Stars of EuroVolleyW: Melissa Vargas

Only 23-years-old, Melissa Vargas is one of the biggest stars of female volleyball, and to those, following the sport, this is not a surprise. She has been considered the wunderkind of Cuban volleyball, making her debut on the international Volleyball at the age of only 13. She lived up to the expectations of having a brilliant career, but the path towards the success hasn’t been an easy one. 

Facing challenges on the way, the Cuban born had to go through difficulties, including ban for playing. Coming back stronger, Vargas proved she will not stop. After years without playing with a national team, Melissa, who acquired Turkish citizenship in 2021, is now part of coach Danielle Santarini’s roster for the upcoming CEV Volleyball European Championship - Women. A nice asset to each team, the Turkish fans are already looking forward to seeing Melissa wearing the national T-shirt again, after doing so at the 2023 VNL, where she became the ultimate star.

Can she do it again at #EuroVolleyW?

If there is a person on the court, ready to shine with both great technical and mental skills, then this is Vargas. Аt the 2023 CEV Volleyball European Championship - Women, Vargas will represent the team of Türkiye. The Turkish who finished with the bronze medals from EuroVolley 2021, will face the teams of Greece, Germany, Sweden, Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic in Pool C of the competition, and Vargas can definitely light the volleyball fire.

Born in 1999, she called the attention of specialists early in her career, and at the age of only 15, back in 2014, she played her first FIVB Women’s World Championship with the national team of Cuba. 

Cuba and the beginning of her career

While representing Cuba, she was acknowledged as best scorer, bes opposite, best server at various competitions such as the NORCECA Pan American Cup, the Central American Caribbean Games, the Pan American Cup and others. 

However, after a dreamy start of the career (144pts. at the Pan American Cup held in 2014, among others), in 2017, she faced problems with the disciplinary commission of the state federation because of a shoulder injury, and was then banned to play Volleyball internationally for four years.

A year later, she found her way back to Europe (after a first experience in 2015 in the Czech VK Prostějov), and she signed a multi-million contract with Volero Zurich, putting a new beginning of her career. 

Türkiye and Fenerbahçe 

Türkiye has been a lucky charm for Vargas. She first set foot in the country back in 2018, when she signed with Fenerbahçe. She spent there three seasons, until 2021. She came back to the team for the second half of the 21-22 season, and did the same in January 2023, when the Chinese League (where she played) ended. 

Standing at 191cm tall, Vargas has been one of the greatest supports on the court for her teammates in the Turkish club. 

She helped the team finish third in the 2023 edition of #CLVolleyW after being stopped by the reigning champions of VakifBank Istanbul. However, Fenerbahce were close to reaching the SuperFinals, as they seized a 3-0 win in the home semi, mainly thanks to great performance precisely by Vargas (19 pts., 56% exc.in attack; compared to 17pts. аnd 44% by VakifBank’s then star Paola Egonu). In the rematch, Melissa scored as many as 18pts (47% exc.), but it wasn’t enough for her team, as the Superfinals’ spot was decided by a Golden set, won by VakifBank.

However, everyone on the team acknowledged the great help of Melissa, who finished as 16th best scorer (114 points, 5.43 per set), but played in only six matches (21 sets).

And even if they didn’t succeed reaching the top of the European club Volleyball stage, Fenerbahçe did an excellent job in the Turkish Sultanlar League, becoming the 22-23 champions after six years of waiting and breaking VakifBank’s four consecutive titles. 

The ladies from Fenerbahçe outclassed in three games their opponents from Eczacibasi Dynavit, while Melissa finished with 19pts. Because of her contributions, she was also selected as the Best Opposite and MVP of the League. 

2023 VNL 

Becoming an MVP is the thing Melissa does the best, especially in 2023. After grabbing the award in the Sultanlar League, she did the same at her debut at the Women’s Volleyball Nations League. 

Called by many “the missing piece of the puzzle in the Turkish team”, Melissa entered the Turkish national team by storm, wearing the No.4 jersey. She finished as sixth-best scorer in the competition, recording a total of 227 points (194 attack points, 14 block points, 19 aces), and contributing to what is, by far, the biggest success of the Turkish Women’s national team. 

Melissa showed that she is more than prepared to be the leader of the team, and as the competition was progressing, she reached her best shape, tallying 26 points in the gold medal match against China (overall 65 in the three elimination matches). 

Furthermore, she was behind the change of the team’s mood, contributing for an even more positive atmosphere.

“With Vargas, she’s not only a great player, but also a great person,” said to Volleyball World Turkish captain Eda Erdem, who also plays with Vargas at Fenerbahçe. “She changed the team’s mood and is an incredible fighter on the court. We love her, we embraced her from the first day and showed her that she’s one of us.”

And while Melissa has the capacity of shining bright like a star, she also has the great luck to be coached of none other but Danielle Santarelli, who in less than an year made Serbia FIVB Volleyball Women’s Wolrd Champions, the Italian Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano FIVB Women’s Club World Champions and Türkiye VNL champions. He found the right combination between Vargas and Ebrar Karakurt (moving Karakurt to the outside hitter position).

So, Melissa has it all to become the ultimate Star of the 2021 #EuroVolleyW - great technical skills, mental preparation, the right teammates and the right coach.

Find out if she will do it, follow the competition live on EuroVolley.TV.