Urpo Sivula
Encyclopedia
Urpo Sivula is a Finnish professional volleyball
player. During the 2008 season he played in the Finland Volleyball league team Pielaveden Sampo
. Sivula plays wing-spiker.
When Sivula turned sixteen he moved to Kuortane. There he started study and training with the best junior players in Finland. For two years he lived in Kuortane and played third highest level in Finland during the 2004-2005 season, and second highest level in Finland during the 2005-2006 season. He became Finland's junior team captain in 2004, and also he played on the Finland national team with boys two years older than he. There he became friends with Mikko
and Matti Oivanen
, Simo-Pekka Olli
and Konstantin Shumov.
After Sivula played on the national team during summer 2006, all the teams at Finland's highest level wanted Sivula. Finally Sivula signed a contract with Pielaveden Sampo. The contract lasted two years, with a third optional year. The first season in the league Sivula was recognized as one of the best players in the league. He won with Sampo Finland Cup-Champion, and played himself CEV-Cup quarterfinal. In the Finland league
Sampo lost its final division game against Rovaniemen Santasport
. Finals were some of the best ever seen in the Finland league. After the season Sivula was chosen as the best newcomer in the league.
Sivula started his second league season in Finland with big expectations. The media expected that Sivula would be the ultimate discovery in the league. In the first game that season Sivula played amazing volleyball. The Finnish media described the game as the "Sivula show." In the international court Sivula also played well. Against the Italian A1-league team Roma Volley, Sivula was the best spiker of both teams on the court.
During the 2007-2008 season Sampo played in the Challenge Cup quarterfinal; there they had a narrow loss against Russian Superleague team Lokomotiv Ekaterinburg. Sampo won again in the Finland cup-championship, but in the league they lost again to Rovaniemen Santasport
in finals. That was a big disappointment for Sivula and Sampo.
After the season Sivula received many prizes. Finland's biggest newspaper, Ilta-Sanomat recognized him as the best player in the league. Finland's favourite volleyball site, hotsport.info, also chose Sivula as the best player in the league, and in the all-stars team. Also Sport Channel chose him for the All-Star team. During the 2008-09 season Sivula started in Pielaveden Sampo. He led his team to the Finland Cup-finals. The final game was his last game in Finland. He was named the best player of the game. After the game he signed a contract with the Galatasaray
volleyball club of Turkey.
Sivula changed Turkey league after his first season to Italian volleyball league. There his coach was Mauro Berruto, who coached also in Finnish volleyball national team.
Personal:
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
player. During the 2008 season he played in the Finland Volleyball league team Pielaveden Sampo
Pielaveden Sampo
Pielaveden Sampo is a professional volleyball club based in Pielavesi, a small town in Eastern Finland. The club is one of the most successful teams in the Finland volleyball league....
. Sivula plays wing-spiker.
Junior years
Sivula started his career with his friends at seven years old. His first team was Kurun Ryhti, from Kuru. Soon his talent began to be recognized and Sivula started to play in Virtain Veikot, where he won two Finland Junior Championships.When Sivula turned sixteen he moved to Kuortane. There he started study and training with the best junior players in Finland. For two years he lived in Kuortane and played third highest level in Finland during the 2004-2005 season, and second highest level in Finland during the 2005-2006 season. He became Finland's junior team captain in 2004, and also he played on the Finland national team with boys two years older than he. There he became friends with Mikko
Mikko Oivanen
Mikko Oivanen is a Finnish professional volleyball player who plays for Polish volleyball league club Resovia Rzeszów and Finnish national team.- Early career :...
and Matti Oivanen
Matti Oivanen
Matti Tapio Oivanen is a Finnish volleyball player who plays in the Italian Volleyball League club Yoga Volley Forlì 1975 and the Finland men's national volleyball team. In the previous season Matti played in the Italian club Copra Berni Piacenza...
, Simo-Pekka Olli
Simo-Pekka Olli
Simo-Pekka Olli is a professional volleyball player from Finland.He has played three seasons in Italy A1-league. Sempre Volley Padova was his club years 2005-2008. After that he came back to Finland because he must perform military service...
and Konstantin Shumov.
National team
Before Sivula played a game in the Finland league he got a call from the men's national team head coach, Mauro Berruto. Berruto wanted Sivula to join his team immediately. Sivula started to play in the men's national team at the age of 18. His first national team game in Finland caused a sensation. Sivula entered the court during a crucial point in the game, hit two points, and Finland won the first game ever in the volleyball world league. The whole summer Sivula played in the national team, and helped them earn a place in the European Championships.Sensation in Moscow
In the European Championships 2007 Sivula and the Finland national team played amazing volleyball. The team beat World Championships silver medalists Poland, and World Championships bronze medalists Bulgaria. Finland lost only two games, and both in medal games. Finland played against Spain to the final, but it lost to Spain. Sivula played in World League 2008 with Finland. He was one of the leading players on the team that whole summer. He made his breakthrough in the Finland national team.Finland league
Finland volleyball league
The Finland volleyball league is highest level of men's volleyball in Finland. In the league plays twelve men's team.- History :...
Sampo lost its final division game against Rovaniemen Santasport
Rovaniemen Santasport
Rovaniemen Santasport is a former professional volleyball team from Rovaniemi, Finland. Team played three seasons in Finland volleyball league which is highest level in country...
. Finals were some of the best ever seen in the Finland league. After the season Sivula was chosen as the best newcomer in the league.
Sivula started his second league season in Finland with big expectations. The media expected that Sivula would be the ultimate discovery in the league. In the first game that season Sivula played amazing volleyball. The Finnish media described the game as the "Sivula show." In the international court Sivula also played well. Against the Italian A1-league team Roma Volley, Sivula was the best spiker of both teams on the court.
During the 2007-2008 season Sampo played in the Challenge Cup quarterfinal; there they had a narrow loss against Russian Superleague team Lokomotiv Ekaterinburg. Sampo won again in the Finland cup-championship, but in the league they lost again to Rovaniemen Santasport
Rovaniemen Santasport
Rovaniemen Santasport is a former professional volleyball team from Rovaniemi, Finland. Team played three seasons in Finland volleyball league which is highest level in country...
in finals. That was a big disappointment for Sivula and Sampo.
After the season Sivula received many prizes. Finland's biggest newspaper, Ilta-Sanomat recognized him as the best player in the league. Finland's favourite volleyball site, hotsport.info, also chose Sivula as the best player in the league, and in the all-stars team. Also Sport Channel chose him for the All-Star team. During the 2008-09 season Sivula started in Pielaveden Sampo. He led his team to the Finland Cup-finals. The final game was his last game in Finland. He was named the best player of the game. After the game he signed a contract with the Galatasaray
Galatasaray Men's Volleyball Team
Galatasaray Yurtiçi Kargo is the men volleyball section of Galatasaray SK, a major sports club in Istanbul, Turkey. Galatasaray Yurtiçi Kargo, play their matches in 7000-seat arena, called the TVF Burhan Felek Sport Hall...
volleyball club of Turkey.
Sivula changed Turkey league after his first season to Italian volleyball league. There his coach was Mauro Berruto, who coached also in Finnish volleyball national team.
Awards
Club:- Finland league silver 2007, 2008
- Finland cup 2006, 2007, 2008
- Fourth place in Men's European Championships 2007
Personal:
- Ilta-Sanomat chose best player in Finland league 2008
- Sport Channel All-Stars team 2008
- Year youth player 2006, 2007
- Best newcomer in Finland league 2007
- Third best server in Finland league 2007
External links
- (English) Fansite