When Is the Best Time to Play Beach Volleyball?
From Thessaloniki to Malaga
Evangelia Merteki, or Lía, came to Spain 8 years ago to study at the University of Malaga. This Greek girl started playing volleyball at the age of 12 and although, in her early days, she combined it with many other sports,(rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, basketball, etc.), it was finally volleyball that really hooked her. She trained at one of the biggest clubs in Greece, ARIS Thessaloniki, and went on to compete semi-professionally, combining volleyball with her studies in Finance and Accounting at the University of Macedonia.
Since she arrived in Spain, although she has played for several indoor volleyball teams, she has discovered her new passion for beach volleyball, which has led her to compete at the highest national level and also in several international competitions.
Why did you go to play in Spain?
I came as an Erasmus student for a period of 4 months. However, I decided to continue in Malaga to do a master's degree and... well, I've been combining studies and work and I'm still here.
How did you contact the club?
I contacted a nearby club online and they helped me find the team I played with in Malaga. I competed for a couple of years with clubs and also in university championships, but I took it as a rather amateur and, already in my first years in Spain, I started to get interested in beach volleyball.
How was the preparation for the trip and arrival in Spain?
It was the most normal thing, I took a couple of suitcases, looked for a flat to rent and… that was it. Well, I also had to spend some time studying the language a little.
Have you had more international experiences with volleyball?
Not really in indoor volleyball, but I have had several international experiences with beach volleyball: first the World University Championships in Cyprus, then the European Championships in Turkey, Poland and Russia, and I have also played in some competitions in France in recent years.
What is volleyball like in Greece?
Volleyball is a very popular sport in Greece. There are many clubs and also many players. It is a healthy lifestyle. In my country there are many professional teams and even more semi-professional ones.
Did you find any differences in the playing system between Greece and Spain? Was it difficult for you to adapt?
The truth is that volleyball is not much different from that in Spain.
Did you have any problems with the language?
Not too many. At the beginning it was a bit more complicated, but there were a couple of players who spoke English, so we understood each other in one way or another.
On the street it was a different story, Spain is not known for its command of languages, but when you have no other choice, you quickly learn to make a living.
Do you know how the base is worked in Greece? Is it different from Spain?
At my club, the work is done in a much more professional way than in Spain, but it is true that I come from one of the biggest clubs in Greece. You could compare it to Barça, with different sections for each sport.
In volleyball, we had a very good talent detection programme that led me to compete with the youth teams as a cadet.
Any other aspect that caught your attention?
One of the things that surprised me the most when I arrived was the fact that there were no prize money at beach volleyball tournaments or that the prize money was very small. However, now that the crisis has affected our countries so much, it is quite normal.
Do you think any idea could be exported to Spain?
Something that comes to mind right now that is different from this country is the level of grassroots work. In Greece, at least in my club, the most promising players become part of a talent programme in which they do not have to pay monthly fees, just as it usually happens in Spain with the grassroots. In this way, their continuity within the sport is encouraged and they are offered better training.
Tell us some anecdote (about volleyball) that happened to you here.
Well, I think one of the best anecdotes is that of the European University Beach Volleyball Championship in Kazan (Russia).
After a very long trip, with planes that looked like buses (landing to pick up and drop off passengers) we finally arrived in Russia. What a surprise, after so many hours, when we set foot in the Kazan airport, the Russian police stopped us. Without understanding any of their language (and they knew very little English) we found out the problem: We don't have a visa! Obviously they made us look like fools, and even more so when they deported us. The genius who had arranged the trip sent us to Russia with the visa invitation, but not with visaed passports. The result was that they didn't even let us rest there. They put us on the first plane leaving for a European country (and without even having seats).
In the end, after 40 hours of travel, 8 takeoffs and landings, without sleeping for two days except for a short while at the Moscow airport and after an express visit to the Russian consulate in Frankfurt, we were able to enter Kazan to compete. However, with so much flying, our suitcases disappeared and we had to survive 40 degrees with clothes lent by volunteers for the 7 days of the championship.
How was the experience? Would you do it again?
After 6 years in Malaga, the answer to this question is quite obvious.
What has volleyball brought to your life?
Volleyball is a very important part of my life. It is sport, friendship, health, fun… And a way of fulfilling oneself that is different from work.
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