A week after celebrating his 29th birthday, Bruno Oscar Schmidt capped off a “record-setting” season with Brazilian partner Alison Cerutti by being recognized as the 2015 FIVB World Tour’s most outstanding men’s player while gathering three other post-season awards.

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Alison Cerutti, organizer of the Swatch Major Series Hannes Jagerhofer and Bruno Oscar Schmidt Photo credit: Martin Steinthaler

In addition to winning the top player award, Bruno was honored as the FIVB World Tour’s best defensive player for the third-straight season along with being recognized as the best offensive player and sportsman-of-the-year in voting by players, coaches, referees and officials.

Playing behind the world’s top blocker in Alison, Bruno was named the most valuable player at four-straight Grand Slam events on the 2015 FIVB World Tour calendar in Switzerland (Gstaad), Japan (Yokohama), the United States (Long Beach) and Poland (Olsztyn).  A regular on the FIVB World Tour in 2008, Bruno’s ability to side out played an important role in his team’s streak of five-straight gold medal finishes in 2015.

Alison, who finished second to Bruno in the most outstanding player voting, was named the international’s circuit’s best blocker.  He had previously been named the FIVB World Tour’s best blocker in 2011 when Alison teamed with Emanuel Rego to win the world championships in Rome.

Along with the individual awards for Bruno and Alison, the pair was also named the “team-of-the-year” after topping the 2015 FIVB World Tour’s points list along with winning the world championship trophy July 5 in The Hague and the gold medal at the SWATCH FIVB World Tour Finals in the United States (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) October 4.

After being defeated soundly in the Swatch Beach Volleyball FIVB World Tour Finals, American standout Phil Dalhausser said Alison and Bruno “defended my serve real well.  They passed real well, and we could not get much going.  I saw a really good team out there that really deserved to win and they deserve their ranking of number one in the world.”

By collecting the richest gold medal prize ($100,000) in international Beach Volleyball history at the Swatch Beach Volleyball FIVB World Tour Finals, Alison and Bruno set the single-season men’s FIVB World Tour winnings record for earnings in a season with $445,500.  For 11 events in 2015, Alison and Bruno placed on the podium six times, netted eight “final four” finishes and compiled a 60-12 match mark in their second season together.

Other players recognized as 2015 award winners where Adrian Carambula of Italy, Dalhausser, Evandro Goncalves of Brazil, Lombardo Ontiveros of Mexico, Emanuel Rego of Brazil and Christiaan Varenhorst of The Netherlands.  The 42-year old Emanuel beat out 43-year old John Hyden as the FIVB’s World Tour’s most inspirational player.

Adrian Carambula, here at Poreč Major awarded as Rookie of the year Photo credit: Foto Horst

Carambula was named the 2015 FIVB World Tour rookie-of-the-year as he teamed with Alex Ranghieri to net on podium placement at June’s Poreč Major in Croatia and a “final four” finish at July’s Gstaad Major in Switzerland.  In addition to his defence, Carambula’s “sky ball” serves caused havoc for opponents throughout the season.

Dalhausser, who missed five events in 2015 due to injuries, was honored as the tour’s best setter for the second-straight season and sixth-time overall (2009-2012, 2014-2015).  A FIVB regular since 2006, Dalhausser has now won 27 world tour awards highlighted in 2010, 2013 and 2014 at the most outstanding player on the international circuit.

Evandro Goncalves at the Swatch beach Volleyball FIVB World Tour Finals in Fort Lauderdale Photo credit: Martin Steinthaler

2015 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Player Awards - Men
Most Outstanding - Bruno (Brazil)
Best Spiker - Christiaan Varenhorst (The Netherlands)
Best Blocker - Alison (Brazil)
Best Defensive - Bruno (Brazil)
Best Offensive - Bruno (Brazil)
Best Setter - Phil Dalhausser (USA)
Best Server - Evandro (Brazil)
Rookie of the Year - Adrian Carambula (Italy)
Most Inspirational - Emanuel (Brazil)
Most Improved - Lombardo Ontiveros (Mexico)
Sportsman of the Year - Bruno (Brazil)
Team of the Year- Alison & Bruno (Brazil)

Voting made by players, coaches, referees and officials