Third-seeded Alison and Bruno are starting their second season together on the FIVB World Tour after posting three podium placements and four “final four” finishes together in 2014.  The Brazilians’ lone gold medal was at the 2014 Klagenfurt stop.  Alison is appearing in his fourth World Championship after placing second in 2009 (Harley Marques), first in 2011 (Emanuel Rego) and fourth in 2013 (Emanuel).  Alison and Emanuel also netted the silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.  A regular on the FIVB World Tour since 2008, Alison enters the 2015 season with 15 gold medals, 40 podium placements and 45 “final four” finishes.  He has been named the tour’s best blocker (2011), best hitter (2011 and 2012), best offensive player (2011) and most improved player (2009).  Bruno, the nephew of legendry Brazilian basketball player Oscar Schmidt, started playing full-time internationally in 2010 and has been named the FIVB tour’s best defender (2012 and 2014) and most improved player (2010).  Bruno, who captured the 2006 under-21 World Championship with Pedro Salgado in Myslowice, Poland, started the 2015 season with three world tour gold medals to his credit along with 13 podium placements and 18 “final four” finishes.