As the No. 1-seeded team in the competition, Nummerdor and Varenhorst are starting their first full-season together on the FIVB World Tour as the Dutch pair ended the 2014 campaign with a Grand Slam title in Brazil (São Paulo) and an Open crown in South Africa (Mangaung).  A two-team Beach Olympian (2008 and 2012), Nummerdor has never finished higher than 17th in his previous four World Championship appearances with Richard Schuill.  Nummerdor, who also competed in two indoor Olympic competitions for The Netherlands, is at the start of his 10th season on the FIVB World Tour as he enters the 2015 campaign with 11 international gold medals, 18 podium placements and 20 “final four” finishes to his credit.  He was named the FIVB’s top defending in 2009 and 2011.  Varenhorst started playing on the FIVB World Tour in 2009 and was named the top rookie in 2012 during his first full-season on the international circuit.  In addition to the two FIVB gold medals with Nummerdor, Varenhorst placed fourth (Xiamen) in 2013 and third (Fuzhou) in 2014 with Jon Stiekema.  Varenhorst, who claimed the silver medal at the 2008 under-21 World Championships with Alexander Brouwer, is making his second World Championship appearance.