VolleyMob’s 2017 FIVB World Grand Prix Dream Team

  0 Carly DeMarque | August 07th, 2017 | Asian Volleyball, Brazilian Volleyball, European volleyball, FIVB World Grand Prix, International Volleyball, News, NORCECA volleyball, South American Volleyball, U.S. Women's Volleyball

2017 FIVB VOLLEYBALL WORLD GRAND PRIX

  • Group 1
  • July 7th – August 6th
  • FIVB World Grand Prix Round 3
  • Pool I1
  • Cuiaba, Brazil
  • Schedule/Results

Unencumbered by the FIVB rules, VolleyMob has selected their Dream Team for the 2017 FIVB World Grand Prix.

Tandara Caixeta of Brazil earns the MVP honor, as she helped the Brazilians not only in the finals series but the preliminary rounds of play as well. During the opening rounds of play, Caixeta led the Brazilian charge with 130 points on 118 kills, eight blocks and four aces. Overall, Caixeta had a 41.70 % attack efficiency that helped her team to the finals. In the finals, Caixeta ranked second overall with 89 points on 83 kills, four blocks and two serves. Against Italy, Caixeta led the teams with Natalia Pereira with 22 points. In addition, Caixeta was named as one of the best outside hitters in the competition.

From Serbia, Brankica Mihajovic was a constant for the team, leading them to their first place preliminary round finish. Following the opening rounds of play, Mihajovic led the entire field with 153 points on 136 kills and a 44.16% hitting average. Mihajovic helped the Serbian to their third place finish in the finals with 52 points scored.

Brazil’s Ana Carolina Da Silva and Milena Rasic of Serbia earned our vote for best middles in the competition. Da Silva ended the beginning rounds of play with 61 points, including 24 blocks. Rasic added 63 points for the Serbians in the opening rounds on 41 kills, 16 blocks and six aces.

From Italy, Paola Ogechi Egonu was arguably one of the best players in the competition, helping a struggling Italian team to the finals match against Brazil. In the first week of the competition, Italy ended with just one win, looking defenseless in the World Grand Prix, but Egonu stepping up in the following weeks to make a huge impact. In the finals series, she put down 87 points in the Italian attempt at the gold. In the opening rounds of play, Egonu ranked second overall with 149 points scored on 123 kills, 10 blocks and 16 aces. Her 16 aces ranked her #1 overall in efficiency with a 0.48%.

In 200 attempts, Monica De Gennaro of Italy picked up 161 excellent passes to earn the Best Libero honor. In addition, De Gennaro scooped up 71 digs in preliminary play for an average of 2.15 digs per set. In the finals, she picked up 44 more digs and had 48 excellent receptions on serve receive.

In the setting position, Carli Lloyd worked with an extremely young American squad to bring them to the final six. In total, she dished out 517 assists in the preliminary round, while sharing time with Micah Hancock in the setting position.

MVP: Tandara Caixeta (Brazil)
Best Outside Hitters: Tandara Caixeta (Brazil) & Brankica Mihajovic (Serbia)
Best Middle Blockers: Ana Carolina Da Silva (Brazil) & Milena Rasic (Serbia)
Best Opposite: Paola Ogechi Egonu (Italy)
Best Libero: Monica De Gennaro (Italy)
Best Setter: Carli Lloyd (USA)

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About Carly DeMarque

Carly DeMarque

Carly DeMarque has been involved with competitive volleyball for the majority of her life, playing competitively at the club and collegiate level for 15 years and coaching club for five. Now a retired Division I volleyball athlete out of McNeese State University, she continues her volleyball enthusiasm by stepping back into …

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