Lausanne, Switzerland, October 17, 2019 - The Dream Team of the 2019 FIVB Men's World Cup brought together the top stars of the competition earlier this month in Japan - a reward for their brilliant performances throughout the gruelling fortnight-long tournament.
Leading the Dream Team was the tournament's Most Valuable Player,
Alan Souza, for his role in propelling Brazil to the title.
The 25-year-old opposite scored 165 points in 11 matches. And though that fell short of the overall top-scoring performance by Italy's Gabriele Nelli of 185, Souza's tally was the best amongst the three medallists of Brazil, Poland and USA.
In addition, Souza was overall third-best in attacking with a 57.85% efficiency (140 kills from 242 swings), behind Argentina's Augustin Loser (66.85%) from the middle and Poland's Wilfredo Leon (59.73%) from the outside.
From the service line Souza delivered 15 aces (or .39 per set), placing 7th overall in the rankings.
But his back-court contribution was also substantial as he made the top ten list of the World Cup's best defenders.
Alongside Souza, Brazil's
Lucas Saatkamp, 33, was on a Best Middle Blocker position of the World Cup Dream Team with a total of 20 stuffs or .53 per set - just behind USA's 32-year-old
Max Holt at 23 in absolute numbers or .56 per set, who also made the Dream Team.
The Best Outside Hitter positions on the Dream Team were filled by Poland's
Wilfredo Leon and Japan's
Yuki Ishikawa.
Cuba-born 26-year-old Leon was the most efficient amongst all outside hitters in attacking, with 89 kills from 149 swings for 59.73%. Ishikawa, 23, was the tournament's overall fifth best scorer (top amongst all outside hitters) with 159 points, including 157 from attacking, 13 from blocking and 9 from serving.
Yuji Nishida, also of hosts Japan was named the Dream Team's Best Opposite. The teenager, at just 19, was overall third-best scorer of the World Cup with 174 points, but emerged top server of the tournament after delivering 29 aces (.69 per set).
Twenty-six-year-old
Micah Christenson was rewarded for his playmaking contribution to USA's bronze medal, named as Best Setter of the Dream Team.
The third Brazilian on the Dream Team was Best Libero
Thales Hoss, 30, top-ranked amongst the three medallist teams, including an overall second position in digging and third in receiving.
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