No doubt that the World Grand Prix is one of the most anticipated volleyball tournaments! The annual event allows fans to watch their favorite teams compete for the crown and the prize money. It also gives fans from all over the world the chance to cheer for their favorite players.
One of our favorite Grand Prix awards is the Most Valuable Player award. We bet it’s your favorite too!
Volleywood proudly presents The MVPs of the World Grand Prix from 2001 – 2010.
Danielle Scott led Team USA to their 2nd World Grand Prix crown since 1995. After finishing 4th in the 2000 Olympics, USA was the top favorite to win the tournament while other teams like Brazil, Cuba and China were undergoing major roster changes. Scott’s teammate, Robyn Ah Mow, won the Best Setter award.
One of our favorite outside hitters in the world! Russia’s Evgenia Artamonova had an amazing tournament! In the absence of Lioubov Sokolova, Zhenya became her team’s most efficient and most powerful weapon. China had a hard time stopping her in the final match.
In 2003, the FIVB did not give out the MVP award. The Best Scorer went to Ekaterina Gamova while Paola Cardullo received the Most Popular Award. China won the gold medal for the first time.
The Grand Prix spotlight was on Logan Tom for sure! The American outside hitter received her first GP MVP to go along with her “Best Scorer” and “Best Server” awards. Despite Team USA finishing with a bronze medal, we thought the MVP would be chosen from Brazil who defeated Italy in the final match. Regardless, Logan truly deserved the awards she won from the competition.
After an unsuccessful campaign at the 2004 Olympics, Brazilian veterans Virna Dias & Erika Coimbra left the team which paved way for Paula Pequeno to start making a name for herself. Well, PP4 did not disappoint! Paula’s valuable presence on the team allowed Brazil to defend the Grand Prix crown against the Italians. In case you didn’t know, Paula missed the 2004 Olympics due to personal reasons (maternity leave).
In the late 1990s, fans from all over the world were captivated by the charismatic opposite hitter from Brazil, Leila Barros. In the 21st century, another Brazilian opposite has captured the hearts of many and she is none other than Sheilla Castro. Her dominating performance at the 2006 Grand Prix allowed Brazil to win the tournament for the 3rd consecutive year!
In our opinion Manon Flier is Europe’s biggest big banger! Her Dutch team heavily relies on her in every tournament. Back in 2007, The Netherlands claimed their first Grand Prix crown (the only major FIVB tournament the Dutch women’s team has ever won). It was not an easy tourney for Flier and team. They won three 5-set matches against Russia, Brazil and China before achieving their most unforgettable victory up to this day.
Flier truly deserved her MVP award for everything she did for her team.
As a side dish, the event also welcomed the return of Taimarys Aguero who played for Italy since she left Cuba. The last time Aguero competed at the GP was when Cuba won the gold in 2000. Aguero was awarded the Best Scorer award.
Mari Steinbrecher to us is the Brazilian player who rarely smiles and whose “serious look” on the court reminds us of Logan Tom. After that disappointing loss to Russia in the semifinal match at the 2004 Olympics, Mari took time out from the National Team. We were told that fans were blaming her for the defeat which we thought was unfair for Mari. We thought she played her best Olympic match against Gamova & company. She was too young to deal with the pressure in her first major national team appearance.
A couple of years after Athens, Mari rejoined the team and Coach Guimaraes started to develop her as an outside hitter (from being an opposite hitter). Over the years, Mari improved her game and her determination convinced Coach Guimaraes to give her a starting position – which he did.
In 2008, Mari became one of Brazil’s deadliest weapons together with Sheilla & Paula at the Grand Prix. At the GP, Mari displayed consistency and a very high efficiency with her spikes. As a prize, Mari won her first MVP award after Brazil won its 4th Grand Prix crown in the last 5 editions.
In the same year, Mari’s game continued to improve and she peaked at the right moment by helping Brazil win its first Olympic Gold in women’s volleyball
Sheilla Castro (2006 & 2009) and Leila Barros (1996 & 1998) are the ONLY 2 players in the world who have won the Grand Prix MVP award twice! With Sheilla still active on the National Team, we have a feeling she can win the MVP award again. Maybe this year? then next year again? then the following year? We never know!
The last MVP award of the decade (2001-2010) was awarded to the one and only Foluke Akinradewo. In our opinion, she is a LEGEND in the making. Italy, Japan and Brazil were having a hard time defending Foluke’s quick hits and slides and Foluke herself was having a great time blocking balls from left to right. We expect to see more of Foluke this year and in the future editions of the GP. She is the “Danielle Scott” of our generation.
So there you go folks! The Most Valuable Player Awardees of the World Grand Prix from 2001-2010.
As a side dish, according to our research these are the players who won the MVP award from the previous decade: Sokolova (2000), Virnas Dias (1999), Leila Barros (1998), Elena Batouktina (1997), Leila Barros (1996) & Tara Cross Battle (1995). We’re not sure who won the MVP award in 1994 and 1993. Our strong ( possibly accurate guesses) would be Ana Moser in 1994 since Brazil won the tourney and Luis in 1993 when Cuba won the inaugural edition of the Grand Prix.
With 16 teams in the 2011 edition, it’s hard to tell who will win the first MVP award of the new decade. One thing we know for sure is that there are going to be lots and lots of shining stars!
(images: FIVB)
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