Germany- Pool B (Scroll down for Team News)
Before the collapse of the Berlin Wall marked the fall of communism in 1989, the divided nation of Germany produced their best volleyball at international competitions with a team from East Germany (the German Democratic Republic - GDR). The eastern Germans produced their best performance at the 1970 World Championship in Bulgaria where they won the title and placed fourth at the two other championships, in Czechoslovakia (1966) and again in Mexico (1974). The team also won the silver medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics and finished fourth in 1968 in Mexico. After the reunion of both Volleyball Federations in 1991, it heralded a new era for Volleyball in a united Germany. The new German team placed best ninth at the 1994 World Championship in Greece and was fourth twice at the European Championships in 1991 and 1993.
Germans made their first appearance in the prestigious FIVB World League in 1992 and continued to participate in the following two editions. The 1993 edition saw their nine victories in the competition, which allowed them to finish ninth overall. After a long absence in the competition they managed only a winless appearance in the 2001 World League but improved significantly in 2002 when they upset the mighty Russians on their home soil to again finish ninth. Germany currently occupies the 22nd position in the FIVB World ranking and the 2003 edition of the World League will see them in the company of superpowers Italy and Brazil as well as Portugal in Pool B. They will be anxious to make a good showing in the 2003 edition ahead of hosting the Men's European Championship in their country in September.  

Squad: Liefke (SCC Berlin, GER); Wiebel (Noliko Maaseik, BEL); Lieber (Evivo Düren, GER); Tischer (SV Mendig, Mendig, Germany); Andrae (VfB Friedrichshafen, GER); Wiederschein (VfB Friedrichshafen, GER); Hübner (Bossini Montichiari, ITA) ; Mayer (TSV Unterhaching, GER); Kuck (Montpellier UC, FRA) ; Schöps (VC Olympia Berlin, GER); Dehne (SCC Berlin, GER); Pampel (VfB Friedrichshafen, GER); Bergmann (Knack Roeselare, BEL ); Dewes (VfB Friedrichshafen, GER); Siebeck (PZU AZS Olsztyn, POL); Bakumovski (SCC Berlin, GER); Walter (VfB Friedrichshafen, GER); Pruesener (TSV Unterhaching, GER);