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Residents of Kuyucuk, a village in the Arpacay district of Kars, Türkiye, continue to uphold a unique community tradition by gathering for evening volleyball matches after completing their daily agricultural work.
Every evening until sunset, community members gather on a makeshift court in a mosque yard to play.
The villagers built the court using their own resources, drawing the boundary lines with lime and buying the ball through community donations.
For nearly 15 years, this evening ritual has brought together players of all generations, ranging from teenagers to elderly residents.
The matches have evolved into the primary social activity for the village, offering recreation after a long day of tending livestock.
Rather than focusing on winning, participants emphasize that the matches serve to strengthen local solidarity, friendship, and community bonds, making friendship the true winner of every game.
The grassroots passion displayed in Kuyucuk reflects a broader, deep-seated love for volleyball across Turkish culture.
Over the past few decades, volleyball has grown significantly in popularity throughout the country, transitioning from a schoolyard pastime to a cornerstone of national sports pride.
The grassroots passion displayed in Kuyucuk reflects a broader, deep-seated love for volleyball across Turkish culture.
Over the past few decades, volleyball has grown significantly in popularity throughout the country, transitioning from a schoolyard pastime to a cornerstone of national sports pride.
This growth is, at some level, driven by the international success of the Turkish Women's National Volleyball Team, the "Sultans of the Net."
Their victories have inspired local communities, establishing volleyball alongside soccer as a major national sport that unites generations.
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