With the conclusion of the FIVB World League, the tournament handed out their selections for the Dream Team, awarding each player with a cash prize for contributing immensely to their teams. The prize money awarded to each player was $10,000 (USD).
- MVP – Earvin Ngapeth (France)
- Best Outside Hitters – Ricardo Lucarelli (Brazil) & Earvin Ngapeth (France)
- Best Middle Blockers – Graham Vigrass (Canada) & Kevin Le Roux (France)
- Best Libero – Blair Cameron Bann (Canada)
- Best Setter – Benjamin Toniutti (France)
- Best Opposite – Wallace De Souza (Brazil)
Leading the pack is France‘s Earvin Ngapeth who played in only five of the 12 matches that the French partook in during the World League. Ngapeth made a comeback to the team after an apparent injury kept him off the court in the preliminary rounds of play. What really set him over the top of any other player in the competition was his 29 point performance in the finals win over Brazil, showing what a crucial role he plays with the team. Overall, Ngapeth put down 79 points on 68 kills, six blocks and five aces in the finals series. In addition to being named the MVP, Ngapeth earned one of the Best Outside Hitter awards.
Ricardo Lucarelli of Brazil also earned one of the Best Outside Hitter awards after pounding down 66 points on 62 kills, two blocks and two aces. Throughout the entire competition, Lucarelli was a dominant force for the Brazilian side, but really stepped it up in the finals, but it was not enough. In the finals match to France, Lucarelli put down 22 points on 22 kills.
In the middle, Graham Vigrass of Canada and Kevin Le Roux of France were awarded the Best Middle Blockers in the Final Six. Vigrass put down a total of 46 points for the Canadian side in the middle, with 32 kills, 12 blocks and two aces. Le Roux added 33 points for France, with over one-third coming from blocks (14 kills, 13 blocks and six aces).
From Canada, Blair Cameron Bann was tabbed as the Best Libero in the Final Six, picking up 46 digs for an average of 3.07 digs per set. Bann also produced 36 excellent passes with six errors on 71 pass attempts off the serve for a 42.25% efficiency rating.
France‘s Benjamin Toniutti earned the Best Setter award after leading his team to the World League title. Overall, Toniutti produced 5.26 assists per set in the Final Six series.
The Best Opposite was awarded to Wallace De Souza of Brazil after a 74 point showing in the Final Six. De Souza put down his points on 63 kills, six blocks and two aces. De Souza started his World League play late for the Brazilians, after missing the first two weeks of preliminary play but stepped up for Brazil as soon as he hit the court in week three. In the finals against France, De Souza put down 22 points in the losing effort.
VolleyMob’s Dream Team
The FIVB did a pretty good job of selecting the best players of the Final Six to the Dream Team. We at VolleyMob have determined who we would select to our Dream Team after watching the Final Six of the World League.
- MVP – Earvin Ngapeth (France)
- Best Outside Hitters – Ricardo Lucarelli (Brazil) & Earvin Ngapeth (France)
- Best Middle Blockers – Graham Vigrass (Canada) & Kevin Le Roux (France)
- Best Libero – Jenia Grebennikov (France)
- Best Setter – Tyler Sanders (Canada)
- Best Opposite – Stephen Boyer (France)
VolleyMob agrees with the MVP, Best Outside Hitters and Best Middle Blockers choices that the FIVB made, however, we differ slightly in the remaining selections.
Jenia Grebennikov of France was a terrific backcourt player for the World League champions, picking up 57 digs with 23 faults on 80 attempts. This averages Grebennikov to 3.00 digs per set.
At the setter position, Canada‘s Tyler Sanders was a strong force for the Canadian side with an impressive 7.07 assists per set in the Final Six, leading his team to the bronze medal. Not only was Sanders a strong offensive leader, but he also picked up 39 digs for an average of 2.60 digs per set.
Lastly, Stephen Boyer was a strong presence throughout the preliminary rounds of the World League and did not let up in the Final Six for France. Overall, Boyer put down 74 points on 64 kills, seven blocks and three aces.
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