The Hague, the Netherlands, July 5, 2015 – In his home country Brazil they call him the Black Mamba, after the snake, but in the Netherlands Evandro Goncalves is better known as the serving canon. The 2.10 metres tall jump serve specialist won bronze with Pedro Solberg at the FIVB World Championships on Sunday, but was also rewarded as best server and fastest server.
The Rio native served an amazing number of 30 aces during the event, reaching a top speed of 97 km/h. “It’s my job”, he said modestly. “It’s the result of my training and I train a lot on my serve. Now I got to maintain this standard throughout the whole World Tour for the next couple of years.”
Evandro’s partner Pedro Solberg received the award for best scorer, while another Brazilian, gold medallist Bruno Oscar Schmidt, was awarded for best spiker.
“I didn’t expect that at all”, Bruno said. “It couldn’t be better, I am so stoked. But it made me laugh too. The Dutch player has more than 2.10, Evandro is 2.10, Alison 2.05 and I have 1.85 and get to be best spiker. Very funny!”
Bruno and his partner Alison won the final against home team Christiaan Varenhorst and Reinder Nummerdor. Both Dutch players received an award too. Varenhorst turned out to be the best blocker, while Nummerdor was voted best overall player.
“At this moment I couldn’t care less”, said a very disappointed Nummerdor. “I just wanted the gold.”
The 38-year old defence player was almost as disappointed when he and his former partner Richard Schuil lost the bronze medal match at the 2012 London Olympic Games. “This couldn’t be worse. After that fourth place in London, now this. It just doesn’t end.”