Legendary Libero Castillo looks for Champions League glory

Brenda Castillo is one of the most recognisable players in volleyball. Diminutive in stature but a true giant in terms of personality and talent, the libero from Dominican Republic has been a staple name among the best players in the world for years.

Castillo first moved to Europe in 2012 when she signed for Rabita Baku and reached her first CEV Champions League SuperFinal that same season, losing to Vakifbank Istanbul. After moving to Lokomotiv Baku and then departing in 2016 to move back to South and Central America, Castillo moved back to Europe with Savino del Bene Scandicci in 2021 and immediately won the CEV Challenge Cup and CEV Cup in consecutive seasons, leading to another move.

Over the last few seasons, Allianz Vero Volley Milano has become a force in Italy’s Serie A1, one of the most competitive domestic leagues in the world, and at the start of this season, they signed a number of big names, including star opposite Paola Egonu and a top libero in Castillo. While this hasn’t seen them lift the Serie A1 title this season, it has seen Allianz Vero Volley Milano reach their first-ever CEV Champions League SuperFinal, having previously never advanced past the quarter-finals.

Her performances in the competition this season have dazzled, and Castillo has been nominated for the CEV Champions League Volley 2024 All-Star Team. Fans can vote on who they want to see named to the All-Star team now.

On the international stage, Castillo has been a mainstay in the Dominican Republic team since making her international debut in 2007. She has consistently been part of overperforming Dominican sides, which has seen her win individual recognition on the biggest stages. In 2012, she led Dominican Republic to a 5th-place finish at the Olympic Games, and was named Best Libero for the tournament, an individual accolade she also collected at the 2015 FIVB World Cup, where Dominican Republic finished 7th overall.

With Castillo as their floor general, Dominican Republic have won two Pan American Games gold medals, in 2019 and 2023, and have also lifted the Pan-American Cup on six occasions, finishing as the runners-up in a further five editions.

Across her multiple stints in Europe, Castillo has played 70 matches in the CEV Champions League. In those, she holds an impressive 80% win rate, and despite playing in a position which famously does not trouble the scoreboard offensively, the Dominican has two winning spikes to her name. With a CEV Champions League silver and bronze medal currently in her personal trophy cabinet, can she go further than she has ever gone before, with a team that has never tasted victory in this competition, and complete a historic season with Allianz Vero Volley Milano?