Published on Show Me Mizzou Aug. 28, 2026
Story by Tony Rehagen, BA, BJ ’01
In the age of NIL, it’s not uncommon to see incoming college athletes get paid like worldly professionals, but it’s rare to see a recruit arrive on campus with a readymade pro resume.
That’s exactly what Tiger volleyball has in freshman Ceylin Kuyan. At 18, the Istanbul native already has logged two standout seasons for the Zeren Spor Kulübü club in Turkey’s top-level Sultan League. She has also made her mark as a member of Turkey's under-19 women’s national team, where she was twice named best outside hitter — the first time at age 15.
“With her ball control and the elite level she’s been competing at, I’m hoping she can step on the court and make an impact from day one,” says Mizzou Head Coach Dawn Sullivan. “It’ll be fun to see how she brings her experience and fits in with the team.”
Kuyan is the Tigers’ third international recruit, joining junior setter Nina Mandovic of Serbia and sophomore right-side hitter Maca Lobaglio of Argentina. Sullivan says that in Europe, fewer in-game substitutions mean players have the stamina and versatility to play a full game on both front and back rows. However, European teams practice so much (twice a day, five or six days a week) and play such a long season (October through May), that they don’t have time to focus on developing the small skills and conditioning like they do in the U.S.
“We emphasize the ability to bring in perspectives from different cultures within our team,” Sullivan says. “We hear and value those individual experiences. We allow each player to lean into their strengths and connect to the whole.”
The eclectic Mizzou program is a year removed from back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2024. Kuyan is one of five freshmen reshaping a senior-heavy squad that missed the postseason last season for the first time in Sullivan’s tenure. “I don’t think of it as turning the page as much as building on who we are,” Sullivan says. “I loved laying the foundation of a championship culture. Now we are allowing this next group to continue building.”
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