Lía and Car, two beach volleyball players and new girls Crown, joined in the summer of 2014 for a tournament in which they signed up as a team without knowing each other. It was love at first play, and since then they considered competing in the 2015 season, which turned out to be a summer of many achievements: they reached the podium in practically all the tournaments they entered, and even became champions and runners-up in the international events of the Madison Beach Volley Tour (MBVT) in Tarragona and Valencia (the highest-level national circuit).
On the other hand, the sum of their achievements in the Catalan territory and winning the final determined them as Catalonia champions 2015. They played and won competitions in other cities such as Santander, Laredo, A Coruña, Mallorca, Fuengirola, Alicante, Badajoz…
Facing the next season, their goal is to make a leap on an international level without forgetting national competition. “For us it is important to continue achieving success at this level, mainly with the MBVTour and the Catalan Circuit,” point out the athletes.
We tell you a little more about them below
Lía (Evangelia) Merteki: is 32 years old and is from Thessaloniki. She studied finance and accounting in Salonica. 9 years ago she came to Spain to pursue a master's degree in international cooperation and development project management at the University of Málaga, where she started working as a financial officer for cooperation projects in the vice-rectorate of international relations of UMA until she was promoted and became a Project Manager.
Since she was little, she has practiced all sports (rhythmic gymnastics, ballet, basketball…) until she decided on volleyball at 13-14 years old. Since then she devoted herself semi-professionally until she arrived in Spain, where she left the court and specialized in beach volleyball. She has won several national and international titles, becoming Champion of Spain on several occasions and third in the European university championship.
He currently lives in Barcelona where he combines his personal life with training and CrossFit, from which he benefits as physical preparation, and which he practices at the Box in Viladecans.
Car (Carmen) Martínez: is 22 years old and lives in Madrid. She started playing on the school team 15 years ago and shortly after went to train at Club Voleibol Majadahonda. At 14 years old she began competing in beach volleyball in the lower categories, where she achieved accomplishments such as second place in the Spanish Under-19 Championship and Spanish Under-21 Champion. She also competed internationally with the Spanish national team in two European championships (Under-17 and Under-18) where she achieved 12 and 5 place, and in an Under-19 World Championship, where she finished ninth.
Last year he completed the Bachelor's Degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Since his second year of university, he combined sports with training, studies, and occasional jobs that allowed him to pay for the summer season. His intention this year is to continue his education and earn a master's degree in sports management in Barcelona.
