• Submitted by: admin
• Sports
• 10 / 17 / 2006

The Brazilian men's volleyball team head coach Bernardo Rezende has called up 16 players for the FIVB World Championship to be held in Japan during Nov. 16 and Dec. 3.

Setter Bruno Rezende, who is also the coach's son, as well as hitters Samuel Fuchs and Roberto Minuzzi, are expected at the team's training center on Monday in Saquarema, in the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. Hitters/blockers Lucas Saatkamp and Thiago Alves, who are not part of the roster for the tournament, are invited to take part in the training.

The other 13 players to join the group on Tuesday include front court setters Ricardo Garcia (Ricardinho) and Marcelo Elgarten (Marcelinho); middle hitters Andre Heller, Sidnei dos Santos (Sidao), Gustavo Endres and Rodrigo Santana (Rodrigao); back court setters Andre Nascimento, Anderson Rodrigues and Leandro Vissoto; outside hitters Gilberto Godoy (Giba), Murilo Endres and Dante Amaral; and the libero Sergio dos Santos (Escadinha).

Brazil is the current holder of the FIVB World Championship title, following a victory over the Russians in the 2002 competition in Argentina, and won an Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Athens Games. The national team also won its sixth FIVB World League title in August 2006.

Brazil will start playing the 2006 world championship in Group B, which also sees Germany, Cuba, Greece, Franceand Australia. The team's first match will be against Cubaon November 17.