Tomas Kmet is and has always been considered as stabilizing element in his team, someone who does not stick out through show but through performance. The big assets of the 2.02m-giant who is able to give a game the decisive spin, are his powerful attack, hard work, ambition and an uncompromising will to win.

When Tomas Kmet was 12 years old he started to play volleyball for a very simple reason: Like so many Slovakian children at his age he loved ice hockey, but his parents did not have enough money to buy all the equipment necessary for playing ice hockey. Thus Tomas had to choose a different sport – and eventually seized the opportunity that lay before him.

After intensive education and training at a volleyball boarding school, he gained his first experience as player for Petrochema Dubova. In 2001 he won the Slovakian championship for the first time. In 2003 he went to play in the Polish top league to play for Gwardia Wroclaw. He also wore the team jersey of Kedzierzyn until 2
Read more...

With Jochen Schöps Germany’s national team has a world-class diagonal spiker. The 27-year-old Swabian, who for years has been delivering excellent performances in the Russian league, will probably be one of the key figures also in the EuroVolley 2011.

He was once called “soft killer” – a player who can do without big gestures and loud shouting on the court. Schöps puts all his energy into his attacks and his spikes are not limited to shots with brute force, he also has the technical skills to surprise his opponents with cunning variations.

Originally Schöps was about to become a professional swimmer. He had the best assets with his long arms and legs. However, a wise coach fished the then 12-year-old out of the water and thus started the career of the best-paid German volleyball player.

In the beginning he was overlooked by some coaches due to his slow physical development, but from his 16^th birthday onwards his steep career could not be stopped anymore. After studying at the volleyball
Read more...