Emanuel & Larissa Headline Post-season SWATCH-FIVB World Tour Award Recipients

Lausanne, Switzerland, November 18, 2006 - Led by Brazilians Emanuel Rego and Larissa Franca, the top players on the 2006 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour were announced here Saturday after voting by SWATCH representatives, players, coaches, referees and officials associated with the international Beach Volleyball circuit.

Emanuel and Larissa were recognized for their 2006 accomplishments at the season's last double gender event in Mexico where the Brazilians received the SWATCH Most Outstanding Player awards for men and women, respectively, at the end of October stop in Acapulco.

The SWATCH Most Outstanding Players were selected by representatives from SWATCH and the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), who also chose Norway's Iver Horrem and Ana Paula Connelly of Brazil as the SWATCH top servers for the 2006 season that ended with a women's event in Thailand.

A reigning Olympic champion with Ricardo Santos, Emanuel and his partner completed the 2006 season by winning their fourth-straight SWATCH-FIVB World Tour's points championship with five gold medals, a record 14-straight “final four” finishes and a 76-14 match mark. The US$355,000 in team winnings for Emanuel and Ricardo also set a single-season men's earnings record.

The SWATCH most outstanding player at two 2006 events in Norway (Stavanger) and France (Marseille), Emanuel is the winningest Beach Volleyball player in the 20-year history of the men's tour. The 33-year old Brazilian has 60 titles and $1,656,535 in earnings with 113 medals in 158 career starts. Emanuel has compiled a 786-175 match mark in his 13-season FIVB career while competing with eight different partners.

Emanuel was also selected as the 2006 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour's best hitter. He finished second in the voting for best offensive player behind Ricardo while finishing fourth in the best setter category. Emanuel and Ricardo were also voted the men's team of the year while Larissa and Juliana Felisberta Silva were honored as the top women's tandem.

Larissa was named four times as the SWATCH most outstanding player for 2006 events in Italy (Modena), France (Marseille), Russia (St. Petersburg) and the Madeira Islands (Porto Santo). Larissa and Juliana won their second-straight SWATCH-FIVB World Tour's points championship in 2006 with seven gold medals, $367,200 in earnings, 12 podium placements, 13 “final four” finishes and a 73-8 match mark.

The 23-year old Larissa was also chosen as the SWATCH Tour top setter for 2006 FIVB season where she edged out Vasso Karadassiou of Greece and Misty May-Treanor of the United States for the award. Larissa also ranked high in the voting for sportswoman-of-the-year (third), best hitter (fourth), most inspirational (fifth) and best offensive player (seventh). Juliana was also selected as the best offensive player.

Horrem's top serve was 98.6.4 km/h in the Stavanger stop as he averaged 92.44 km/h per centre court serve for 12 SWATCH stops. Horrem bested Julius Brink as the Germany, who had a top serve of 98.0 km/h in Paris and averaged 90.32 km/h for his centre court serves for nine events.

Ana Paula, who was also the top server on the 2005 FIVB circuit, and Larissa both posted 80.0 km/h for their fastest serves in Paris and Shanghai, respectively. Ana Paula averaged 73.77 km/h for her centre court serves at 11 FIVB events while Larissa posted a 72.39 km/h centre court average for 13 SWATCH stops.

In voting of players, coaches, referees and officials associated with the international Beach Volleyball circuit, China's 17-year old Xue Chen captured the women's SWATCH-FIVB World Tour rookie-of-the-year honors while Sean Rosenthal of the United States was the men's top first-year player.

Xue Chen and here 21-year old partner Zhang Xi captured two gold medals in 2006 enroute to finishing as the third-ranked team with $195,200 in earnings for 13 events. Xue Chen became the youngest player to win an international Beach Volleyball title when she and Zhang Xi captured May's Shanghai stop before ending the 2006 season by winning the gold medal at the SWATCH season finale in Thailand.
Rosenthal and Jake Gibb, who tied for the 2005 SWATCH rookie-of-the-year award with Italy's Matteo Varnier, finished as the eighth-ranked men's team with three podium placements in only six SWATCH events in 2006. After winning the silver medal in Paris and Vitoria, Brazil, Rosenthal and Gibb captured the gold medal in Acapulco where the Americans defeated Emanuel and Ricardo in the men's season finale.

Other men selected as top players included Ricardo (best offensive player) Martin Conde of Argentina (co-top defensive player), Brazilians Marcio Araujo (co-top setter) and Franco Neto (most inspirational and sportsman-of-the-year), Phil Dalhausser (most improved and top blocker) and Todd Rogers (co-top defensive player and co-top setter) of the United States.

Also being chosen as top women's players for the 2006 season were Brazilians Leila Barros (most improved) and Shelda Bede (most inspirational and top setter), and Kerri Walsh (sportswoman-of-the-year, top blocker and best hitter) of the United States.

The SWATCH-FIVB World Tour was the 20th-season of men's competition in 2006 since the start of recognized international Beach Volleyball competition by the FIVB in 1987 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The women completed their 15th season since their first event in 1992 at Almeria, Spain.

The 2006 season featured 15 women and 14 men stops on the SWATCH-FIVB World Tour with US$6.52-million in prize money. The FIVB also sanctioned six men and five women Challenger and Satellite events where another $200,000 was available in prize money.

A total of 966 players (536 men and 430 women) from 53 countries competed in FIVB-sanctioned events in 2006. Countries will players competing in 2006 international Beach Volleyball events include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, the Ukraine, the United States and Venezuela.

With 42 men's and 45 women's SWATCH medals awarded in 2006, Brazil dominated the podiums with 50 (17 gold, 18 silver, 15 bronze), including 27 medals for men's (9, 10, 8) and 23 for women (8, 8, 7). China (4, 5, 5) and the United States (5, 5, 4) tied second in overall medals with 14 followed by Germany (2, 1, 3) with six and one each for Switzerland (1 gold), Netherlands (1 bronze) and Norway (1 bronze).

The top highlight from the 2006 season was the development of the Chinese Beach Volleyball team as the Asian country prepares for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The 13 SWATCH medals by China were the most-ever in the 15-year history of women's competition led by a pair of gold medals each for the teams of Tian Jia/Wang Jie (Austria and Poland) and Xue Chen/Zhang Xi (China and Thailand).

The Chinese also posted their first-ever medal and "final four" finishes in the 20-year history of the men's FIVB competition. Penggen Wu and Linyin Xu claimed China's first men's medal in Poland and validated the podium placement with a fourth-place at the Mexican season finale in Acapulco.

The bronze medals for the Dutch men and Norwegian women were also a first for those countries in each gender. With upset wins over the SWATCH point's leaders, Jochem De Gruijter and Gijs Ronnes of the Netherlands defeated Emanuel and Ricardo for the Russian bronze in St. Petersburg while Norway's Nila Ann Hakedal and Ingrid Torlen upset Juliana and Larissa for the Mexican bronze in Acapulco.

Alexandra Shiryaeva and Natalya Uryadova become the first women's team from their country to compete in a SWATCH "final four" as the Russian pair placed fourth in September's stop in Warsaw, Poland. A week earlier, Shiryaeva and Natalya Uryadova won the European Championships in the Netherlands.

Led by Canada, 16 countries earned medals at FIVB Challenger or Satellite events. Canadians claimed 11 (1 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze) of the 33 medals presented, including seven podiums for their men (0, 3, 4) and four for the women (1, 1, 2). Sweden (1, 3, 1), Switzerland (1, 1, 1) and Brazil (2, 0, 0) also captured multi-medals at FIVB Challenger or Satellite stops.

The 2007 SWATCH season is the first of two years of Olympic qualifying for the Beijing 2008 Games as a team's top eight finishes during the process will count. Other than host China, only two teams from a country can qualifying for the Summer Games with the African continent guaranteed one spot per gender.

Most Outstanding Player

1. Emanuel, Brazil

2. Marcio Araujo, Brazil

3. Ricardo, Brazil

Also receiving votes - Julius Brink, Germany, Christoph Dieckmann, Germany, Patrick Heuscher, Switzerland, Fabio, Brazil, Todd Rogers, United States and Linyin Xu, China

Most Improved Player

1. Phil Dalhausser, USA

2. Linyin Xu, China

3. Julius Brink, Germany

Also receiving votes - Cunha, Brazil, Wu Penggen, China, Richard Schuil, Netherlands, Reinder Nummerdor, Netherlands, Eugenio Amore, Italy, Wilfredo Villar, Cuba, Koichi Nishimura, Japan, Kevin Ces, France, Fabien Dugrip, France, Yannick Salvetti, France, Andrea Tomatis, Italy

Most Inspirational

1. Franco , Brazil

2. Stein Metzger, United States

3. Martin Conde, Argentina

Also receiving votes - Julius Brink, Germany, Javier Bosma, Spain, Jorre Kjemperud, Norway

Rookie of the Year

1. Sean Rosenthal, USA

2.  Reinder Nummerdor, Netherlands

3. Salgado, Brazil

Also receiving votes - Phil Dalhausser, United States, Richard Schuil, Netherlands, Nalbert, Brazil, Mike Lambert, United States, Martin Plavins, Latvia, Penggen Wu, China, Inocencio Lario, Spain, Aleksandrs Samoilous, Latvia

Sportsman of the Year

1. Franco, Brazil

2. Marcio Araujo, Brazil

3. Linyin Xu, China

Also receiving votes - Christoph Dieckmann, Germany, Mariano Baracetti, Argentina, Kristjan Kais, Estonia, Rivo Vesik, Estonia

Best Defensive Player

1. Todd Rogers, United States

    Martin Conde, Argentina

3. Marcio Araujo, Brazil

Also receiving votes - Francisco Alvarez, Cuba, Julius Brink, Germany, Mark Heese, Canada, Sean Rosenthal, United States, Kristjan Kais, Estonia, Stefan Kobel, Switzerland

 Best Offensive Player

1. Ricardo, Brazil

2. Emanuel, Brazil

3. Marcio Araujo, Brazil

Also receiving votes - Christoph Dieckmann, Germany, Cunha, Brazil, Harley, Brazil, Kristjan Kais, Estonia

Best Blocker

1. Phil Dalhausser, USA

2. Ricardo, Brazil

3. Fabio, Brazil

Also receiving votes - Christoph Dieckmann, Germany, Yannick Salvetti, France, Patrick Heuscher, Switzerland, Pablo Herrera, Spain, Sascha Heyer, Switzerland, Sean Scott, United States, Richard VanHuizen, Canada, Martin Laciga, Switzerland, Benjamin, Brazil

Best Setter

1. Marcio Araujo, Brazil

    Todd Rogers, United States

3. Jorre Kjemperud, Norway

Also receiving votes - Emanuel, Brazil, Mark Heese, Canada, Stein Metzger, United States, Sascha Heyer, Switzerland, Martin Conde, Argentina, Miguel Maia, Portugal, Peter Gartmayer, Austria, Kristjan Kais, Estonia

Best Hitter

1. Emanuel, Brazil

2. Phil Dalhausser, USA

3. Fabio, Brazil

Also receiving votes - Marcio Araujo, Brazil, Christoph Dieckmann, Germany, Wilfredo Villar, Cuba, Cunha, Brazil, Harley, Brazil, Sean Rosenthal, United States

Best Server

1. Iver Horrem, Norway

2. Julius Brink, Germany

3. Yannick Salvetti, France

Also receiving votes - Ricardo, Brazil, Clemens Doppler, Austria, Conrad Leinemann, Canada, Patrick Heuscher, Switzerland, Christoph Dieckmann, Germany, Joshua Slack, Australia, Harley, Brazil, Marcio Araujo, Brazil, Phil Dalhausser, United States, Matteo Varnier, Italy

Best Team

1. Emanuel/Ricardo, Brazil

2. Marcio Araujo/Fabio, Brazil

3. Julius Brink/Christoph Dieckmann, Germany

4. Cunha/Franco, Brazil

Most Outstanding

2006 - Larissa, Brazil

2005 - Misty May-Treanor, United States

Best Blocker

2006 - Kerri Walsh, United States

2005 - Walsh, United States

Best Defensive Player

2006 - Shelda, Brazil

2005 - Shelda, Brazil

Best Hitter

2006 - Kerri Walsh, United States

2005 - Walsh, United States

Best Offensive Player

2006 - Juliana, Brazil

2005 - Misty May-Treanor, United States

Best Server

2006 - Ana Paula, Brazil

2005 - Ana Paula, Brazil

Best Setter

2006 - Larissa, Brazil

2005 - Misty May-Treanor, United States

Most Improved Player

2006 - Leila, Brazil

2005 - Vassiliki Arvaniti, Greece

Most Inspirational

2006 - Shelda, Brazil

2005 - Shelda, Brazil

Sportsperson

2006 - Kerri Walsh, United States

2005 - Walsh, United States

Team of the Year

2006 - Juliana/Larissa, Brazil

2005 - Juliana/Larissa, Brazil

Top Rookie

2006 - Xue Chen, China

2005 - Talita, Brazil

Most Outstanding Player

1. Larissa, Brazil

2. Juliana, Brazil

3.  Tian Jia, China

     Kerri Walsh, United States

     Zhang Xi, China

Also receiving votes - Leila, Brazil, Talita, Brazil

Most Improved Player

1. Leila, Brazil

2. Ingrid Torlen, Norway

3. Zhang Xi, China

Also receiving votes - Imara Esteves Ribalta, Cuba, Doris Schwaiger, Austria, Vassiliki Arvaniti, Greece, Renata, Brazil, Sara Montagnolli, Austria, Tian Jia, China, Wang Jie, China, Talita, Brazil, Stepfanie Schwaiger, Austria, Sabine Swoboda, Austria

Most Inspirational

1. Shelda, Brazil

2. Kerri Walsh, United States

3. Ana Paula, Brazil

Also receiving votes - Misty May-Treanor, United States, Larissa, Brazil, Juliana, Brazil, Marie-Andree Lessard, Canada, Sara Montagnolli, Austria, Sanne Keizer, Netherlands, Zhang Xi, China, Hiromi Suzuki, Japan, Adriana, Brazil

Rookie of the Year

1. Xue Chen, China

2. Zhang Ying, China

3. Zuo Man, China

Also receiving votes - Nicole Branagh, United States, Lucy Boulton, England

Sportswoman of the Year

1.   Kerri Walsh, United States

2.   Ana Paula, Brazil

3.   Larissa, Brazil

Also receiving votes - Misty May-Treanor, United States, Nila Ann Hakedal, Norway, Juliana, Brazil, Kathrine Maaseide, Norway, Ingrid Torlen, Norway, Elaine Youngs, United States, Shelda, Brazil, Tia Jia, China

Best Defensive Player

1.   Shelda, Brazil

2.   Larissa, Brazil

3.   Misty May-Treanor, United States

Also receiving votes - Tian Jia, China, Renata, Brazil, Natalie Cook, Australia, Vasso Karadassiou, Greece

Best Offensive Player

1.   Juliana, Brazil

2.   Misty May-Treanor, United States

3.   Kerri Walsh, United States

Also receiving votes - Ana Paula, Brazil, Tian Jia, China, Elaine Youngs, United States, Larissa, Brazil, Adriana, Brazil

Best Blocker

1.   Kerri Walsh, United States

2.   Elaine Youngs, United States

3.   Wang Jie, China

Also receiving votes - Talita, Brazil, Juliana Brazil, Xue Chen, China, Ana Paula, Brazil, Leila, Brazil, Rieke Brink-Abeler, Germany, Adriana, Brazil

Best Setter

1.   Larissa, Brazil

2.   Misty May-Treanor, United States

3.   Vasso Karadassiou, Greece

Also receiving votes - Tian Jia, China, Shelda, Brazil, Sarah Maxwell, Canada, Ana Paula, Brazil, Laura Ludwig, Germany, Wang Jie, China, Adriana, Brazil

Best Hitter

1.   Kerri Walsh, United States

2.   Ana Paula, Brazil

3.   Elaine Youngs, United States

Also receiving votes - Larissa, Brazil, Juliana, Brazil, Zhang Xi, China, Sara Goller, Germany, Nila Ann Hakedal, Norway, Vassiliki Arvaniti, Greece

Best Server

1.   Ana Paula, Brazil

2.   Larissa, Brazila

3.   Nicole Branagh, United States

Also receiving votes - Elaine Youngs, United States, Carolina, Brazil, Tian Jia, China, Shelda, Brazil, Jennifer Boss, United States, Zhang Xi, China, Marrit Leenstra, Netherlands, Renata, Brazil, Ji Linjun, China

Best Team

1.   Juliana/Larissa, Brazil

2.   Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh, United States

3.   Tian Jia/Wang Jie, China

Also receiving votes - Nila Ann Hakedal/IngridTorlen, Norway, Xue Chen/Zhang Xi, China, Leila/Ana Paula, Brazil, Rieke Brink-Abeler/Hella Jurich, Germany