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International transfers Dilara Gedikoglu and Merle Weidt bring ‘refreshing’ mindset to Arizona volleyball
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Photo by Mike Christy/Arizona Athletics
Arizona volleyball has never been a big landing spot for international players. That has changed this season with two transfers and a freshman from outside the U.S. To Wildcats head coach
Dave Rubio, it’s not just about the skills of
Dilara Gedikoglu,
Sofia Maldonado Diaz on the court. It’s also about their attitudes off of it.
“They make a significant difference,” Rubio said last month. “Just the way they approach life is different, and so it’s been a nice cultural change for us. How they go about their business and handle their business every single day is different. It’s been a good influence and good exposure for our other players.”
Tulsa transfer Dilara Gedikoglu could be Arizona volleyball’s next elite hitter
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Dilara Gedikoglu, the reigning American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year.
The Turk was No. 3 in the AAC in kills (488) and kills per set (4.10) last season, displaying great power in her first year in the United States. Coming from Galatasaray, one of the top clubs in Turkey, made the transition to college easy for her.
Well, mostly.
The volleyball part came naturally, but the language barrier and frigid Oklahoma winters tested her resolve at times. As did the local cuisine.
“I don’t like American food because it’s a lot of like fatty stuff and junk food, and in Turkey it’s more about fresh foods,” said Gedikoglu, whose English is better than serviceable. “I think that’s one of the things I really missed because when I first came here I gained a lot (of weight), which is not good.”