VINCENNES, Ind. – The 2021 Region 24 Champion Vincennes University Volleyball team filled a big need over the weekend with the signing of middle blocker Tuana Turhan from Ankara, Turkey.

Tuana is a six-foot-one middle blocker and is the daughter of Gülüzar and Enver Turhan.

Tuna began playing club volleyball in Turkey in 2015 when she played for Anadolu Yıldızları.

In the 2015-16 season, she played for TEÄ°AÅž sports club, where helped the team place third in the Juniors division in 2016 and second in 2017. Her new club also finished first in the Star division in 2017 as well.

Tuana then switched to play for Vakıfbank sports club during the 2017-18 season. With Vakıfbank sports club, Turhan helped the team place second in the Star division and fourth in the Juniors division.

These placements earned her team a spot in the Turkish Championships in both divisions. Her team would go on to place fourth in the junior girl’s Turkish Championships.

Turhan then went on to play for Eczacıbaşı sports club during the 2019-20 season before changing to play the past two seasons for Eryaman Gençlik Sports Club.

“Tuana’s acceptance to a deep-rooted University like Vincennes and to the women’s volleyball team not only makes me proud but also I can understand how happy she is by the sparkle in her eye,” Tuana’s Club Coach at Eryaman, Hülya Düz said. “Tuana is a passionate and competitive volleyball player who is high-spirited.”

“She is an athlete who can carry these traits to her team in a positive way, increase the level of her teammates, make the best use of the team in every position, both defensively and offensively, and create an environment for her team to benefit from her at the highest level and catch the harmony very well in her sportive and normal life,” Düz added. “I sincerely believe that Tuana will represent VU and contribute in the Academic and Sports areas in the best ways possible and I wish her success.”

Turhan comes to VU as a stellar student as well academically, receiving an Honorary certificate in 2018 and certificates of outstanding achievement during the 2020 and 2021 academic years.

Turhan is still undecided about what to major in at Vincennes University but says she will likely either major in Automotive Science or Engineering at VU.

“We are expecting Tuana to fill one of the two middle hitter positions in the fall as we do not have anyone back who played that position last year,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “Tuana is a well-rounded player and we look for her to score points on her attacks and especially in her blocking. We feel her training at an elite level in Turkey has equipped her to do this well and consistently. Her transition abilities, timing and footwork are exceptional.”