It has been an eventful year for SESI’s newest first-choice outside attacker Douglas Souza. Young talent has never been an issue for Brazilian volleyball and the 20-year-old is adeptly marching en route to the senior national team.
2015 has seen the youngster turn into a solid member of several Brazilian selections. He was one of the key elements in a rejuvenated Brazilian team that lost the final (2-3) to the arch rivals Argentina at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. Douglas, albeit missing the gold medal, returned home with the MVP award. The outside attacker had a major contribution at the U23 and the U21 World Championships where the “cariocas” finished at positions 5 and 4 respectively. The U21 World Championship two years ago, in 2013, in Turkey was far more successful for Douglas, although Brazil grabbed the silver medals as a consolation against a powerful Russian squad.
The youngster could also boast with MVP awards at the South American U22 and U21 championships in 2014.
You know your development goes on the right track when you play regularly for your club even alongside current and former national team members like Murilo Endres and Thiago Alves. This is the case for SESI during the ongoing campaign. The Sao Paulo-based club is still trying to find its best volleyball after three rounds, but this is not valid for Douglas Souza. Head coach Marcos Pacheco has started with Douglas in all three games so far, a great alternative next to the recovering Murilo, and the youngster was SESI’s best player and highest scorer in their only win so far away at Lebes Gedore Canoas (3-0, 15 points with 68% attack efficiency).
Douglas has a splendid technique and ball control. With some more practice in the gym and better service efficiency, the 20-year-old should soon appear for Bernardo Rezende’s selection.
Douglas Correia de Souza
Born: August 20, 1995
Nationality: Brazilian
Position: Outside attacker
Height: 199 cm
Current club: SESI Sao Paulo
