Zeynep Palabiyik is a sophomore libero/defensive specialist from Istanbul, Turkey. She sat down with Gopher Sports to talk about her early life playing volleyball, her rookie season in college and how life has been adjusting to the United States.
GS: What is your first memory with the sport of volleyball? ZP: I was seven years old. I used to do swimming lessons, but I hated them. My mom wanted me to be active and look into playing another sport, so I just went ahead and tried volleyball. I loved playing it instantly.
GS: What other sports did you try growing up? ZP: I tried tennis, fencing and ice skating. None of them hit me like volleyball. I just love being involved in team sports.
Zeynep as a childGS: You have a younger sister, Defne. How is your relationship with her? ZP: I would say we were very close growing up. When I was 15, I started to get very busy with volleyball training and our schedules were always different, so that was hard. But now that I am away at school, I feel like we've gotten closer too. We talk a lot and Facetime. When she was younger, she also got into volleyball like me, but now she does archery instead.
GS: When did you know that you really wanted to pursue a volleyball career? ZP: When it was 2020-21 in Turkey. I was playing with some of the best players in the world. I realized that maybe I can be something. I saw myself improving my skills and I was able to compete at a high level.
GS: What was the process like for playing club volleyball in Turkey? What were the seasons like? ZP: I played for a club team when I was 12 years old, we weren't that good, but we were playing against good teams. I was playing well and got invited to a trial for another club that was at a higher level. I didn't make the team the first year but then they called me back and wanted me on the roster. The seasons were long – they would start in September and finish in June. It definitely took a lot of time.
Zeynep with her championship medal on her youth teamGS: When did you realize that going to the U.S. to play volleyball was an option? What made you decide that this was the right move for your career? ZP: When I started high school, it was always a thought in my mind to go to the U.S. to play and study at the same time. In Turkey, if you play pro, you can't go to a university because of the time conflicts. I just wanted to get a degree because I want to find something I want to do after my volleyball career ends. Even if I play pro, volleyball is going to end one day, so I have to get my degree. I was either going to play pro in Turkey or come to the U.S. I know I can always go back to Turkey to play after I'm done with college.
GS: How did your recruitment to Minnesota go? ZP: I think I reached out when I heard they were looking for a libero. [Former assistant coach] Eric [Barber] and I started talking and he came all the way to Turkey to see me play. After that, he liked my performance and we decided to go forward. Here I am!
GS: How stressful was the decision for you, especially not having been to the United States before? ZP: I was very stressed out. I was in between playing pro and college volleyball. Turkey's pro volleyball league is one of the best in the world. I just thought about it, and I knew I wanted to study to get a degree. If I want to play pro, I can always come back after college. This opportunity to play in college is not going to present itself again. I knew it was the best decision for me.
GS: In your first day in the U.S., you flew into Minneapolis and came right into Maturi Pavilion where the team was practicing. What do you remember about that day? ZP: I was so tired because I had been on the plane for 15 hours. But when I walked in, I saw the team all there and they had spelled out Minnesota with their bodies on the court. It was so welcoming and warm. I was so nervous because of the new people, new language and new country. So that welcoming was so insane and I was really happy when I saw it.
GS: Your first couple weeks, you had to adjust to your new life as a student-athlete. What was the hardest part for you? ZP: I would say the food, the language and the culture. I know English pretty well, but I had to figure out the different ways people communicated. I was very quiet at first, just observing and listening for like the first two weeks. I didn't know what was funny and what wasn't. It was just a big change for me. Some of my teammates told me that when I first came, they thought I was super quiet and shy, but that's not me at all. When I got more comfortable around everyone, I felt much more like myself. The food – I just love Turkish food. Cooking for myself and getting used to the food here was a change. I used to eat so much Mexican food when I got here but I think my stomach doesn't like that anymore.
GS: When you got to campus in August, you couldn't play for a couple weeks as everything had to be situated. You finally got to play during the end of preseason. How did you feel leading up to your first game? ZP: I was nervous at first before the game. I was also excited to play and show myself in a whole different place with a lot of fans around. It's just a whole different game here from Turkey. The play is different, rules are different and everything. It was just so fun to challenge myself and be in this environment.
GS: Was the level of play in college higher or lower than you expected? How long was it before you felt more comfortable being on the floor in this environment? ZP: I'd say it's about what I expected. I've played with and against some great players in Turkey, but there are some very high-level players in college volleyball. The more time I spent with the coaches and players at Minnesota, the calmer and more relaxed I felt. The more time I played, I felt like I caught the rhythm of the team and like I fit in way better. Just like everything, it takes time.
GS: Was there anyone in particular who really helped you acclimate to the team and the college environment? ZP: Everyone helped me in different ways. For example, Sydney [Schnichels] is my roommate and she helped me so much with getting used to where to go around campus and places that I need to get things. Kylie [Murr] was the libero, so she helped me a bunch with volleyball tips and social tips as well. But overall, everyone helped me. I really didn't expect everyone to be this welcoming.
GS: What did Kylie mean to you as a teammate and as a friend? ZP: She was the player ahead of me, so she was a role model. Learning from her and seeing her play helped me so much. Even though I played on good teams too, she was like a professional in college volleyball. Her experience helped me become a better player. As a friend, she was the most energetic and positive person. She was very trustworthy. I love her.
GS: What were the biggest differences for you between college volleyball and playing overseas? ZP: The rules and the ball are different, so it was hard to get used to it. Before coming to the U.S., I didn't know how big volleyball was on TV. Like with Big Ten Network, it is huge.
GS: What was your favorite memory from your freshman year? ZP: Probably when we found out we made the NCAA Tournament. It was so exciting to learn we were competing in the postseason. It was my first time playing in it too, so that was amazing.
GS: There's a nine-hour time difference between here and Turkey. Would your parents and friends watch you from back home? ZP: They mostly followed it on social media because our games were in the middle of the night there. But I would call and FaceTime them all the time, so they knew what was going on from what I told them.
Zeynep (far right) with her father, Murat (L), sister, Defne, and mother FigenGS: This spring, the team is taking a foreign trip and Turkey is on the list of places to visit. How do you feel about getting to bring your teammates and coaches to your home country? ZP: I'm so excited to show my teammates where I came from. The food, the culture, the city and everything else. Normally, when we get done with the games, everyone else has their parents to come say hi to them. Now, mine will be there to say hi to us. I was thinking about making a presentation to the team to show the team what we are going to see in Turkey.
GS: What is your favorite Turkish food that you want the team to try? ZP: I want them to try Lahmacun, which is like Turkish pizza. Also iskender, which is like sliced meat, and kebabs. Those are the main ones.
GS: Looking forward to next season, what are you most excited for? ZP: To play as who I am and show the energy of who I am. My first year, I was getting used to things, so I wasn't the person I normally am on the court. Now, I am more comfortable with the girls and the coaches. I'm excited to show who I really am in the game. I just can't wait to go compete and win. I love going out and accomplishing my goals.
GS: Is there a place you're most looking forward to playing next year? ZP: USC. I'm excited to go and see Los Angeles as a city. We went to Stanford last year and that was cool, but I'm excited to see L.A. because it's one of the biggest cities in U.S.
Zeynep competing in the NCAA Tournament in 2023GS: When you're not playing volleyball, what do you like to do? ZP: I like to hang out with my friends and my teammates. I like to do to coffee shops and watch TV shows. In Istanbul, I love searching for different places and experiencing new things.
GS: What is a message you have for Gopher fans going into next season? ZP: We are so excited to compete next season. We're working hard this spring to get better every day. The support of the fans really affects us, the hype and the energy is amazing and really motivates us.
Rapid Fire:
Favorite Food: Pizza
Fun Fact: I have two cats, Potato and Sparky
Hidden Talent: I can jump into a pool with a backflip and I'm pretty good at tic-tac-toe
Favorite Sport to Watch: Basketball
Favorite Pro Sports Teams: Houston Rockets
Favorite Vacation Spot: Çeşme, Turkey
TV Shows: How I Met Your Mother
Biggest Inspirations: My mother
