Lausanne, Switzerland, February 27, 2019 - The eight players on the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship Dream Team are all gearing up for yet another national team season, as they thrill fans with their club performances ahead of this year's second edition of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
Poland's Bartosz Kurek, the World Championship MVP, moved twice this year: first to Stocznia Szczecin and then, when they withdrew from the Polish PlusLiga, to ONICO Warsaw. The 30-year-old has been named match MVP five times this season in the PlusLiga and stands fourth in the best scorers list with 321 points.
There were three more players from the world champions in the 2018 Dream Team.
Outside hitter Michal Kubiak is for a third season with the Panasonic Panthers of Osaka, who finished top of the standings in the Regular Season and are now in Japan's V.League's Final Six.
Meanwhile, middle blocker Piotr Nowakowski continues for a second season with Trefl Gdansk in the PlusLiga, where he has twice been named match MVP this year and stands ninth in the best blockers list with 39 stuffs. In addition, he has helped his side stand at the top of their pool in the European Champions League, including a 13/18 attacking performance in the latest match against Polish rivals PGE Skra Belchatow who they beat in five sets. He is currently the most efficient attacker in the Champions League.
And libero Pawel Zatorski is also in the PlusLiga, continuing for a fifth season with table leaders ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle. The 28-year-old has been named match MVP five times this season and leads the overall best receivers ranking with a 58.45% efficiency.
Brazil's Douglas Souza was the other outside hitter in the 2018 World Championship Dream Team and the 23-year-old has moved this season to FUNVIC Taubate in his country's Superleague, where they currently stand third in the standings.
His Brazilian teammate Lucas Saatkamp is also with Taubate this season and currently stands top of the overall most efficient attackers list with 68% (115/169) - though knee problems have kept him off action recently.
Of the two USA players in the 2018 World Championship Dream Team, best opposite Matt Anderson continues with table leaders Zenit Kazan in the Russian Superleague and has also contributed to the side's flawless performance so far in the European Champions League. He has so far scored 216 points in 17 matches in Russia and 23 points in four matches in Europe.
Micah Cristenson, named best setter of the 2018 World Championship, plays his first season at Azimut Leo Shoes Modena in Italy's Superleague, currently standing in fourth place in the table - though recent knee surgery has kept him out of action. His side have not made it through to the next round of the European Champions League.
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