The 2016 Dream Team: Best Outside Spikers Zhu Ting and Tatiana Kosheleva, Best Middle Blockers Foluke Akinradewo and Milena Rasic, Best Libero Fabiana Oliveira, Best Setter Carli Lloyd, MVP and Best Opposite and MVP Tijana Boskovic
Kobe, Japan, May 4, 2017 – Six of the seven Dream Team stars from the 2016 edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship will return this year when the competition takes place in Kobe, Japan from May 9 to 14.
Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul left-handed spiker Tijana Boskovic, who won last year’s MVP and Best Opposite honours, leads a crop of brilliant players who will attempt to steer their teams to 2017 Women’s Club World Championship glory.
The highly effective wing tandem of Boskovic and Tatiana Kosheleva spearheaded Eczacibasi's offence in Manila 2016, but the duo are expected to play one notch higher in Kobe 2017 in their attempt to earn a third consecutive title for their club.
Their Turkish rivals VakifBank Istanbul also have two of their Dream Team stars Zhu Ting and Milena Rasic returning this year. Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist Zhu’s power plays and Rasic’s balanced contribution on offence and defence will be key to VakifBank’s campaign this year.
Best Middle Blocker winner Foluke Akinradewo is likely to demonstrate her tenacity in offence for Volero Zurich, while double Olympic gold medallist Fabiana Oliveira will operate Rexona-SESC Rio’s floor defence.
These six athletes and a bevy of talents will showcase the highest level of women's club volleyball when the 11th edition of the Women’s Club World Championship takes place next week. For more information, visit the competition website
here.