Buenos Aires, January 28, 2009 – New Argentine head coach Javier Weber has named his 19-man squad for the 2009 FIVB World League.

Weber has handed the captaincy to San Juan wing-spiker Rodrigo Quiroga of Italian A2 club Cavriago in a squad blended with youth and experience.

Weber said, “Rodrigo Quiroga represents the outline of the captain that I want for the team. Aggressive, a team player, a great personality, who, with time, will be able to pass on these qualities to the rest of the team.”

Former Argentine international Weber said he submitted his first squad since signing a four-year contract with the Argentine Volleyball Federation (FeVA) more than two months before the 2009 FIVB World League deadline in order to foster a strong identity within the players as national team representatives.

The national team, which missed the 2008 edition, will begin training for the 2009 FIVB World League on April 28 once players complete their club commitments in Argentina and Europe.

“The list included the best players and those with the best potential, in each place inside the field,” said Weber. “The return of Alejandro Spajic and Pablo Meana is very important for Argentina because they are professional players always used to battling, they were always important players for their team-mates and they follow the same path. Also they have great qualities as players and as men.

“It is a list where we are trying to obtain the balance between young and experienced players that will allow us to make a strong team and that is our goal, to make a difference against the rest of the teams. We know we won't be among the best teams in the world but we will try to get a good group level and a united team. That is the greatest challenge.

“We search for players who understand the importance of belonging to the national team. I am sure they all have the same idea about this. I am very confident in all these players,” said Weber.

Argentina will compete in the 2009 FIVB World League Pool B through June 12 to July 18 against Serbia, France and Korea and have a good chance of qualifying for the Final Round as another team from Pool B besides hosts Serbia are guaranteed a berth in the July 22-26 climax in Belgrade.

Argentine 2009 FIVB World League squad

Setters:
Luciano De Cecco (Andreoli Latina, Italy A2)
Demián González (UPCN, Argentina A1)
Nicolás Uriarte (Mendoza Vóley, Argentina A1)

Middle players:
Alejandro Spajic (Drean Bolívar, Argentina A1)
Gabriel Arroyo (Drean Bolívar, Argentina A1)
Gustavo Porporatto (Belgrano de Córdoba, Argentina A1)
Martín Blanco Costa (La Unión de Formosa, Argentina A1)
Sebastián Solé (Rosario Sonder, Argentina A1)

Wing spikers:
Guillermo García (Drean Bolívar, Argentina A1)
Rodrigo Quiroga (Cavriago, Italy A2)
Lucas Ocampo (Ciudad de Medio Ambiente Soria, Spain Superliga)
Leandro Concina (Gioia del Colle, Italy A2)
Federico Pereyra (Ciudad de Medio Ambiente Soria, Spain Superliga)
Javier Filardi (Drean Bolívar, Argentina A1)
Facundo Conte (SP Catania, Italy A2)

Opposite players
Gustavo Scholtis (Al Ain, Arab Emirates A1)
Lucas Chávez (Entre Ríos Vóley, Argentina A1)

Liberos
Pablo Meana (Drean Bolívar, Argentina A1)
Alexis González (Dínamo Moscú, Russia Superliga)