community, participating in crucial matches at a fast tempo. Working with talented players at a young age was a remarkable opportunity for me. During this time, I was fortunate enough to share the court with numerous stars, particularly Eda Erdem, from whom I gained valuable insights regarding both game strategy and personal character. For me, one of the most significant lessons was about maintaining work discipline. The standard we are currently playing at is notably elevated and reaching this point is certainly a challenge. Thus, it is crucial to sustain this level and ensure its stability; to achieve this, it’s essential to prioritize disciplined work in your life.
You’re now in your third season with the team. Even at a young age, you stand out as a player who unites and inspires your teammates. You radiate positivity and cheer and, during challenging times, we can see that you assertively manage the circumstances and support your fellow players. How do you achieve this?
Thank you so much for these kind words! Absolutely, I am thrilled to be in my third season here, and I truly view the Turkish Airlines family as my own. Certainly, our job comes with some pressure and, at times, we have to balance our internal stress with whatever’s going on externally. Over the years, I’ve cultivated a positive nature, and this helps me manage pressure and stress — in fact, I’m usually in a state of positivity. I’ve found that when I’m cheerful and can smile throughout my day-to-day activities, everything goes more smoothly; this applies to the field, too, and to handling the pressure and stress associated with our work. Also, I share with my teammates a feeling of solidarity and unity that consistently empowers me. When we channel this feeling on the field, we can achieve amazing results.
You have strong relationships with foreign and local players, and the way that manifests during matches cannot be overstated. Conversely, what qualities do you believe the ideal team player exhibits outside the game?
As a team, we certainly invest more time together than we do with our families. Creating a family atmosphere and really being able to feel it, is important for a team. In a quality squad, it’s essential to set aside personal ambition and truly embrace the role of a team player, as well as professionalism. When you genuinely function as a team, victory is within reach. So, whether we’re local or foreign, we invest considerable time together and share many experiences — and this also enhances the sense of unity within the team. Ultimately, teamwork is the key element to success.
This season, we see a team that plays together and uplifts one another. What methods do you use to assess the team’s performance?
As noted, this is my third season with Turkish Airlines. After three years here, I can confidently state that Turkish Airlines embodies a strong team spirit. I don’t say this based solely on the match scores; even during our poorest performances, we’re a unified Turkish Airlines team and we consistently play our best until the very last ball. This season, our team is youthful and full of energy. We’re united, we’re driven to succeed, and we persevere until the very last moment. Certainly, the foundation of this competitive framework is mutual respect. Maintaining love and respect within the team positively influences our performance and the quality of our play. As a team, we faced challenging times; we dealt with injuries, unforeseen setbacks in rotations, and tough matches. We set aside all these challenges, and we put forth our utmost effort on the field. I believe we persevered until the very end, and I’m so proud of us all for our efforts.
In sports, the dynamics can shift swiftly; unforeseen circumstances can arise. Injuries, inadequate training or missed target matches, for instance. What type of mindset is necessary to minimize the impacts of these occurrences and potentially emerge stronger?
Our schedule is packed; we have games nearly every three days so, at this rate, it’s not feasible to linger on a loss. With a new game approaching in two days, we need to move past the recent loss and focus on what lies ahead. Ultimately, sports involves both losses and victories. It’s essential to hold a forward-looking perspective and concentrate on our upcoming objectives while keeping our spirits and motivation high. In terms of injuries, these are regrettably among the most unfortunate occurrences in sports. When I’m injured, I remind myself that “this is a temporary process. I’ll recover, regain my fitness, and return to the field.” This perspective helps me deal with the recovery process more easily.
The libero plays a crucial and challenging role in the defense. What do you enjoy most about your role?
Yes indeed! And the main reason that the role of the libero is crucial yet challenging is because we have fewer opportunities to make errors compared to other positions. A spiker might err in the cuff, yet she can compensate with an impressive dunk. My position demands that I remain engaged and steady in both serve receive and defense. Minimizing errors is essential for the libero position. But despite its challenges, I truly enjoy my role; it brings me great satisfaction to take charge in the backcourt and produce surprising plays for my team.
What do you value in your volleyball journey? For instance, winning, collaborating as a team, demonstrating steady performance, enhancing your play…
During my volleyball career, I’ve secured three or four championships in the League. I’ve also had the chance to compete in the National Team youth, semi-final, and final competitions. Standing on that podium was a feeling beyond words, a culmination of all our hard work over such a long period. This moment is a constant reminder for me, representing one of the core values driving my motivation. Second, like every athlete, I faced challenging trials early in my life. In these moments, I consistently pressed forward by focusing on my aspirations and I just kept going. I envision myself holding a trophy at Turkish Airlines — this would be the most fitting and significant recognition for the dedication we’ve shown as a team.
What advice would you offer to Melis, who has recently been chosen for the National Team?
In my early years, I was promoted to the A Team of Fenerbahçe, where I played for several years. As time went by, I gained a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be a professional. As the years pass, you discover more about yourself. In my formative years, I discovered my connection with Turkish Airlines; I’ve grown physically and mentally during my time here. In my opinion, the key factor for us is mental resilience. The headlines I encountered for years remained consistent yet, in the final moments or tcommehe last point of a match, the side with superior mental toughness ultimately prevails. My suggestion for young Melis is to focus on enhancing herself physically and mentally. Mental toughness and resilience are truly key factors in this game.
Your dedication to putting in extra work and training to raise your game is truly commendable. How do you uphold this self-discipline?
As I said, it’s a challenge to get to this level and equally challenging to maintain it! I particularly enjoy individual training sessions as they give me more opportunities to engage with the ball. Certainly, we collaborate with our coaches on an individual basis, but I also find greater advantages when I have the chance to train one-on-one with a teammate. Reception and defense strengthening exercises exemplify these individual training sessions. My early commitment to discipline played a significant role in my personal growth; in addition to personal efforts, when we train effectively as a team and win a match, I can tell myself, “We put in the hard work and earned this win!” I strive to uphold my self-discipline and sustain my motivation to the best of my ability.
What are your career objectives?
Like every athlete, my dream is to play in the Olympics one day and proudly represent my country at the Olympic Games.
Let’s talk about travel… How does flying with Turkish Airlines make you feel?
We are accustomed to traveling extensively, and the opportunity to travel to various cities and countries for matches is one of the most enjoyable aspects of this job. For this reason, I like domestic away games and European matches because they enable me to compete in a variety of settings.
Your job requires extensive travel to different cities and countries. How did you adjust to this pace and, when traveling, what do you focus on to maintain your performance?
I’m fortunate because I can sleep comfortably anywhere, including buses and planes. Training can be tough, especially after a long trip. For me, the most important thing is to make the most of my rest periods. When I get enough rest, it’s easier for me to keep up the fast pace.
We heard that you have a fear of heights. Does that affect your travel?
Yes, I have a fear of heights! But it doesn’t bother me when I’m on planes, so I’m fine during flights.
Do you have any tips for planning leisure travel? Making lists, looking up places to visit…
Obviously, we usually have national matches in the summer, so we can’t plan long vacations. Last summer, I was able to visit many places by planning a detailed itinerary. When I’m planning a vacation, I go online and research the destinations I intend to visit. If I have friends who’ve been to these places before, I ask for suggestions. This is how I plan my vacation, and I find the process to be both enjoyable and productive.
What is your favorite city?
I’d say that Los Angeles is my favorite city. I had the opportunity to visit for the first time last summer and I really enjoyed it.
Is there a place in the world that you haven’t been, but would love to visit?
I want to go to Cancún, Mexico. It’s already at the top of my travel wish list for next summer. I can’t wait for my time there.
Series of questions
Window or aisle seat on planes?
I prefer the window seat. In accordance with this preference, my club usually selects the window seat when purchasing tickets — I’d like to thank my club for this thoughtful gesture.
Movies, books or sleep on the road?
Sleep is usually my first priority.
Sea vacation or cultural excursion?
Sea vacations are the best way to relax and unwind.
Teleportation or time travel?
Teleportation, especially given my current pace.
Mantı or chicken pilaf?
That’s a tough question. I like both, but mantı is more important to me.
Ice cream or chocolate?
As someone who enjoys ice cream in the winter, definitely ice cream.
Defense or reception?
I really like both, but defense is my top priority.
When passing, should you aim for an ace or a double?
Obviously, I trust my passing, which is why I said ace. It’s possible to get an ace from someone who can serve well.
To come from behind and win in a tie break, or to come from behind and win without a chance?
There’s no need to worry. It’s preferable to open the gap from the start and win.
Scoring with a forearm bump, or scooping balls off billboards?
Scoring with a forearm bump.
