Quick Facts
AriesBiography
Yanelis Santos Allegne (born 30 March 1986, in Ciego de Ávila) is a volleyball player from Cuba, who represents the women's national team as a setter/opposite in the international team competition since 2002. Santos was named "Best Server" at the 2007 FIVB World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Santos holds the fastest volleyball spike recorded, at 103 km/h (64 mph).
Career
Santos started playing volleyball as a twelve year old in 1998, then joined the Senior national team in 2001.
Santos played with her national team at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Even though they had previously defeatedthe US 3-0, this time they lost 0-3, falling to their nerves and own mistakes. They lost the bronze medal matchto China, 1-3. Santos was named the tournament's "Best Server".
Santos led the Cuban national team to the silver medal during the 2011 Montreux Volley Masters. She won with her national team the silver medal at the 2011 Pan American Games held in Guadalajara, Mexico. She also won the bronze medal and the Best Spiker award at the 2011 NORCECA Championship.
In the 2012 Pan-American Cup held in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, she won the "Best Spiker" and "Best Server" awards, as well as the bronze medal with her national team.
Santos holds the fastest spike record, measured at 103 km/h (64 mph).
Santos was awarded 2012 Female Athlete of the Year in a team sport by the Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) and the Union of Cuban Journalists' Sports Writers Circle.
She signed with Voléro Zürich, moved to Switzerland and later was transferred on loan to the Russian club Leningradka Saint Petersburg for the 2014/15 season. She later signed for the Turkish İlbank Ankara for the 2015–16 season.
Awards
Individual
- 2007 FIVB World Cup "Best Server"
- 2007 Montreux Volley Masters "Best Server"
- 2008 Final Four Cup "Best Server"
- 2008 Summer Olympics "Best Server"
- 2009 NORCECA Championship "Best Server"
- 2011 NORCECA Championship "Best Spiker"
- 2012 Summer Olympics NORCECA qualification tournament's "Best Server"
- 2012 Pan-American Cup "Best Spiker"
- 2012 Pan-American Cup "Best Server"