Kacmaz and Balık give Türkiye the best of both Worlds

In early July, Ezel Balık and Begum Kacmaz were wearing Türkiye’s red jersey at the Girls’ U19 World Championship in Osijek, Croatia. The two middle blockers have barely had time to catch their breath before stepping into another major challenge, the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia.

For Balık, it is her first time competing at this level, while for Kacmaz it marks another step in a career that already includes two U19 World Championship appearances and now her first at U21.

• Watch the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship on VBTV

In Croatia, Türkiye came within a single win of reaching the podium, finishing fourth after a campaign that left both pride and a sense of unfinished business. Kacmaz remembers the run clearly. The experience was not without disappointment, but she says it gave the team valuable lessons to carry forward. She explained that the tournament was a chance to test themselves, even if the final results fell short of their hopes.

“That was my second time playing U19 in Croatia. We fought well and we could not get the medal, but we learned a lot of lessons from that tournament,” she said. “Now we are here, we love this team, we love our staff, and we fight for this team as well.”

Balık, still only 15 years old, looks back on Croatia as a tournament that pushed her out of her comfort zone. Until then, she had mostly faced players her own age, but at the U19 Worlds, many of her opponents were older and more experienced.

“I always played with my own age group, but in the World Championship there were players two years older than me,” she said. “It was a long tournament, and we had many matches where we learned and took away a lot.”

Their rapid shift from Croatia to Indonesia has been an adjustment, but both players say the U21 Worlds offer a different kind of energy. Kacmaz has enjoyed everything from the venues to the warm reception from locals. She spoke about how the positive atmosphere has made the team feel welcome and motivated.

“Here, I am so happy. The venues are excellent, and the people are friendly and welcoming. We have many goals to play for and matches against strong teams. It is going great so far,” she said.

Balık shared a highlight from Surabaya that stands out as a turning point. In a hard-fought match against Italy, Türkiye came from behind to claim a win that she believes has boosted their confidence.

“We had a really good comeback against Italy, and we won,” she said. “This is important for us to keep improving. We go day by day, making progress every match and trying to do our best.”

Their partnership at the net has been shaped by constant communication and a willingness to help each other improve. Balık values the guidance she receives from her older teammate, especially in refining her blocking.

“When I made mistakes in blocking, like going back too much, she talked to me about them so I could improve, like moving more inside,” she said. “She also motivates me and gives me confidence.”

Kacmaz describes their connection as similar to that between sisters. Playing alongside someone younger has made her more aware of how important open communication is on court, particularly in maintaining the team’s block system.

“Sometimes it can be hard for younger players to talk with older ones, but you have to communicate on court,” she said. “We have played together for about two months this year, and we talk and share a lot about the match because when we do not talk, our block system does not work.”

From the pressure of Croatia to the excitement of Surabaya, Balık and Kacmaz are living a season that most players would never imagine experiencing back-to-back. They have already shown that they can adapt, compete and contribute at two different World Championships in the same summer.

For Türkiye, it is proof that the middle of the net is in safe hands. And for the players themselves, it is a rare opportunity to enjoy the best of both Worlds while keeping in mind the one step they missed in Osijek. That unfinished business still lingers and will remain a source of motivation as they look ahead to future World Championships.

2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship: full schedule

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