Born on 20.04.1990 in Ankara, Melis Gürkaynak has graduated from the Business Administration Department of Bahçeşehir University. She completed her master's degree studies at the Advertising and Brand Communication Department of Bahçeşehir University. Having started playing volleyball when she was 9 at the youth club of Vakıfbank Sports Club, which was domiciled in Ankara at that time, this successful midfielder was only 15 when she came to İstanbul and began playing at the A Team of Vakıfbank. She played on loan for Galatasaray in 2008-2009 season, and for Beşiktaş in 2009-2010 seasons. Having won championships in Vakıfbank team thereafter, Melis finished 2014-2015 season in Galatasaray, and then returned back to Vakıfbank. Having won 2 World Clubs Championships, 4 European Champions League Championships, 4 Turkish League Championships, 3 Turkish Cup Championships, and 1 Turkish Super Cup Championship, and became runner up for 3 times at European Champions League, and for once at World Clubs Championship in Vakıfbank, Melis made her debut in the national team in 2004. She played for the National Youth Team which became runner up at World Championship in 2007, and became 3rd at European Championship in 2008. She also played in Turkish National A Team which became runner up at the Europa League in 2015.