Thai Nootsara named world's best setter
Thailand's Nootsara Tomkom has been named the world's Best Setter in 2012 by the prestigious Volleyball Globe awards (www.volleyball.it), after beating USA's Carli Lloyd by a landslide in online voting that concluded yesterday.
“I’m very glad that a large number of fans follow the website and voted for me. The Volleyball Globe is another award for myself, my family, the Thai Volleyball Association and all Thai [volleyball] fans. The Globe reflects my success in world volleyball,” said Nootsara.
Nootsara is currently at Azerbaijan Super League club Igtisadchi Baku along with six other Thai players, all on season-long deals. Igtisadchi are second in the league.
Nattaphon Srisamutnark, who, as national assistant coach has coached Nootsara since 2003, was full of praise: “She has proved that she is the best setter at every level. We achieved a lot during the time she set for us – so there are lots of good memories. Nootsara is a very determined player but with a good sense of humour. It’s great to have such an accomplished setter in the Thailand team.”
The Volleyball Globe comes on top of Nootsara’s Best Setter award at the 2009 Asian Championship in Hanoi, where she helped Thailand make history by winning their first Asian crown. The 28-year-old from Ratchaburi was also named best setter at last year’s AVC Cup for Women in Kazakhstan, where she helped the Thai squad win the title for the first time, and at the top-flight FIVB World Grand Prix Finals in Ningbo, China, where Thailand finished a stunning fourth.
Nootsara beat off competition from 16 of the world’s top setters, winning the final-round vote against Lloyd by 3,863 to 1,143.
