Urpo Sivula
| Urpo Sivula | |||||
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| Personal information | |||||
| Full name | Urpo Sivula | ||||
| Born |
March 15, 1988 Kuru, Finland |
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| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||||
| Volleyball information | |||||
| Position | Outside Hitter | ||||
| Current club | Gabeca Pallavolo Spa | ||||
| Number | 10 | ||||
| Career | |||||
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| National team | |||||
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Urpo Sivula (born March 15, 1988) is a Finnish professional volleyball player. During the 2008 season he played in the Finland Volleyball league team Pielaveden Sampo. Sivula plays wing-spiker.
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 and Matti Oivanen, Simo-Pekka Olli and Konstantin Shumov.
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.
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.
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.
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