Prestigious Italian magazine World of Volley has chosen Dominican volleyball player Brenda Castillo as 2016’s Best Libero in the World. This recognition helps to cement her status as a premier international volleyball player. Fans voted to recognize the best athletes in every position on the court, and Castillo grabbed the top spot with 9,654 votes.
A member of the Women’s National Volleyball Team for the Dominican Republic, 24-year-old Castillo has been a valuable member who has contributed to some of their biggest achievements.
She was previously selected Best Libero, Best Receiver, and Best Digger at the 2015 Pan-American Cup, and Most Valuable Player, Best Libero, Best Digger, and Best Receiver at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games. She was also named the Most Valuable Player, Best Libero, Best Digger, and Best Receiver at the 2009 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Youth Championship.
If you’re not a diehard volleyball fan, a libero plays a defensive position and substitutes other players in defensive positions. As part of the libero’s role on the court, the player in this position wears a different color jersey than the rest of the team, making them easily identifiable.