Brazil's Natalia Pereira was named World Grand Prix MVP
Lausanne, Switzerland, August 11, 2017 – Brazil were rewarded for their success at the 2017 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix by earning two places in the tournament Dream Team.
Jose Guimaraes’ team won a record 12th World Grand Prix title with a 3-2 (26-24, 17-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-8) victory over Italy at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre.
Outside hitter Natalia Pereira was named tournament MVP for the second time in two editions of the tournament after she led scoring in the gold medal match with 22 points.
Pereira was joined in the team by Ana Beatriz Correa, who earned one of the middle-blocker roles along with Milena Rasic of Serbia.
Serbia completed the podium line-up when they defeated hosts China 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21) and Rasic’s teammate Tijana Boskovic was chosen as the tournament’s best opposite. Boskovic demonstrated why when she scored 31 points in the bronze medal match.
Monica De Gennaro’s performances for Italy earned her the role of dream team libero and the hosts had two representatives with Zhu Ting one of the outside hitters and Ding Xia the setter.
FIVB World Grand Prix Dream Team
MVP: Natalia Pereira (Brazil)
Best Outside Hitters: Zhu Ting (China) & Natalia Pereira (Brazil)
Best Middle-Blockers: Ana Beatriz Correa (Brazil) & Milena Rasic (Serbia)
Best Libero: Monica De Gennaro (Italy)
Best Setter: Ding Xia (China)