Captain - Ekaterina Kosianenko
Ekaterina Kosianenko took up volleyball at age six, following in her parents' footsteps, and the sport has remained a family affair throughout her career. Her mother won an Olympic gold in 1988 and a silver in 1992. Additionally, her father coached the sport nationally, her younger brother was voted Most Valuable Player at the 2013 World Youth Championships, and her husband Alexander has also played volleyball at club level in Russia.
She made her debut for Russia in 2011 at the Yeltsin Cup, and was a key member of the team that won gold at the 2013 European Championship in which she was named Best Setter of the tournament. She went on to impress in 2014, being named Best Setter at the Montreux Volley Masters before captaining her side to a bronze medal at the World Grand Prix. During her career she received the Diploma of the President of the Russian Federation for her achievements in the sport.
Star Player - Natalya Obmochaeva
Natalya Obmochaeva was born in Ukraine and began playing volleyball in the town of Ivano-Frankivsk. Initially, she competed for Ukraine but switched to play for Russia in 2010. The opposite hitter played for Russia when they won the 2010 World Championship and she has been a permanent fixture in the side since then. She has played in four World Grand Prix campaigns, including winning a bronze in 2014 and silver in 2015. She won the gold medal in her second European Championship appearance in 2013. Individual awards include being named Best Opposite Hitter at the 2015 World Grand Prix and being given the title of Honoured Master of Sport in Russia.
Obmochaeva's ambition is to play at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which would be her second appearance at the Games as she was part of the Russia team that finished fifth at London 2012.
Formerly known as Natalya Goncharova, she changed her name when she married Alexey Obmochaev, who won an Olympic gold medal for Russia in volleyball at London 2012. Her older sister Valeriya has also represented Russia in volleyball.
