CLVolleyW All-Star Team Vote: Libero Nominees
The CEV Champions League Volley 2024 All-Star Team Voting continues at full speed as we are getting closer to the most thrilling moment of the season - the #SuperFinalsAntalya that will take place on the 5th of May at the Turkish seaside resort.
While the fans across the continent are looking forward to finding the answer to the question of who will lift the trophy - Jastrzebski Wegiel or Trentino Itas on the men’s side, or Prosecco Doc Imoco Volley Conegliano or Allianz Vero Volley Milano on the women’s side, the Volleyball supporters can also take the chance to cast their vote and help their favourite make it to the All-Star team.
In a serie of articles over the past few days, we have been getting to know better the nominees in the different categories. Today, we are delving into the libero’s position and the players who are in “the battle” for the glory.
The libero - the one that (almost) never scores a point, but the one that contributes in amazing ways to make the game even more dynamic and entertaining. The position was added to Volleyball back in the late 1990s and since then, it has been becoming more and more attractive to the players themselves, and the fans who are watching the athletes often doing the impossible in defence or reception - giving a real meaning to the expression: “Keep the ball flying!”, helping the whole team by smoothing the process of organising an attack.
Europe’s top club competition - the CEV Champions League Volley, is a great stage for the best liberos to show their skills, and this was the case in the 2023/2024 as well. The CEV Analysts made a preliminary selection of who did a great job over the past months in the women’s tournament, so let’s get to know better the nominees.
Brenda Castillo
A Dominican native, Brenda has been playing in Europe since 2021/2022 when she joined the Italians of Savino Del Bene Scandicci. Last year, she moved to Allianz Vero Volley Milano, and will now have the chance to fight for the #CLVolleyW trophy.
One of the most popular players on this position, and with many achievements to her name, Castillo has been delivering a steady performance in this #CLVolleyW season as coach Marco Gaspari and her teammates knew they could rely on her, showing great defence skills under pressure.
Gizem Orge
Have you ever heard the expression: “Minister of Defence”, related to a Volleyball player? Well, this is the case with the Turkish Volleyball Gizem Orge. Orge, who played for the powerhouse of VakifBank Istanbul from 2013/2014 to 2020/2021, and then joined the team of Fenerbahçe where is still showing her skills. She is loved by many fans not only in her native Türkiye, but also across the globe. Inspiring with fast and dynamic movements on the court, Gizem is a pivotal player for Fenerbahçe. Despite not being able to make it to the #SuperFinalsAntalya, as she and her team were stopped by Allianz Vero Volley Milano after losing a Golden Set in the semis, the libero deserves a place in the libero nominees as, for example, in the first semi against the Italians, Orge finished with 57% pos. reception (43% exc.), while in the second, she delivered 64% pos.reception (28% exc.).
Monica De Gennaro
An icon for every kid that is training to become a libero, Monica De Gennaro might very well be called a magician on the Volleyball court.
De Gennaro, who is playing for Prosecco Doc Imoco Volley Conegliano since 2013/2014 (meaning that she has been staying loyal to the club for the past 10 years), is recognised as one of the most skilled players on her position, and there is no doubt she is able to save the ball or receive it when it looks like a miracle. Furthermore, she remains focused and concentrated under pressure, showing the mental strength of a true leader as she did, for example, in the second semi-final game in this year’s #CLVolley against Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul when she finished with 100% pos.reception (50% exc.).
Simge Sebnem Akoz
The last, but not the least deserving libero nominee is Simge - a long-time member of Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul (since 2016/2017) and the Turkish National Team Women. Simge has been a key asset to the Tigers’ team, and a player to rely on as her steady performance helps her teammates feel more secure that the next action will unfold as per the coach’s indications.
Born in 1991, Simge has a wide experience playing important games, as, for instance, she did so at the 2023 #SuperFinalsTorino, where she and her teammates faced the back then reigning champions of VakifBank Istanbul. Although the Tigers couldn’t lift the trophy, Simge impressed with good work on the court (70% pos.reception, 40% exc.).
In 2023/2024, Eczacibaci were stopped in the semis by Prosecco Doc Imoco Volley Conegliano, but this doesn’t mean the Turkish International wasn’t on a high level - in the first semi she finished with 56% pos.recepton (44% exc.), while in the second she had 47% pos. reception (27% exc.).