Matey Kaziyski
Matey Iliyanov Kaziyski is a Bulgarian professional volleyball player who was born on September 23, 1984, in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is known as “The Emperor” and plays as an outside hitter for Trentino Volley.
Kaziyski has represented the Bulgarian national team and has won numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including multiple CEV Champions League and FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship titles.
He has also participated in the Olympic Games and has won bronze medals in the World Championship, World Cup, and European Championship. Kaziyski is known for his impressive vertical jump, which has been recorded at 390 cm.
He was born to parents who were both volleyball players for the Bulgarian national teams. Kaziyski has been involved in a scandal with the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation and left the national team in 2012. He has since returned to the national team after an 11-year absence.
Bruno Rezende
Bruno Mossa de Rezende, commonly known as Bruno Rezende or Bruninho, is a highly accomplished Brazilian professional volleyball player. Born on July 2, 1986, he is renowned as one of the best setters in the world, known for his exceptional technique and game organization.
Throughout his career, he has achieved numerous accolades, including being a multimedalist in the World League, Pan American Games, and Brazilian and Italian Championships. Rezende has represented Brazil in various international competitions, winning the Olympic gold medal in 2016 and securing multiple other titles such as the World Championship and the World Grand Champions Cup.
He has played for esteemed clubs such as Modena Volley in Italy and has been a key figure in the Brazilian national volleyball team. Rezende’s exceptional skills and contributions have earned him the reputation of being a dominant force in the world of volleyball.
Saeid Marouf
Saeid Marouf, also known as Mir Saeid Marouf Lakrani, is a legendary Iranian volleyball setter who was born on October 20, 1985, in Urmia, Iran.
As a setter, he plays a crucial role in setting up the team’s offense by passing the ball to the attackers.
He has been the captain of the Iranian national team and has played for various prestigious clubs such as Zenit Kazan, Beijing BAIC Motor, and Fenerbahçe Istanbul.
He has also won numerous awards and accolades in his career, including the Olympic gold medal in 2016 and multiple titles in the World League, Pan American Games, and Brazilian and Italian Championships. He is widely known by his nickname “magic beard”.
Jenia Grebennikov
Jenia Grebennikov is a French-Russian volleyball libero who was born on August 13, 1990, in Rennes, France.
He plays for Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia. As a libero, he plays a vital role in defending the team’s offense by blocking and digging. He has been a member of the French national team since 2011 and has won a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games, among other international competitions.
He has also played for various renowned clubs such as VfB Friedrichshafen, Rennes Volley 35, Cucine Lube Civitanova, Itas Trentino, and Modena.
He has received numerous awards and accolades, including being named the Best Libero in the FIVB Club World Championship in 2018, the CEV Champions League in 2018, the FIVB Nations League in 2018, and the Olympic Games in 2020.
Ivan Zaytsev
Ivan Vyacheslavovich Zaytsev, born on October 2, 1988, is an Italian professional volleyball player of Russian origin. He is the captain of Italy men’s national volleyball team.
He has been a bronze medalist of the Olympic Games London 2012, silver medalist of the European Championship (2011, 2013), bronze medalist of the World League (2013, 2014), Italian Champion (2014), and silver medalist of the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
Zaytsev was the main scorer and team leader during World League 2014 and Italy achieved a bronze medal. In the World League, he and his teammates won two consecutive bronze in the 2013 and 2014 editions.
He was appointed to the 2014 World Championship held in Poland.
He was the leader of his team in the first round, but in the match against the United States, he injured his ankle, so despite the promotion of his team to the second round, he did not play.
Max Holt
Maxwell Philip Holt, born on March 12, 1987, is an American professional volleyball player. He plays as a middle blocker and is a member of the U.S. national team.
He is a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, and a winner of the 2014 World League and the 2015 World Cup. At the professional club level, he plays for Beijing BAIC Motor.
Holt was a member of the U.S. Junior Men’s National Team from 2005-2007. He joined the National Team in 2009, debuting in the Pan American Cup.
In September 2013, the U.S., including Holt, won the NORCECA Championship. On July 20, 2014, he won the gold medal of World League 2014.
He has also received several individual awards, including the Best Middle Blocker of FIVB World League 2015, FIVB Nations League 2019, and FIVB World Cup 2019.
Facundo Conte
Facundo Conte is a professional volleyball player from Argentina who was born on August 25, 1989. He currently plays as an outside hitter for Ciudad Voley in Argentina and has also played for various other clubs, including PGE Skra Bełchatów in Poland and SADA Cruzeiro in Brazil. Conte has represented the Argentine national team and has participated in various international competitions, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he won a bronze medal. He comes from a family of volleyball players, with his father, Hugo Conte, being a former volleyball player who won a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics.
Earvin Ngapeth
Earvin N’Gapeth, born on February 12, 1991, is a French professional volleyball player. He is a member of the France national volleyball team and Italian club Modena Volley. He was the 2015 European Champion, a gold medalist of the World League in 2015 and 2017, French Champion in 2010, Italian Champion in 2016, and Olympic Champion in 2020.
He started his career at Tours VB, where he stayed for three seasons and won the Pro A League. In 2011, he moved to the Italian team of Cuneo Piemonte in Series A1 League, where he remained for two seasons.
He then moved to Kuzbass Kemerovo, a club playing in Super League; however, during the season he abandoned the team and returned to Italy, wearing the shirt of Modena in the Serie A1.
With Modena, he won the 2014-15 Italian Cup and the 2015-16 Italian Championship, Italian Cup, and Italian Supercup. After four years in Modena, N’Gapeth joined Zenit Kazan with a two-year contract.
On the international stage, N’Gapeth has represented the France national team since 2010. He was expelled from the national team on disciplinary grounds during the World Championship held in Italy in 2010, but he came back to the national team at the European Championship 2011.
In 2014, he played at the World Championship 2014 held in Poland.
Maksim Mikhaylov
Maksim Mikhaylov is a volleyball player from Russia. He is a member of the Russia men’s national volleyball team and Russian club VC Zenit-Kazan.
He is a gold medalist at the Olympic Games London 2012, silver medalist at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, gold medalist at the World Cup 2011, European Champion 2013 and 2017, and a multiple medalist of the World League.
In 2008 Russia, including Mikhaylov, won the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Mikhaylov helped propel Russia to a 10-1 record and the World Cup 2011 gold medal following Sunday’s five-set victory over silver medalist Poland.
At the next Olympics, the 2012 Olympic Games in London, his team won gold. Mikhaylov was named best spiker and best scorer at the 2012 Olympics.
In 2010, Mikhaylov joined Zenit Kazan. With Zenit, he won the CEV Champions League in 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16,2016–17 and 2017-18 and was bronze medalist in World Championship Club in 2011. Mikhaylov was voted MVP in the 2016–17 CEV Champions League finals.
Wilfredo Leon
Wilfredo León Venero, born on July 31, 1993, is a Cuban–Polish professional volleyball player. He was a member of the Cuba national team from 2007 to 2012, and is a current member of the Poland national team and Sir Safety Perugia.
León was a silver medalist at the 2010 World Championship, and a two–time NORCECA Champion (2009, 2011).
León is widely regarded as one of the greatest volleyball players of all time for several reasons. He achieved early success in the Cuban national team, making his debut at the age of 14 and becoming the youngest captain at 17. Standing at 2.03m, he possesses remarkable physical attributes, including a powerful vertical jump and efficient spiking.
Throughout his career, he has secured numerous prestigious titles, such as multiple CEV Champions League titles, national league championships, and cups. His exceptional performance has been consistent in both club and international competitions.
Additionally, he has demonstrated strong leadership, notably leading Cuba to the silver medal at the 2010 World Championship in Italy, alongside teammates Yoandy Leal and Robertlandy Simon. León is also known for his versatility, being able to contribute to the game in multiple ways.
