Gulce Guctekin joins Badger volleyball
January 20, 2022 | Volleyball
Best European libero comes to Wisconsin 2022
MADISON, Wis. – Head coach Kelly Sheffield has announced that Gulce Guctekin, a 5-foot-5 libero from Istanbul, Turkey, will join the NCAA championship Wisconsin volleyball team in the fall.
"I am really excited to have Gulce join us," Sheffield said. "She is an exceptional talent and has been trained very well. She also has played against a very high level of competition and the experience that she will be coming in here with is unique. Her defensive range is special and she has great touch and feel on the ball."
Guctekin (pronounced GOOL jay GOOCH teh kin) is a five-year member of the Turkish Junior National Team. Considered the best libero in Europe for the class of 2022, Guctekin was named the Best Libero at the 2020 U19 European Championship and was named to the Dream Team, aiding her team to a gold medal.
Guctekin was also named the Best Libero at the 2019 U17 Balkan Championship, winning gold. At the 2018 U19 Balkan Championships, she was named Best Libero and member of the Dream Team while earning a silver medal. The defensive standout was also named Best Libero and member of the Dream Team at the 2018 European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) Championship, winning a bronze medal.
Guctekin competed with Fenerbahce Sport Club from 2013-21, competing in the Istanbul and Turkish championships. In 2020-21, her team finished second in the Sultans League for coach Zoran Terzić. Guctekin played under coach Emre Nur on the junior club, leading Fenerbahce to the prestigious junior national championship of Turkey in 2019. She is currently competing with the Sariyer Volleyball Club.
She also played volleyball at Kadikoy Private Atacan High School, aiding her team to two runner-up finishes at the Turkish championships. Güçtekin earned honor certificates all four years of high school.
Guctekin joins Ella Wrobel, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter from Plainfield, Illinois, who signed with the Badgers in November, as part of Wisconsin's 2022 signing class.
"I am really excited to have Gulce join us," Sheffield said. "She is an exceptional talent and has been trained very well. She also has played against a very high level of competition and the experience that she will be coming in here with is unique. Her defensive range is special and she has great touch and feel on the ball."
Guctekin (pronounced GOOL jay GOOCH teh kin) is a five-year member of the Turkish Junior National Team. Considered the best libero in Europe for the class of 2022, Guctekin was named the Best Libero at the 2020 U19 European Championship and was named to the Dream Team, aiding her team to a gold medal.
Guctekin was also named the Best Libero at the 2019 U17 Balkan Championship, winning gold. At the 2018 U19 Balkan Championships, she was named Best Libero and member of the Dream Team while earning a silver medal. The defensive standout was also named Best Libero and member of the Dream Team at the 2018 European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) Championship, winning a bronze medal.
Guctekin competed with Fenerbahce Sport Club from 2013-21, competing in the Istanbul and Turkish championships. In 2020-21, her team finished second in the Sultans League for coach Zoran Terzić. Guctekin played under coach Emre Nur on the junior club, leading Fenerbahce to the prestigious junior national championship of Turkey in 2019. She is currently competing with the Sariyer Volleyball Club.
She also played volleyball at Kadikoy Private Atacan High School, aiding her team to two runner-up finishes at the Turkish championships. Güçtekin earned honor certificates all four years of high school.
Guctekin joins Ella Wrobel, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter from Plainfield, Illinois, who signed with the Badgers in November, as part of Wisconsin's 2022 signing class.
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