Women's volleyball world championship 2002 / participant

The squad of participants in the 2002 Women's Volleyball World Cup consisted of twelve players each. A provisional squad had to be named by the end of May, which consisted of eighteen players. The coaches had a deadline of the day before the start of the tournament to nominate the final bids.

Group A

Bulgaria

The Bulgarian team took part in a world championship for the tenth time. In the global tournaments two fourth places in 1952 and 1962 were the best results, but in the continental competition the 1981 European champion achieved success in his own country a year before the World Cup in Germany. The team that took third place at the 2001 European Championships was led by Neli Neshich and Antonina Zetowa.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Lyubka Debarliewa	7th	1.78 m	21 Sep 1980	Z	Levski Sofia
Aneta Germanowa	13	1.86 m	0Jan. 3, 1975	AA	Romanelli Florence
Iliyana Gotschewa	14th	1.88 m	0Nov 2, 1976	MB	Levski Sofia
Elena Kolewa	17th	1.86 m	0Dec. 1, 1977	D.	Levski Sofia
Elena Kunova	11	1.87 m	0Nov 5, 1975	MB	Red ravens Vilsbiburg
Marina Marik	2	1.80 m	17th Aug 1969	L.	Levski Sofia
Neli Neshich	6th	1.73 m	May 27, 1971	Z	Romanelli Florence
Slavka Ouzounowa-Dimitrova	8th	1.84 m	July 30, 1971	AA	Zaon Athens
Iliana Petkova	18th	1.90 m	Nov 10, 1977	MB	CSKA Sofia
Vania Sokolova	4th	1.89 m	June 22, 1971	MB	Rapid Bucharest
Radosveta Tenewa	10	1.83 m	Nov 21, 1980	AA	AIAS Evousmos
Antonina Setova	5	1.89 m	0Sep 7 1973	U	Volley Modena
Trainer: Stefan Panchew , Bulgaria ; Assistant coach: Angel Koshedzhiyski , Bulgaria

Germany

The German women were considered to be one of the favorites before the tournament. After the team had been eliminated in the preliminary round at the European Championship last year , they and the dominant attacker Angelina Grün achieved third place at the World Grand Prix shortly before the start of the first World Championship in their own country . The home advantage should also help to achieve a good result, as in the qualifying tournaments for the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games . In previous World Cup tournaments, the selection of the GDR with two fourth places had ensured the best German results. Christina Benecke , Cornelia Dumler and Christin Guhr were the last players to be removed from the provisional squad. Previously, Hanka Pachale and Christina Schultz had to cancel their participation due to injuries.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Atika Bouagaa	11	1.82 m	May 22, 1982	AA	USC Munster
Béatrice Dömeland	2	1.80 m	0Aug 4, 1973	Z	Dresdner SC
Angelina Green	15th	1.85 m	0Dec. 2, 1979	AA	Volley Modena
Tanja Hart	3	1.76 m	Jan. 24, 1974	Z	SSV Ulm Aliud Pharma
Olessya Kulakova	12	1.90 m	Jan. 31, 1977	MB	RC Cannes
Jana Müller	10	1.84 m	May 24, 1978	AA	Schweriner SC
Kathy Radzuweit	14th	1.96 m	02nd Mar 1982	MB	Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Sylvia Roll	5	1.80 m	May 29, 1973	AA	Monte Schiavo Jesi
Judith Sylvester	16	1.93 m	Oct 13, 1977	D.	Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Birgit Thumm	17th	1.84 m	03rd July 1980	MB	USC Munster
Kerstin Tzscherlich	4th	1.79 m	Feb. 15, 1978	L.	Dresdner SC
Verena Veh	18th	1.93 m	0Nov 4, 1977	MB	SSV Ulm Aliud Pharma
Coach: Lee Hee-wan , born January 15, 1956, South Korea ; Co-Trainer: Christian Zeyfang , * 1967, Germany

Italy

The Italian selection was included in the extended circle of favorites before the tournament in Germany. With fifth place at the 1998 World Cup and the entry into the final of the 2001 European Championship , the team around the diagonal attacker Elisa Togut approached the top of the world. Before that, a third place in the continental tournament was the best result, while in the other competitions it was never more than fifth.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Sara Anzanello	5	1.93 m	July 30, 1980	MB	Asystel Volley Novara
Valentina Borrelli	15th	1.90 m	Oct. 30, 1978	AA	Johnson Spezzano
Paola Cardullo	17th	1.62 m	18 Mar 1982	L.	Asystel Volley Novara
Manuela Leggeri	4th	1.83 m	0May 9, 1976	MB	Volley Modena
Eleonora Lo Bianco	14th	1.72 m	Dec 22, 1979	Z	Starfin Ravenna
Anna Vania Mello	16	1.83 m	Feb. 27, 1979	MB	Foppapedretti Bergamo
Darina Mifkova	11	1.85 m	May 24, 1974	AA	Minetti Vicenza
Paola Paggi	10	1.82 m	0Dec 6, 1976	MB	Minetti Vicenza
Francesca Piccinini	12	1.80 m	Jan. 10, 1979	AA	Foppapedretti Bergamo
Simona Rinieri	2	1.88 m	0Sep 1 1977	AA	Starfin Ravenna
Rachele Sangiuliano	13	1.82 m	June 23, 1981	Z	Icot Volley Forlì
Elisa Togut	3	1.92 m	May 14, 1978	D.	Minetti Vicenza
Coach: Marco Bonitta , born September 5, 1963, Italy ; Assistant coach: Marco Mencarelli , Italy

Japan

Together with the Soviet Union, the Japanese dominated the World Championships and Olympic Games in the 1960s and 1970s. In the following decades, however, China and South Korea took over the leading roles in the Asian Cup , so that a new success for the Japanese team in Germany was unlikely.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Makiko Horai	12	1.87 m	0Jan. 6, 1979	AA	JT Marvelous
Sachiko Kodama	9	1.71 m	Sep 15 1978	Z	Toray Arrows
Chikako Kumamae	2	1.80 m	Apr 11, 1974	AA	Toray Arrows
Hisako Mukai	8th	1.77 m	01st Mar 1978	AA	Toray Arrows
Kanako Naito	3	1.82 m	0Nov 4, 1984	MB	Takefuji Bamboo
Minako Onuki	1	1.73 m	Oct 15, 1972	AA	NEC Red Rockets
Ai Otomo-Yamamoto	15th	1.83 m	24 Mar 1982	MB	NEC Red Rockets
Kana Oyama	7th	1.87 m	June 19, 1984	AA	Seitoku Gakuen
Yūko Sano	13	1.58 m	July 26, 1979	L.	Toray Arrows
Sachiko Sugiyama	14th	1.83 m	Oct 19, 1979	MB	NEC Red Rockets
Miyuki Takahashi	11	1.70 m	Dec 25, 1978	AA	NEC Red Rockets
Shinako Tanaka	5	1.72 m	July 28, 1975	AA	NEC Red Rockets
Coach: Masahiro Yoshikawa , born January 21, 1963, Japan ; Assistant coach: Akinori Yamada , Japan

Mexico

The Mexicans celebrated their greatest successes to date around 1970 when they finished seventh as Olympic hosts and then tenth at their first World Cup. In addition, there were two titles in the NORCECA championship during this time . In their fifth participation in a world championship, Mexico was one of the outsiders at the tournament in Germany.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Selena Barajas	4th	1.82 m	Jan. 22, 1982	Z	UANL Tigres
Bibiana Candelas	10	1.94 m	0Dec 2, 1983	MB	Coahuila
Blanca Chan	11	1.82 m	July 26, 1981	AA	Sinaloa
Celida Cordova	3	1.74 m	0Aug 1, 1980	L.	Monterrey
Yendy Cortinas	1	1.85 m	04th July 1972	U	Club Voleibol Benidorm
Paola Estrada	17th	1.71 m	Feb 10, 1975	L.	Federal District
Marion Frias	15th	1.90 m	Jan 15, 1982	MB	Federal District
Marcia Gonzalez	8th	1.74 m	Feb 10, 1975	Z	UNAM
Mariana Lopez	13	1.78 m	Aug 30, 1985	Z	Federal District
Kenya Olvera	5	1.85 m	0May 6, 1975	MB	UNAM
Claudia Rodriguez	12	1.90 m	Aug 10, 1980	MB	UNAM
Migdalel Ruiz	6th	1.80 m	03rd Mar 1983	AA	Guanajuato
Coach: Sergio Hernández Herrera , Mexico ; Assistant coach: Jorge Azair , Mexico

Czech Republic

In contrast to their predecessors from Czechoslovakia, who dominated European volleyball together with the Soviet Union, the Czech women have not been able to celebrate any successes since independence. In addition, some players from the World Cup squad of the new coach Mitac at the World Cup in Germany were about to end their careers.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Katerina Buckova	8th	1.90 m	Apr 28, 1978	MB	RC Cannes
Lenka Felbabová	14th	1.73 m	Apr 18, 1978	L.	PVK Olymp Prague
Jana Havlova	11	1.80 m	May 27, 1978	AA	PVK Olymp Prague
Helena Horka	2	1.88 m	June 15, 1981	AA	VK Královo Pole Brno
Katerina Jenckova	9	1.86 m	18th May 1971	AA	PSG Athens
Jana Kalcikova	17th	1.92 m	Jan. 22, 1980	MB	PVK Olymp Prague
Petra Novotná	12	1.87 m	Apr 10, 1981	U	PVK Olymp Prague
Marcela Ritschelova	7th	1.92 m	0Oct 9, 1972	MB	Pallavolo Palermo
Jana Senkova	15th	1.82 m	July 11, 1982	U	SK UP Olomouc
Jana Šimánková	5	1.79 m	0Apr 6, 1980	Z	VK Královo Pole Brno
Milada Spalova	4th	1.89 m	Nov 16, 1979	MB	SK UP Olomouc
Eva Štěpánčíková	6th	1.80 m	Dec 11, 1972	Z	Pallavolo Palermo
Trainer: Stanislav Mitac , Czech Republic ; Assistant trainer: David Zahradnik , Czech Republic

Group B

Egypt

The Egyptian team has only existed since 1970 because of a boycott. In Germany, the two-time African champions are playing for the second time at a world championship after Egypt finished 16th in 1990. The attacker Tahani Tosson is considered the best player on her continent.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Miral Abdelkader	4th	1.78 m	Nov 16, 1983	Z	al Ahly Cairo
Mona Badawy	16	1.82 m	Jan. 16, 1982	AA	al Ahly Cairo
Samar Ebeid	6th	1.80 m	Oct 17, 1985	MB	El Shams Cairo
Nouran Elmagghauri	14th	1.75 m	Sep 30 1985	AA	al Ahly Cairo
Rasha Elsayed	7th	1.74 m	0Feb. 4, 1981	L.	al Zamalek SC
Amina Fouad	3	1.86 m	Apr 10, 1980	MB	al Ahly Cairo
Nagwa Fouad	5	1.72 m	Aug 12, 1983	MB	Sporting Alexandria
Ingy Hamdy	10	1.76 m	0June 6, 1986	MB	El Shams Cairo
Heba Rabie	13	1.73 m	Feb. 14, 1983	MB	al Ahly Cairo
Sherihan Sameh	1	1.81 m	25 Sep 1986	AA	al Ahly Cairo
Sara Talaat	12	1.70 m	0Sep 1 1982	L.	al Ahly Cairo
Tahani Tosson	11	1.77 m	22 Sep 1971	AA	al Ahly Cairo
Trainer: Hesham Badrawy , Egypt ; Assistant coach: Atef Hussein , Egypt

Canada

The Canadian women returned to the global tournament twelve years after their fifth World Cup appearance in 1990. So far, they have never exceeded double-digit placements and they were missing from the NORCECA championship in the year before the world championship.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Barb Bellini	7th	1.85 m	14 Mar 1977	AA	Criollas de Caguas
Kimberly Exner	8th	1.86 m	July 16, 1977	AA	National team
Janis Kelly	16	1.75 m	20 Mar 1971	AA	DAM La Rochette
Krista Lee Kinsman	5	1.86 m	0Jan. 2, 1978	AA	National team
Anne-Marie Lemieux	6th	1.78 m	July 23, 1976	Z	National team
Annie Levesque	15th	1.64 m	0Sep 9 1979	L.	University of Sherbrooke
Rae-Anne Mitchell	13	1.88 m	18 Mar 1973	MB	St. Cloud Suresnes
Miroslava Pribylova	9	1.78 m	Aug 15, 1970	Z	SSV Ulm Aliud Pharma
Jennifer Rauh	11	1.82 m	0July 1, 1971	AA	Herentals VBC
Melissa Raymond	14th	1.87 m	Aug 27, 1980	MB	University of Sherbrooke
Joanne Ross	10	1.96 m	0Nov 1, 1977	MB	National team
Amy Nicole Tutt	3	1.82 m	Apr 25, 1976	AA	Club Voleibol Benidorm
Trainer: Lorne Sawula , Canada ; Assistant coach: Naoki Miyashita , Japan

Cuba

The Cuban team competed as defending champions at the World Cup in Germany. With two World Cup titles, three Olympic gold medals and numerous successes in the World Cup and Grand Prix , the Cubans had dominated the past ten years. At the 2002 Grand Prix, however, it was only seventh. Regla Torres, the middle blocker named the best player of the 20th century, should help Cuba to win again. Sixteen-year-old Nancy Carrillo and Yanelis Santos Allegne were among the youngest players in the tournament.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Zoila Barros Fernández	18th	1.88 m	0Aug 6, 1979	MB	Ciudad Deportiva La Habana
Rosir Calderón Díaz	12	1.91 m	Dec 28, 1984	AA	Ciudad Deportiva La Habana
Nancy Carrillo	3	1.90 m	Jan. 11, 1986	MB	Ciudad Deportiva La Habana
Liana Mesa Luaces	11	1.79 m	Dec 26, 1977	AA	Camaguey
Indira Mestre Baro	9	1.83 m	Apr 21, 1979	AA	Ciudad Deportiva La Habana
Anniara Muñoz Carrazana	13	1.80 m	Jan. 24, 1980	U	Cienfuegos
Yoslan Muñoz García	7th	1.83 m	Feb. 19, 1980		Ciudad Deportiva La Habana
Yaima Ortiz Charro	8th	1.79 m	0Nov 9, 1981	L.	Ciudad Deportiva La Habana
Yumilka Ruiz	1	1.79 m	0May 8, 1978	AA	Camaguey
Marta Sánchez Salfran	17th	1.82 m	17th May 1973	AA	Holguín
Yanelis Santos Allegne	2	1.83 m	30th Mar 1986	D.	Ciego de Ávila
Regla Torres	10	1.91 m	Feb 12, 1975	MB	Ciudad Deportiva La Habana
Coach: Luis Felipe Calderón , Cuba ; Assistant coach: Eugenio George Lafita , Cuba

Netherlands

The Dutch team reached the top 10 of a world championship for the first time in 1990 and has always been qualified since then. It was not enough to win a medal for the European champion in 1995 and Olympic fifth in 1996 at global tournaments.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Alice Blom	8th	1.78 m	0Apr 7, 1980	U	Arke Pollux Oldenzaal
Irina Donets	10	1.86 m	Aug 20, 1976	MB	Starfin Ravenna
Riëtte Fledderus	14th	1.68 m	Oct 18, 1977	Z	Monte Schiavo Jesi
Manon Flier	12	1.90 m	0Feb 8, 1984	AA	Arke Pollux Oldenzaal
Ruth Heerschap	11	1.91 m	0Jan. 6, 1978	MB	AMVJ Amstelveen
Francien Huurman	3	1.92 m	Apr. 18, 1975	MB	Famila Imola
Elles Leferink	6th	1.76 m	Nov 14, 1976	AA	SSV Ulm Aliud Pharma
Maureen Staal	17th	1.88 m	Sep 30 1982	AA	Vanilla VC Weert
Kim Staelens	1	1.82 m	0Jan. 7, 1982	Z	USSP Albi volley ball
Janneke van Tienen	5	1.72 m	May 29, 1979	L.	Vanilla VC Weert
Ingrid Visser	15th	1.88 m	04th June 1977	MB	Hotel Cantur Las Palmas
Elke Wijnhoven	7th	1.68 m	0Jan. 3, 1981	L.	Minetti Vicenza
Coach: Angelo Frigoni , born March 17, 1954, Italy ; Assistant trainer : Han Abbing , born January 7, 1961, the Netherlands

Romania

The Romanian team , which had its prime in the 1950s and 1960s, has failed to celebrate any notable successes in the past few decades. In Germany, Romania took part in a World Cup for the first time since 1994.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Alina-Speranta Albu	16	1.86 m	06 Sep 1983	MB	Dinamo Bucharest
Elena Butnaru	2	1.83 m	Apr. 27, 1975	MB	Pallavolo Palermo
Maria-Eugenia Chivorchian	12	1.81 m	Aug 27, 1982	U	Amici Bacau
Andreea-Florina Constantinescu	9	1.81 m	June 14, 1977		VC Unic Piatra Neamţ
Mirela Corjeutanu	10	1.90 m	0July 6, 1977	U	Futura Volley Sanarate
Carmen-Alida Marcovici	5	1.90 m	20 Mar 1973	MB	Boavista Porto
Florentina Nedelcu	17th	1.77 m	26th Mar 1976	AA	VC Unic Piatra Neamţ
Cristina-Lucretia Parv	11	1.81 m	June 29, 1972	AA	Minas Tênis Club
Anca Popescu	15th	1.82 m	Feb 21, 1976	MB	TV Fischbek
Nicoleta Tolisteanu	18th	1.75 m	0December 3, 1980	L.	Amici Bacau
Luminita-Gabriela Trombitas	3	1.82 m	05th July 1971	Z	Petrarch Padua
Carmen Turlea	1	1.83 m	Nov 18, 1975	D.	Foppapedretti Bergamo
Trainer: Costinel Stan , born October 25, 1953, Romania ; Assistant coach: Aurel Cazacu , Romania

South Korea

The South Korean team came to the World Cup as the second best representative of the continent behind China. Since 1974, the Asians have been able to qualify for every World Cup finals and most of the Olympic tournaments. Recently, however, they did not get past sixth place.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Chang So-yun	15th	1.84 m	Nov 11, 1974	MB	Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers
Choi Kwang-hee	6th	1.74 m	May 25, 1974	AA	Korea Tobacco & Ginseng
Chung Sun-hye	9	1.74 m	Dec 17, 1975	MB	LG Caltex Oil
Han Yoo-mi	17th	1.79 m	0Feb. 5, 1982	AA	Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers
Jung Dae-young	16	1.83 m	Aug 12, 1981	MB	Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers
Kang Hye-mi	3	1.72 m	Apr. 27, 1974	Z	Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers
Kim Mi-jin	13	1.82 m	July 22, 1979	MB	Korea Highway Corp.
Kim Sa-nee	5	1.80 m	June 21, 1981	Z	Korea Highway Corp.
Koo Ki-lan	8th	1.70 m	10 Mar 1977	L.	Heungkuk Life Insurance
Ku Min-jung	4th	1.82 m	25 Aug 1973	AA	Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers
Lee Meong-hee	11	1.75 m	0Apr 7, 1978	AA	Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers
Park Mee-kyung	7th	1.81 m	May 13, 1975	AA	Korea Highway Corp.
Trainer: Ryu Hoa-suk , South Korea ; Assistant coach: Eo Chang-sun , South Korea

Group C

Argentina

The Argentine women came to Germany as the current runner-up in South America . Their last two appearances at world championships ended with double-digit placements and in 2002 the team of the Italian coach Cuello were given little chance in a group with Russia and the USA.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Mirna Eugenia Ansaldi	14th	1.85 m	July 10, 1977	AA	Gimnasia y Esgrima de Rosario
Julietta Borghi	10	1.90 m	0May 6, 1982	MB	Banco Nación
Natalia Brussa	8th	1.85 m	Feb 13, 1985	MB	Central San Carlos
Mariana Conde	3	1.83 m	23rd July 1973	AA	Volley 2000 Spezzano
Carolina Costagrande	2	1.87 m	Oct 15, 1980	AA	Monte Schiavo Jesi
Celina Crusoe	1	1.74 m	22 Sep 1974	Z	Pallavolo Reggio Emilia
Romina lamas	4th	1.85 m	Aug 29, 1978	Z	CV Tenerife
Ivana Eloisa Müller	6th	1.85 m	07th Mar 1974	MB	Banco Nación
Georgina Pinedo	16	1.76 m	May 30, 1981	AA	Boca Juniors
Marianela Robinet	12	1.70 m	Nov. 24, 1983	AA	Central San Carlos
Maria Laura Vicente	7th	1.72 m	Nov 25, 1977	AA	DAM La Rochette
Micaela Vogel	5	1.85 m	Jan. 12, 1984	MB	GEBA
Coach: Claudio Cuello , Italy ; Assistant coach: Alejandro Grossi , Argentina

Dominican Republic

The Dominican team took part in a world championship for the fourth time. Four years earlier, the players from the Caribbean achieved their best result with eleventh place, and in Germany a Cuban coach was supposed to lead the women around the outstanding middle blocker Nurys Arias Doñe to success. 15-year-old Karla Echenique Quiñones was the youngest participant in this world championship.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Nurys Arias Doñe	9	1.92 m	May 20, 1978	AA	CDC Mirador
Yudelky's Bautista	3	1.93 m	0Dec 5, 1977	MB	CDC Mirador
Milagros Cabral	10	1.85 m	Oct 17, 1978	AA	Los Cachorros
Evelyn Carrera Pichardo	5	1.82 m	0Oct 5, 1971	L.	Los Prados
Francisca Duarte	13	1.88 m	0Nov 4, 1979	U	CDC Mirador
Karla Echenique Quiñones	18th	1.79 m	May 16, 1987	Z	Deportivo Nacional
Francia Jackson Cabrera	12	1.68 m	0Nov 8, 1975	Z	CDC Mirador
Kenya Moreta Perez	16	1.93 m	04th July 1984	U	CDC Mirador
Yndys Novas	8th	1.86 m	0Nov 7, 1977	AA	CDC Mirador
Cosiri Rodriguez Andino	15th	1.90 m	Aug 30, 1977	U	San Cristobal
Lucy Suazo Perez	6th	1.73 m	Aug 16, 1981	U	Los Cachorros
Annerys Vargas	7th	1.94 m	0Aug 7, 1982	MB	Modeca
Coach: Jorge Pérez Vento , born September 28, 1947, Cuba ; Assistant coach: Wilson Sanchez , born July 1, 1977, Dominican Republic

Kenya

The selection of Kenya was able to qualify for a world championship for the third time in a row. In the previous tournaments, the most successful African team of the 1990s finished in 13th place and at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney it was eleven. Outstanding player in Kenya was attacker Violet Barasa.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Violet Barasa	14th	1.75 m	June 21, 1975	AA	Vileo
Lucy Chege	7th	1.69 m	Nov 15, 1976	MB	Kenya pipeline
Leonidas Kamende	13	1.82 m	Aug 28, 1979	AA	Kenya pipeline
Abigael Kipkemboi	5	1.76 m	Aug 26, 1981	MB	Kenya pipeline
Rodah Lyali	3	1.66 m	Sep 12 1984	Z	Kenya pipeline
Margaret Mukoya	2	1.53 m	Aug 28, 1973	MB	Telkom Kenya
Dorcas Nakhomicha	9	1.73 m	31 Mar 1971	AA	Telkom Kenya
Philistine Sang	1	1.85 m	Sep 12 1984	AA	Kenya pipeline
Salome Wanjala	10	1.69 m	Apr 20, 1985	AA	Kenya Commercial Bank
Catherine Wanjiru	6th	1.78 m	0Aug 7, 1978	AA	Kenya pipeline
Nancy Waswa	16	1.73 m	Dec 28, 1971	AA	Telkom Kenya
Mercy Wesutila	17th	1.53 m	0March 8 1976	L.	Kenya pipeline
Trainer: Gilbert Ohanya , Kenya ; Assistant trainer: Paul Gitau , Kenya

Puerto Rico

The Puerto Rican team could not have any top placements in major international competitions until the 2002 World Cup. Her two previous World Cup participations ended in 1974 in 22nd place and eight years later in 17th place. At the NORCECA championship , Puerto Rico came fourth twice. The most prominent player is the attacker Yarleen Santiago.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Dariam Acevedo	13	1.68 m	Dec 15, 1984	AA	Chicas de San Juan
Aurea Cruz	9	1.83 m	Jan 10, 1982	AA	Llaneras de Toa Baja
Eva Cruz	8th	1.83 m	Jan. 22, 1974	AA	Mets de Guaynabo
Now label del Valle	18th	1.85 m	Dec. 19, 1979	MB	Criollas de Caguas
Tatiana Encarnación	2	1.83 m	July 28, 1985	AA	Criollas de Caguas
Lourdes Isern	1	1.68 m	Sep 15 1978	L.	Vaqueras de Bayamón
Dolly Melendez	7th	1.78 m	Apr 16, 1984	U	Criollas de Caguas
Vilmarie Mojica	3	1.78 m	Aug 13, 1985	Z	Pinkin de Corozal
Xiomara Molero	12	1.73 m	Apr 23, 1971	Z	Criollas de Caguas
Karina Ocasio	11	1.88 m	0Aug 1, 1985	MB	Mets de Guaynabo
Sheila Ocasio	17th	1.91 m	Nov. 17, 1982	MB	Mets de Guaynabo
Yarleen Santiago	6th	1.83 m	Jan. 18, 1978	AA	Gigantes de Carolina
Coach: David Alemán , Puerto Rico ; Assistant coach: Saturnino Angulo , Puerto Rico

Russia

With five world championship titles, four Olympic gold medals and 17 triumphs at European championships, the Soviet and Russian women achieved a leading position in volleyball. In 2002 the current team showed by winning tournaments at the Masters in Montreux and at the Grand Prix that they wanted to build on their past successes at the World Cup in Germany. Ekaterina Gamowa, who is over two meters tall, played a central role in the team of the renowned coach Nikolai Karpol.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Yevgenia Viktorovna Artamonova	8th	1.90 m	17th July 1975	AA	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Anastassija Alexandrovna Belikova	3	1.90 m	July 22, 1979	U	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Ekaterina Alexandrovna Gamova	11	2.05 m	Oct 17, 1980	U	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Jelena Mikhailovna Godina	6th	1.92 m	17 Sep 1977	AA	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Tatiana Gorshkova	1	1.98 m	0March 8 1981	AA	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Anshela Guriyeva	15th	1.95 m	0Sep 2 1980	U	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Tatiana Alexandrovna Gracheva	12	1.80 m	23 Feb 1973	Z	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Jelena Mikhailovna Plotnikova	14th	1.85 m	July 26, 1978	U	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Natalia Andreevna Safronova	7th	1.88 m	0Feb 6, 1979	U	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Olga Viktorovna Chukanova	17th	1.81 m	0June 9, 1980	U	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Yelisaveta Ivanovna Tishchenko	9	1.90 m	0Feb. 7, 1975	MB	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Elena Nikolaevna Tyurina	4th	1.84 m	Apr 12, 1971	L.	VK Uralochka-NTMK
Trainer: Nikolai Wassiljewitsch Karpol , born May 1, 1938, Russia ; Co-trainer: Valentina Witaljewna Ogijenko , Russia

United States

The USA team traveled to Germany as the reigning NORCECA champions . Shortly before, the plan to defend the 2001 title at the 2002 Grand Prix had failed with sixth place. Nevertheless, the Americans, who had narrowly missed victory several times at previous World Championships and Olympic Games with silver and bronze, were among the favorites with middle blocker Danielle Scott. Tara Cross-Battle and Prikeba Phipps were the oldest players at this world championship.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Elisabeth Bachman	6th	1.93 m	0Nov 7, 1978	MB	Minnesota Chill
Heather Bown	7th	1.88 m	Nov 29, 1978	MB	Olympia Teodora
Tara Cross-Battle	13	1.80 m	16 Sep 1968	AA	Foppapedretti Bergamo
Elizabeth Fitzgerald	8th	1.83 m	July 15, 1980	Z	National team
Jennifer Flynn	12	1.75 m	July 26, 1978	Z	National team
Tayyiba Haneef	3	2.01 m	23 Mar 1979	MB	National team
Nancy Metcalf	18th	1.86 m	Nov 12, 1978	AA	Indias de Mayaguez
Sarah Noriega	16	1.87 m	Apr 24, 1976	AA	Romanelli Florence
Prikeba Phipps	1	1.90 m	June 30, 1969	AA	Foppapedretti Bergamo
Danielle Scott	2	1.88 m	0Oct. 1, 1972	MB	Pioneer Red Wings
Stacy Sykora	5	1.76 m	June 24, 1977	L.	Olympia Teodora
Logan Tom	15th	1.86 m	May 25, 1981	AA	Stanford University
Trainer: Toshiaki Yoshida , Japan ; Assistant coach: Kevin Hambly , born March 12, 1973, United States

Group D

Australia

The Australian team was one of the most inexperienced participants in the 2002 World Cup. Twenty years earlier, Australia had participated in the global tournament for the only time so far, and other experience in international competition was limited to the 2000 Olympic tournament in their own country.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Tamsin Barnett	11	1.93 m	10 Mar 1980	AA	Schweriner SC
Louise Bawden	14th	1.83 m	0Aug 7, 1981	Z	AMVJ Amstelveen
Sandra Bowen	8th	1.80 m	Feb 12, 1976	AA	Monbulk VC
Majella Brown	3	1.87 m	0Feb. 2, 1980	U	CAV Murcia
Jennifer Hiller	6th	1.69 m	Feb 12, 1979	L.	Monash University
Tolotear Lealamanua	9	1.86 m	21 Mar 1983	MB	University of Technology, Sydney
Adrienne Marie	1	1.82 m	Nov 20, 1972	AA	University of Technology, Sydney
Anna Maycock	4th	1.82 m	Aug 24, 1982	Z	Mount Lofty
Christie Mokotupu	7th	1.83 m	May 10, 1983	AA	Petrarch Padua
Rowena Morgan	13	1.74 m	0June 2nd 1981	L.	University of Technology, Sydney
Eileen Romanowski	16	1.83 m	0Jan. 3, 1984	AA	Mount Lofty
Priscilla Ruddle	12	1.83 m	July 12, 1976	MB	Monash University
Trainer: Mark Barnard , Australia ; Assistant trainer : Sue Jenkins , Australia

Brazil

The Brazilian team competed with many young players. The South American champions have dominated the continent since 1995 , but failed several times in the decisive phase at global tournaments to Cuba. At the 1994 World Cup in their own country, they were defeated by their competitors as well as in the semifinals of the Olympic Games in 1986 and 2000. The dress rehearsal at the 2002 Grand Prix came fourth behind the German team.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Sonia Benedito	9	1.84 m	Jan. 19, 1978	AA	Fluminense Rio de Janeiro
Fabiana Berto	14th	1.78 m	Jan. 23, 1976	Z	Club Atlético Estudiantes de Paraná
Sheilla Castro	3	1.85 m	0July 1, 1983	AA	Minas Tênis Club
Marina Daloca	15th	1.85 m	08 Sep 1979	MB	Minas Tênis Club
Wélissa Gonzaga	10	1.80 m	0Sep 9 1982	AA	Club Atlético Estudiantes de Paraná
Valeska Menezes	8th	1.80 m	Apr 23, 1976	MB	BCN Osasco
Luciana Nascimento	2	1.89 m	0June 7, 1980	AA	EC Pinheiros
Fabiana Oliveira	5	1.66 m	07th Mar 1980	L.	Fluminense Rio de Janeiro
Paula Pequeno	4th	1.84 m	Jan. 22, 1982	AA	BCN Osasco
Karin Rodrigues	11	1.87 m	0Nov 8, 1971	MB	Fluminense Rio de Janeiro
Marcelle Rodrigues	16	1.81 m	Oct 17, 1976	Z	BCN Osasco
Arlene Xavier	18th	1.77 m	Dec 20, 1969	L.	BCN Osasco
Coach: Marco Motta , Brazil ; Assistant coach : Luiz Moura , Brazil

China

The young Chinese team , which was significantly changed by the new coach a year before the World Cup, was in good shape , especially at the World Grand Prix . As in the summer of 2001 against the USA, Hao Yang's selection was only defeated shortly before the trip to Germany in the final against Russia. Therefore, the Asian champions aimed for the third World Cup victory after 1982 and 1986.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Chen Jing	10	1.82 m	03rd Sep 1975	MB	Sichuan Jiuzhaigou Valley
Feng Kun	2	1.83 m	Dec 28, 1978	Z	Beijing Yanjing Brewery
Li Shan	6th	1.85 m	May 21, 1980	MB	Tianjin Bridgestone
Li Ying	13	1.77 m	22 Aug 1979	L.	Liaoning Huanyu
Liu Yanan	4th	1.86 m	29 Sep 1980	MB	Liaoning Huanyu
Song Nina	12	1.79 m	0Apr 7, 1980	Z	Army Keming Surface
Xiong Zi	15th	1.81 m	0Nov 8, 1976	L.	Sichuan Jiuzhaigou Valley
Yang Hao	3	1.83 m	21 Mar 1980	AA	Liaoning Huanyu
Zhang Jing	1	1.90 m	Oct 14, 1979	AA	Shanghai Dunlop
Zhang Yuehong	9	1.82 m	0Nov 9, 1975	AA	Liaoning Huanyu
Zhao Ruirui	8th	1.96 m	0Oct 8, 1981	MB	Army Keming Surface
Zhou Suhong	7th	1.82 m	Apr 23, 1979	AA	Zhejiang New Century Tourism
Trainer: Chen Zhonghe , People's Republic of China ; Assistant coach: Zheng Zongyuan , People's Republic of China

Greece

The Greek team was the only debutant at the World Cup in Germany. Since 1985 the Greek women have qualified for the European championships four times and achieved eighth place as the best result. Greece had not yet appeared in the other international competitions.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Eleftheria Chatzinikou	9	1.82 m	Apr 20, 1978	Z	EA Larisa
Vaia Dirva	13	1.90 m	Apr 22, 1977	MB	EA Larisa
Maria Gkaragkouni	2	1.80 m	Dec 21, 1975	AA	ZAON Athens
Niki Gkaragkouni	4th	1.84 m	March 12 1977	MB	Panathinaikos Athens
Eleni Kiosi	16	1.82 m	29 Sep 1980	AA	Aias Evosmou
Eleni Memetzi	10	1.82 m	Jan. 12, 1975	Z	Filathlitikos Thessaloniki
Vasiliki Papazoglou	11	1.90 m	Aug 24, 1979	AA	Panellinios Athens
Zanna Proniadou	1	1.90 m	Dec 13, 1978	MB	Filathlitikos Thessaloniki
Charikleia Sakkoula	14th	1.80 m	Dec 18, 1973	AA	Filathlitikos Thessaloniki
Fidanka Saparefska	5	1.81 m	0Nov 9, 1975	MB	Panathinaikos Athens
Tatiana Smyrnidou	18th	2.00 m	Aug 20, 1975	U	Filathlitikos Thessaloniki
Ioanna Vlachou	17th	1.70 m	May 14, 1981	L.	Aias Evosmou
Coach: Dimitrios Floros , Greece ; Assistant coach: Athanasios Strantzalis , Greece

Poland

With the qualification for the tournament in Germany, a long time ended for the Polish team without participation in world championships and Olympic tournaments. The 1952 runner-up was back for the first time since 1978. The universal player Małgorzata Glinka should lead the volleyball-loving nation to new successes.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Natalia Bamber	8th	1.87 m	Feb. 24, 1982	U	Gwardia Wroclaw
Izabela Belcik	4th	1.85 m	Nov 29, 1980	Z	Gedania Danzig
Małgorzata Glinka	6th	1.90 m	Sep 30 1978	U	Minetti Vicenza
Ewa Kowalkowska	2	1.82 m	Feb. 23, 1975	AA	Palac Bydgoszcz
Katarzyna Mroczkowska	1	1.81 m	Dec. 30, 1980	MB	Palac Bydgoszcz
Anna Podolec	11	1.93 m	Oct. 30, 1985	U	MKS Lancut
Aleksandra Przybysz	16	1.80 m	0June 2, 1980	AA	Stal Bielsko-Biała
Milena Rosner	9	1.79 m	0Jan. 4, 1980	U	Gedania Danzig
Magdalena Sliwa	5	1.73 m	Nov. 17, 1969	Z	Foppapedretti Bergamo
Dominika Smereka	13	1.74 m	Jan. 13, 1974	L.	Palac Bydgoszcz
Joanna Staniucha	17th	1.84 m	0Dec 5, 1981	AA	Stal Bielsko-Biała
Joanna Szeszko	3	1.80 m	June 14, 1974	U	SKRA Warsaw
Trainer: Zbigniew Kryzanowski , Poland ; Assistant coach: Stanisław Majkowski , Poland

Thailand

The Thai team took at the World Cup in Germany for the first time participate in a major tournament outside of Asia. Four years earlier, the Asians, who were the third best team on their continent in 2001, qualified for a world championship for the first time and finished 13th in Japan. The most prominent player was Patcharee Sangmuang.

Surname	No.	size	Date of birth	position	society
Wanna burkaew	1	1.70 m	0Jan. 2, 1981	L.	Pepsi Bangkok
Wisuta Heebkaew	16	1.75 m	0Feb. 1, 1980	Z	RBAC Mittraphap
Amporn Hyapha	11	1.79 m	May 19, 1985	AA	PTT Bangkok
Wanlapa Jid-Ong	13	1.70 m	0June 2nd 1977	Z	Pepsi Bangkok
Piyama's Koijapo	9	1.78 m	Oct 23, 1980	AA	Pepsi Bangkok
Sommai Niyompon	2	1.72 m	28 Sep 1984	AA	Pepsi Bangkok
Nurak Nokputta	4th	1.78 m	Jan. 31, 1982	AA	Pepsi Bangkok
Anna Paijinda	3	1.75 m	0Apr 3, 1974	AA	Rerothai
Suphap Phongthong	8th	1.76 m	May 16, 1982	MB	Pepsi Bangkok
Patcharee Sangmuang	14th	1.81 m	20 Mar 1978	AA	PTT Bangkok
Saranya Srisakorn	6th	1.75 m	May 11, 1975	MB	Aerothai Bangkok
Pleumjit Thinkaow	5	1.79 m	0Nov 9, 1983	MB	Pepsi Bangkok
Trainer: Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai , July 17, 1966, Thailand ; Assistant trainer: Danai Sriwacharamaytakul , Thailand

Web links

• Data on the official World Cup homepage ( Memento from March 18, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
• Squad on the FIVB homepage (English)
• News about the World Cup at volleyballer.de

Notes and individual references

1. ^ Grafschafter Nachrichten: Volleyball: National coach Lee Berg still has the bill. volleyballer.de, April 26, 2002, accessed September 30, 2010 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x} Positions: AA = assumption / outside (wing spiker), D = diagonal (opposite), L = libero (libero) , MB = middle blocker, Z = setter, U = universal (
   English-language names in brackets)
3. ↑ DVV: Volleyball: squad complete, today the last official international match before the World Cup in Koblenz! volleyballer.de, August 15, 2002, accessed September 30, 2010 . 
4. ↑ DVV: Volleyball: Christina Schultz is definitely out - fears for Hanka. volleyballer.de, July 30, 2002, accessed September 30, 2010 .