Check out Volleywood’s “The Male Volleyball Players To Watch Out For In Rio” consisting of 2 outside hitters, 2 middle blockers, 1 setter, 1 opposite hitter and 1 libero. This is our OLYMPIC DREAM TEAM!
David Lee
Middle Blocker
USA
At 34 years old, the 2008 Olympic Champion is still one of THE BEST middle blockers in the world. We’d also like to add that he is a 2 time World League champion and a 2015 FIVB World Cup gold medalist.
Lucas
Middle Blocker
Brazil
We all know how great Lucas is but we just hope he and Brazil can finally win GOLD in front of their home fans.
Erik Shoji
Libero
USA
The videos below will do the talking …
Saied Marouf
Setter
Iran
Marouf has been instrumental in Iran’s success over the years. He is not just one of the world’s best setters but he is also a great leader who puts his team on the right path when needed. Within the last 4 years, he led Iran to win the 2013 Asian Championship, 2014 Asian Games gold medal and to win an Olympic ticket at the 2016 Olympic Qualification Tourney where he was named as the Best Setter.
In 2015, he was named as the Iranian Sportsmen of the Year. The year before that, he was named as the Volleywood World Male Idol.
The 30 year old is the most followed volleyball player on Instagram with more than 1.1 million followers. As far as we know, he is THE first volleyball player to reach more than 1 million followers in any social media network.
Bartosz Kurek
Opposite Hitter
Poland
If there’s one Polish player who has improved and who has matured a lot, it would have to be Bartosz Kurek.
The 27 year old is competing in his 2nd consecutive Olympic but he is going to play a different position in Rio. The outside-hitter-turned-opposite hitter has resurrected his presence on the National Team since getting cut from the 2014 World Championship team by coach Antiga that won gold.
Together with teammates Michal Kubiak and Mateusz Mika, Kurek is expected to carry this team in Rio and hopefully medal. Gold maybe?
Earvin Ngapeth
Outside Hitter
France
The 25 year old French volleyball superstar is no doubt one of the best outside hitters in the world right now. Since winning the 2015 World League, Earvin’s popularity in Volleywood has skyrocketed. He has the skills and the moves that make him very exciting and very entertaining to watch on the court. Despite the troubles outside his volleyball life, the father of one will for sure make a splash in his fir Olympic appearance.
Osmany Juantorena
Outside Hitter
Italia
He played for Cuba but decided to leave the national team and then succeeded in making a name for himself with his professional career. Who would’ve thought the 30 year old Juantorena would fulfill his dream to play in the Olympic representing a different country?
A few years ago, he was hesitant to accept the invitation to play for Italy due to some rumors saying that some of the Italian players don’t want a naturalized player on the team but that changed in 2015 when Os finally said yes.
He competed for Italy in the FIVB World Cup and successfully helped the team to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.
His decision raised some eyebrows but Os has publicly defended his decision to change nationality. He has some wishes that the Cuban government could not accommodate and that the only to fulfill his Olympic dream is to represent Italy.
In the last 3 Olympics, Italy has included one naturalized player on their national teams. Taimarys Aguero (Cuba) in 2008 Beijing, Carolina Costagrande (Argentina) in 2012 London and now Juantorena.
Stay tuned for the complete list!