Items18The creator’s order
  1. 1Dusty DvorakDusty DvorakSetter, United States. Dvorak ran the offence for the American team that won Olympic gold in 1984 under coach Doug Beal, a side built on a new two-man serve reception that freed its hitters to attack. His fast, flat sets to the pins and quick middles let that system score from almost any pass, and…0
  2. 2Peter BlangéPeter BlangéBorn 9 Dec 1964Setter, Netherlands. Blangé was the playmaker of the Dutch team that won Olympic silver in 1992 and gold in Atlanta in 1996, distributing to big hitters such as Ron Zwerver and Bas van de Goor. At just over two metres tall he could set high above the net and also block, which made him a forerunner…0i
  3. 3Nikola GrbićNikola GrbićBorn 6 Sept 1973Setter, Yugoslavia and Serbia. Grbić set the Yugoslav team that won Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000, often alongside his brother Vladimir, and was known for unpredictable decisions that kept blockers from committing early. He later became one of the most successful coaches in the sport, which…0i
  4. 4Feng KunFeng KunBorn 28 Dec 1978Setter and captain, China. Feng Kun led China to Olympic gold in Athens in 2004, when the team came back from two sets down against Russia in the final, and she was named the tournament's most valuable player, a rare honour for a setter. Her quick combinations with middle blockers gave Chen…0
  5. 5Ricardo Garcia (volleyball)Ricardo Garcia (volleyball)Setter, Brazil. Ricardinho (Ricardo Garcia) was the conductor of Bernardinho's Brazil, the team that won Olympic gold in 2004 and world titles in 2002 and 2006 with a fast, low attack that opponents struggled to block. His jump sets and tempo were the core of that system: Brazil's attackers were…0
  6. 6Fofão (volleyball player)Fofão (volleyball player)Born 10 Mar 1970Setter, Brazil. Fofão (Hélia Souza) played in five Olympic Games and finally won gold in Beijing in 2008 at 38, when she was also named the tournament's best setter. Her calm, low-error distribution suited Brazil's fast attack, and her longevity, from bronze medals in 1996 and 2000 to that title,…0i
  7. 7Lloy BallLloy BallBorn 17 Feb 1972Setter, United States. Ball played in four Olympic Games and, at 36, set the American team that won gold in Beijing in 2008, feeding hitters such as Clay Stanley and Reid Priddy. He spent much of his club career in Italy and Russia, and his precise back sets and willingness to dump the second ball…0i
  8. 8Yoshie TakeshitaYoshie TakeshitaSetter, Japan. At 1.59 metres Takeshita was one of the shortest players in international volleyball, and she showed that a setter's value lies in footwork and hands rather than height. Her fast, accurate sets drove Japan's quick, low attack to a World Championship bronze in 2010 and Olympic bronze…0i
  9. 9Sergey GrankinSergey GrankinBorn 21 Jan 1985Setter, Russia. Grankin set the Russian team that won Olympic gold in London in 2012, coming back from two sets and two match points down against Brazil in the final. When coach Vladimir Alekno moved the 2.18-metre Dmitriy Muserskiy from middle blocker to opposite, it was Grankin's high, accurate…0i
  10. 10Bruno RezendeBruno RezendeSetter, Brazil. Bruno, the son of coach Bernardinho, became Brazil's first-choice setter after Ricardinho and set them to Olympic silver in London in 2012 and gold at home in Rio in 2016. His quick, flat distribution kept Brazil's tradition of fast attack alive, and his ability to set accurately…0i