It was a different story for FIVB Hero Maxim Mikhaylov of Zenit Kazan, who ended up in fourth place, despite playing an outstanding competition. In fact from the first match against Al-Arabi Doha, the host team, he was constantly among the best scorers of his team. In pool B where Zenit Kazan clinched the second place behind PGE Skra Belchatow our FIVB Hero was amongst the best players scoring 21 points in the longest match against the Polish to decide first place!
In the semis our FIVB Hero met the four-time-Champions of Trento, and even his great performance (11 points, best scorer of the team) was not enough to take Kazan on to the top positions with a 3-0 loss against the Italians. The final match was a replay of the pool phase, seeing Kazan once again pitted against PGE Skra Belchatow with, unfortunately, the same result. After a good start by Mikhaylov and his team, the Polish recovered to come from 2-0 behind and took the bronze medal 3-2.
For Brazilian FIVB Hero Sheilla Castro it was a happier ending in the women’s competition. Concluding a perfect run, she lead her team to win all matches played, taking the title in her first appearance in Doha.
Sheilla’s road to the top started with two victories, against Bohai Bank (CHN) and Rabita Baku (AZE), giving her team Sollys Nestlè Osasco the first place in Pool A. Sheilla scored 17 points in each match. After an easy victory in the semifinals against Lancheras de Catano (PUR), Osasco repeated the winning result against last year’s world champions from Rabita in the final, with another amazing performance from Sheilla, who scored 15 points.
Named Most Valuable Player and Best Scorer, she was all smiles arrivinf back in Brazil with the gold medal: “I’m really happy because the Club World Championship was one of our goals this year. It was the first time I won this title. We left there feeling we did our job and with the knowledge that we played really well. Today, Brazil is without doubt, the best country when it comes to volleyball. Brazil is now the country of volleyball.”
Now the FIVB Heroes turn their attention to other commitments. Maxim Mikhajlov will do battle in the Russian League where so far Zenit is the leader of the Blue Group, while Sheilla Castro will prepare herself for the opening of the Brazilian League at the end of November!
Stay tuned for more news from our FIVB Heroes!
