Mara Vasilescu, at just 17 years old, has made her debut for Rapid in the Romanian women’s volleyball league. Her first match did not end in victory, as Rapid faced a narrow defeat against Medicina Târgu Mureș, with a final score of 3-2.
With less than a month until her 18th birthday, Vasilescu played in the opening match of the A1 Division, where Rapid had initially led 2-1 in sets but ultimately lost the last two, resulting in set scores of 23-25, 25-12, 25-22, 22-25, and 7-15.
As a starting setter, Vasilescu experienced significant nerves before the game. However, she managed to overcome them once the match began. “I won’t lie, I was nervous, but I was able to control it well and followed my mental plan before the game, and everything went very well. Once I stepped onto the court, the nerves disappeared completely, allowing me to focus on my passes, technique, and tactics,” she explained.
Vasilescu was not alone during her debut, as her parents were present to support her, which brought her great joy. “It’s very beautiful and I love the fact that they support me so much, and it shows how involved they are,” she added.
She also spoke about her brother-in-law, Radu Drăgușin, an international player for the Romanian national team and a defender for Fiorentina in Italy. While she does not wish to pursue a career in football, Vasilescu closely follows all of Drăgușin’s matches at both the national and club levels. “No, I prefer not to play so I don’t get injured. You can imagine I have emotions, but they are good emotions for him,” she said.
Aiming high in her volleyball career, Mara Vasilescu expressed her aspirations, stating, “I want to become the best setter in the world if possible, and at least the best in Europe.”
