Brenda Castillo
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Brenda Castillo (born June 5, 1992, in San Cristóbal) is a
volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Sum ...
player Player may refer to: Role or adjective * Player (game), a participant in a game or sport ** Gamer, a player in video and tabletop games ** Athlete, a player in sports ** Player character, a character in a video game or role playing game who ...
from the
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with ...
and plays as a libero. She was a member of the Dominican Republic national team that won fifth place in the 2012 Summer Olympics, while she was named the tournament's Best Libero. She played in the 2014 World Championship reaching also the fifth place and ranking 17th in the 2010 World Championship and the 2011 FIVB World Cup where her national team ranked eight and the 2015 FIVB World Cup, winning the Best Libero individual award and ranking in seventh place. She won the silver medal at the 2009 U20 World Championship, 2013 U23 World Championship and Bronze in the
2009 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup The 2009 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup was held in Tokyo and Fukuoka, Japan from November 10 to November 15, 2009. Italy won the tournament with perfect record and Simona Gioli was selected Most Valuable Player. Teams Squads Compet ...
and the
2015 Pan American Games Fifteen or 15 may refer to: *15 (number), the natural number following 14 and preceding 16 *one of the years 15 BC, AD 15, 1915, 2015 Music * Fifteen (band), a punk rock band Albums * ''15'' (Buckcherry album), 2005 * ''15'' (Ani Lorak al ...
. She won the gold medal of the 2009 NORCECA Championship, 2010 Final Four and the 2010 and
2014 Central American and Caribbean Games The 22nd Central American and Caribbean Games were held November 14–30, 2014 in Veracruz, Mexico.Sport page
. Castillo also won the
2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
, 2010,
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and 2016 Pan American Cup championship. In club competition, Castillo won the 2011 Puerto Rican League with
Criollas de Caguas Criollas de Caguas is a Puerto Rican women's professional volleyball team founded in 1981. The team is based in Caguas, Puerto Rico. History The team was founded in 1980. Team 2022 Previous * Honours Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino ...
and the
2012-13 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
, 2013-14 Azerbaijan Super League and 2014–15 with Rabita Baku. She became runner-up with San Cristóbal at the
2008 Dominican Republic Volleyball League The 2008 Dominican Republic Volleyball League was the 2nd official season of the event. The SEDEFIR Cup was dedicated to Daniel Toribio. Distrito Nacional's team won their second title in both genders. Teams Women's * Distrito Nacional Women (Voll ...
and won the silver medal in the
2012–13 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
and the bronze in the 2013–14 CEV Champions League with Rabita Baku.


Personal and early life

Castillo is tall and weighs . She was born on June 5, 1992, in
Haina Haina (Kloster) is a municipality in Waldeck-Frankenberg in northwest Hesse, Germany. Geography Location Haina lies in Waldeck-Frankenberg south of Frankenberg and east of Burgwald at the southwest slope of the Kellerwald range. It lies on the ...
, San Cristóbal. Her parents are Argentina and Alfonso. She is married to Julio Enrique de los Santos. She started practicing volleyball when she was ten under the guidance of coach Valentín Arias Pérez in the club ''Siglo XXI''. Her nickname is "Chin Chin", which translates from colloquial Dominican speech as "small portion". She is also recognized for having a pretty face and model looks. At the San Cristóbal Carnival 2010, Castillo was named Queen of the Carnival, "Reina Califé". After living a hard life, she decided to become a Christian in 2010. Castillo used to arrive late to national team practices because of a problem with alcohol, but decided to change her life in order to help herself and her family. In January 2015, she revealed via Instagram the pictures of her wedding with Julio Enrique de los Santos. She often shares Bible verses on her
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account.


Career


2007

Castillo played with the Senior National Team that traveled to Guadalajara, Spain for a friendly series. She then played the 2007 Women's Pan-American Volleyball Cup in
Colima Colima (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Colima ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Colima), is one of the 31 states that make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It shares its name with its capital and main city, Colima. Colima i ...
, Mexico. Her team qualified for the 2008 FIVB World Grand Prix with a 3–2 victory in quarterfinals over Puerto Rico, and finally winning the competition's bronze medal with a 3–1 victory over the United States. Castillo then played in the
2007 Pan American Games The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic C ...
held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her national team lost in the quarterfinals after falling to Peru and ending up in fifth place. Castillo played in August her first Worldwide competition by playing the annual
FIVB World Grand Prix The FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix was an annual women's volleyball competition created in 1993. The men's version of the competition was called World League. This event should not be confused with the other international volleyball competitio ...
in Tokyo, Japan then Hong Kong, China and finally Taipei, where her team won their first competition's match ranking in eleventh place overall. After that competition, she moved in September with her national Senior Team to
Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749, ...
, Canada, playing the NORCECA Championship. There she won the bronze medal. She then took part in the world cup in the FIVB World Cup when the Dominican Republic was assigned with a wild card. Her country ranked ninth after winning only three matches during the competition. In the second half of December, Castillo played in Monterrey, Mexico the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament; but her team fell 0–3 to Canada in the semifinals getting out of contention for the Olympic berth and later 2–3 to Puerto Rico in the Bronze medal match.


2008

She played for the Senior National Team at the 2008 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan. There her team ended up in fourth place, and did not qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics. She then played in July with her National Junior Team, winning the silver medal at the 2008 NORCECA Junior Continental Championship U-20, and was elected Most Valuable Player, Best Libero, Best Digger and Best Receiver. Shortly afterwards Castillo claimed with her Senior Team the gold medal at the 2008 Women's Pan-American Volleyball Cup in
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
as a sixteen-year-old. Later that year her team won the silver medal at the Final Four Cup, as she won the ''Rising Star'' award.


2009

During the
Holy Week Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
Sport Festival held in Hato Mayor, Castillo played Beach Volleyball (three) with Yenifer Calcaño and Evelyn Carrera winning the Gold Medal of the event. She won with her Senior team the silver medal and the "Rising Star" award at the 2009 Pan-American Cup. In June 2009, at the 2010 World Championship NORCECA Qualification Pool H, at
Santiago de los Caballeros Santiago de los Caballeros (; '' en, Saint James of the Knights''), often shortened to Santiago, is the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic and the fourth-largest city in the Caribbean by population. It is the capital of Santiago Prov ...
, Dominican Republic, she took the public ovation at the Gran Arena del Cibao winning the ''Best Digger, Best Receiver, Best Libero'' and ''MVP'' awards. She then participated with her Junior National Team she won the silver medal at the 2009 U20 World Championship, being awarded ''Best Digger, Best Receiver, Best Libero'' and ''MVP'' awards. She won the ''Best Digger, Best Receiver, Best Libero'' awards and the bronze medal with her team at the 2009 Final Four Cup held in
Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of ...
,
Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
. She then played with her Senior National Team, winning the Continental Championship at the
2009 Women's NORCECA Volleyball Championship The 2009 Women's NORCECA Volleyball Championship was the 21st edition of the Women's Continental Volleyball Tournament, there eight countries competed from September 22 to September 27, 2009, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The top finisher qualified f ...
, and was awarded again, ''Best Libero, Digger and Receiver''. This win qualified her team to the
2009 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup The 2009 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup was held in Tokyo and Fukuoka, Japan from November 10 to November 15, 2009. Italy won the tournament with perfect record and Simona Gioli was selected Most Valuable Player. Teams Squads Compet ...
, there she was at the age of 17 one of the youngest players. The Dominican Republic and Castillo won the Bronze Medal of the event.


2010

Castillo crowned her 2009 performance winning the ''2010 Dominican Republic "Athlete of the Year"'' and 2010 Dominican Republic "Volleyball Player of the Year". She started the 2010 year winning the ''Best Libero, Digger and Receiver'' awards at the 2010 Pan-American Cup, won by her home team playing in
Rosarito Rosarito is a coastal city in Playas de Rosarito Municipality, Baja California, situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. As of 2010, the city had a population of 65,278. Located south of the US-Mexico border, Rosarito is a part of the greater S ...
and
Tijuana Tijuana ( ,"Tijuana"
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. Two weeks after the Pan-Am cup, she won the silver medal and the "Best Libero, Digger and Receiver awards at the 2010 NORCECA Junior Continental Championship U-20. The Dominican Republic Olympic Committee selected Castillo as the
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with ...
Flag bearer A standard-bearer, also known as a flag-bearer is a person (soldier or civilian) who bears an emblem known as a standard or military colours, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used (and often honoured) as a f ...
for the
2010 Central American and Caribbean Games The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games (Spanish: ''XXI Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, Mayagüez 2010'') took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from 18 July 2010 to 1 August 2010. Bid It was understood that Mayagüez was going to b ...
held at
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Mayagüez (, ) is a city and the eighth-largest municipality in Puerto Rico. It was founded as Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez, and is also known as ''La Sultana del Oeste'' (The Sultaness of the West), ''Ciudad de las Aguas Pura ...
, from July 17, 2010, to August 1, 2010. In the volleyball tournament of the Regional Games, she won with her team the gold medal. She later played in Chiapas,
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
winning the Best Libero and Best Receiver awards, along with the gold medal with her National Senior Team at the 2010 Final Four Cup. Castillo later participated in her first Senior World Championship in Japan, finishing second in digs and Best Libero categories, and being 17th with her national team. At the end of the 2010 year, Brenda joined the Dominican Republic club Mirador that participated in the 2010 FIVB World Club Championship finishing in 4th place with this club and earning the Best Libero award.


2011

The Puerto Rican team
Criollas de Caguas Criollas de Caguas is a Puerto Rican women's professional volleyball team founded in 1981. The team is based in Caguas, Puerto Rico. History The team was founded in 1980. Team 2022 Previous * Honours Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino ...
signed Brenda for the 2011 season, as her first international club experience, joining the Canadian
Stacey Gordon Stacey Gordon is an American puppeteer from Arizona who is best known for portraying Julia, a four-year-old female Muppet with autism, on the children's television series ''Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational ch ...
and Dominicans Bethania de la Cruz and
Annerys Vargas Annerys Victoria Vargas Valdez (born August 7, 1981) is a retired female volleyball player from the Dominican Republic, who won four consecutive gold medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games. Career 2003 She won gold medal with the ...
. She replaced the
injured Major trauma is any injury that has the potential to cause prolonged disability or death. There are many causes of major trauma, blunt and penetrating, including falls, motor vehicle collisions, stabbing wounds, and gunshot wounds. Dependi ...
Yarimar Rosa. During the regular season, Brenda accumulated statistics that make her Best Libero and Best Digger, and crowned the season winning the Puerto Rico League Championship, sweeping the final series against the Mets de Guaynabo. Castillo then played the 2011 Pan-American Cup being awarded with the ''Best Libero'' and ''Best Digger'' awards, also winning the silver medal with her national team. She then took part of the 2011 Junior World Championship held in Lima, Peru. She helped her Junior National team to reach the 5th place in the tournament. Brenda won the silver medal and the Best Libero, Best Digger and Best Receiver awards at the 2011 NORCECA Championship, held in
Caguas, Puerto Rico Caguas (, ) is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, and east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey. Caguas was found ...
. She was also awarded the Best Libero, Best Digger and Best Receiver awards at the
2011 Pan American Games The 2011 Pan American Games, officially the XVI Pan American Games, was an international multi-sport event that was held from October 14–30, 2011, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Some events were held in the nearby cities of Ciudad Guzmán, ...
where her team finished in fourth place. Castillo played the 2011 FIVB World Cup and her national team ranked in eight place and she finished in seventh place among the Liberos.


2012

In the Summer Olympics NORCECA qualification tournament played in May in
Tijuana Tijuana ( ,"Tijuana"
(US) and
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,
Baja California Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mex ...
,
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, Castillo saw her team qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal against the Cuban team. She earned awards for the Best Receiver and Best Libero of the competition. Later, she would confessed, that she played the tournament being pregnant and would not be able to play at the Olympic Games. But about one month later, the National Team doctor gynaecologist Albert Fiorinelli Milciades Camilo, announced that Castillo suffered a spontaneous abortion after 19 weeks of pregnancy. Two days later, she predicted that she would start training in 15 days in order to get physically fit to play in the Summer Olympics. At the Pan-American Cup held in Ciudad Juárez,
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, she returned to play with the National team, finishing with her team in the 4th place and winning the Best Libero, Best Digger and Best Receiver awards. Castillo played at the 2012 Olympic tournament and her national team ranked 5th, after losing the quarterfinal match 3–0 against the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. Nonetheless, she managed to win the individual award of Best Libero of the competition. She would later recall, as of July 2016, that award as the peak moment of her career. In September, Castillo won the gold medal and the Best Digger award at the first 2012 U23 Pan-American Cup, played in Callao,
Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
. In early November 2012, Castillo signed with the
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of t ...
i club Rabita Baku to play the Azerbaijan Super League and the
CEV Champions League The CEV Champions League is the top official competition for men's volleyball clubs from the whole of Europe. The competition is organised every year by the European Volleyball Confederation. Formula (2018–19 to present) Qualification A tot ...
. Her goal was to achieve the league championship, even when she was playing without any knowledge of the Azerbaijani language.


2013

As one of the 15 women awarded by the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee in her sport, Castillo won the 2012 Volleyball Player of the Year. Castillo was one of the candidates for the top prize, the Dominican Republic Athlete of the year, along with Félix Sánchez,
Luguelín Santos Luguelín Miguel Santos Aquino (born 12 November 1992) is a Dominican sprinter, who specialises in the 400 m. He was the silver medallist in the event at the 2012 London Olympics at the age of eighteen. His personal best is 44.11 seconds. Sa ...
,
Yamilet Peña Yamilet Peña Abreu (born 4 December 1992 in Santo Domingo) is an elite artistic gymnast from the Dominican Republic who won a gold medal at the 2014 World Challenge Cup and the 2012 Pan American Championship in vault and a bronze medal at the ...
and
Aumi Guerra Aura Mireya Guerra López (born May 5, 1977) is a Dominican ten-pin bowler who won back to back Qubica AMF Bowling World Cup Titles (2010 & 2011). Career Finished in 5th position of the combined rankings at the 2006 Qubica-AMF World Cup in C ...
. Castillo was also considered by the volleyball portal Volleyball.it among the candidates for the 2012 Globe Awards prize. She managed to survive Brazilian Fabiana de Oliveira in the semifinal round, but she lost the final round to Italian Enrica Merlo 55% to 45%. Castillo played the 2012-13 CEV Champions League Final Four held in
Istanbul ) , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = 34000 to 34990 , area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side) , registration_plate = 34 , blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD , blank_i ...
,
Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...
. Her team defeated the Italian club Unendo Busto Arsizio 3–2 in the semifinals, but lost 3–0 in the championship match to the Turkish
VakıfBank VakıfBank is the second largest bank in Turkey in terms of asset size, established with an initial capital of TL 50 million on January 11, 1954 and later started operating on April 13, 1954. Abdi Serdar Üstünsalih has been selected as the CEO ...
. In April, Castillo's club, Rabita Baku claimed the Azerbaijan Super League Championship ahead of Igtisadchi Baku and Azerrail Baku, three weeks before the end of the season to win their sixth title in a row. She won the league's Best Libero award. She then played the 28th Montreux Volley Masters held in
Montreux Montreux (, , ; frp, Montrolx) is a Swiss municipality and town on the shoreline of Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps. It belongs to the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, and has a population of approxima ...
, Switzerland, after the invitation received by her National Team for the first time since 2003. Castillo's team won the Bronze Medal defeating Italy 3-1 after dropping the semifinals 0-3 from Brazil. Soon after this tournament, the Dominican Republic National Federation announced the Castillo's separation from the National Team due to erratic behavior and indiscipline. She would later apologize for her previous behavior and promised to change her attitude, being then readmitted in the national team just in time to take part in the
2013 FIVB World Grand Prix The 2013 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix was the 21st edition of the annual women's international volleyball tournament played by 20 countries from 2 August to 1 September 2013. Competing nations Qualification process * /sup> The top four N ...
. She helped her team to reach the 10th position in the competition, posting a 3.69 digs per set average, topping all the diggers in the preliminary round. Castillo played in late September the NORCECA Continental Championship, winning the silver medal and the Best Digger award. Castillo played with her national team at the U23 World Championship, helping her team to win its pool with a 4–1 record. They later had a 3–0 win over the USA team in the semifinals before falling 0–3 to China in the final match. She finished the tournament statistics as the best digger and was awarded Best Libero.


2014

In January, Castillo was selected by the volleyball specialized website Volleywood for the ''2013 My Volleywood Idol'' voting, advancing to the second round but, could not make a final four spot. After her Azeri club Rabita Baku won the right to host the 2013–14 CEV Champions League Final Four, Castillo's club won the Bronze medal after falling 0–3 to the Russian Dinamo Kazan in the semifinals, but defeating 3–0 to the Turkish Eczacıbaşı VitrA Istanbul in the third place match. She was awarded tournament's Best Libero. She later commented that she felt lucky for playing another year with Rabita Baku and dedicated the club's recent triumph to their fans. This new accolade helped Castillo's popularity to grow in her home country, the Dominican Republic, there she is known as one of the most popular athletes. Rabita Baku, claimed their sixth title championship by winning the 2013–14 Azerbaijani Super League 3-0 to
Azeryol Baku Azeryol Baku is an Azerbaijani women's volleyball club. History Azeryol Baku is an Azerbaijani women's volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by gr ...
and Castillo won the Best Libero individual award. The Dominican Republic head coach gave Castillo a little participation during the 2014 FIVB World Championship NORCECA qualification tournament held in La Romana, Dominican Republic, even when the audience claimed for her appearance. Nonetheless, she helped her team to reach a berth to the 2014 World Championship in late May. Later in Mexico City, Mexico, Castillo help her national team to clinch the 2014 Pan American Cup championship and the 2015 Grand Prix berth. For her performance during the tournament, Castillo won the Most Valuable Player, Best Libero, Best Digger and Best Receiver. Castillo played the
FIVB World Grand Prix The FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix was an annual women's volleyball competition created in 1993. The men's version of the competition was called World League. This event should not be confused with the other international volleyball competitio ...
, being one of the favorites from the attendants during the first week of the competition in Sassari, Italy, resulting in many people waiting in line for Castillo's
autograph An autograph is a person's own handwriting or signature. The word ''autograph'' comes from Ancient Greek (, ''autós'', "self" and , ''gráphō'', "write"), and can mean more specifically: Gove, Philip B. (ed.), 1981. ''Webster's Third New Inter ...
and pictures. After winning just one match during the Group 1, the Dominican Republic finished in 12th and last place. Nonetheless, With a 3.85 digs per set, Castillo ranked first among her Group. Hoping to reach a late stage in the
World Championship A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...
held in Italy, Castillo helped her national team to start the competition undefeated 5-0 after winning over the home team 3–2. She ranked third in defense after the Pool A round robin competition. After a 7–2 start, her team qualified for the first time to the World Championship third round besides losing 2–3 to China, but being unable to reach a semifinal spot after losing their two third round matches 2–3 to China and 0–3 to Brazil. Ultimately Castillo's national team ended up in fifth place. Castillo returned to Rabita with the ambition of repeating the league championship and later announced a three years deal until 2017 with her Azerbaijani club, before joining again her national team in the volleyball tournament at the
Central American and Caribbean Games The Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC or CACGs) are a multi-sport regional championship event, held quadrennial (once every four years), typically in the middle (even) year between Summer Olympics. The games are for countries in Cent ...
. After her comments that being favorite make them work harder, she helped her national team to win their fourth consecutive gold medal. Winning the best digger, receiver and libero awards make her also win the tournament's Most Valuable Player.


2015

Because of the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee favoured the individual athletes, Castillo was not taken into account for the 2014 Athlete of the Year award besides of her notable 2014 year results. But she was selected by the Dominican Republic Guild of Sport Writers among the 2014 top athletes, along with boxer Juan Carlos Payano,
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
Johnny Cueto Johnny Cueto Ortiz (; born February 15, 1986) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox ...
and the later top awarded, the tennis player
Víctor Estrella Burgos Víctor Estrella Burgos (; born August 2, 1980) is a retired Dominican professional tennis player. In 2014, Estrella became the first Dominican to reach the top 100 in the ATP rankings. He also became the first Dominican player to reach the sem ...
. Nonetheless, Castillo was selected volleyball player of the year. After a four sets win over Agel Prostějov, only the second win in their Pool A of Castillo's professional team, Rabita Baku in the 2014–15 CEV Champions League but the team were in the middle of a financial crisis and they then lost 0–3 to Dinamo Kazan despite of good reception and defense, and lost 2–3 to Chemik Police in the last Champions League season match. After ranking fourth in their pool A, After the pool play, Castillo was chosen among the magnificent 7 weeks all-star team. they missed the qualification to playoffs and were relegated to the
CEV Cup The CEV Cup is the second tier official competition for men's Volleyball clubs of Europe. The competition takes place every year. Until 2000, it was the CEV Cup Winners' Cup. In 2000 it was renamed CEV Top Teams Cup and in 2007 it was renamed CE ...
and paired with Béziers Volley Rabita defeated Béziers Volley 3-1 and 3–0 in the return match, and for the second time, they make it to the Cup semifinals. In the semifinals they faced the Russian club
Dinamo Krasnodar Dinamo Krasnodar (''russian: Динамо Краснодар'') is a Russian women's volleyball club based in Krasnodar. It was founded in 1946 and plays in the super league, the top Russian league. History Soviet years Founded in 1946, the club ...
. But Rabita lost 1–3 in Russia and then lost 0–3 at Baku finishing their CEV Cup season in third place. Rabita Baku ultimately faced Lokomotiv Baku in the Azerbaijani League final series, winning 3-1 the final series first match and again 3–1 in the second reaching Rabita's local league eight title and she won the league's Best Libero and Best Digger awards. Castillo later participated in the
2015 Montreux Volley Masters The 2015 Montreux Volley Masters is a women's volleyball competition set in Montreux, Switzerland between May 26 – 31, 2015. Turkey won the tournament for the first time by winning 3-2 to Japan in the championship match. Japanese Yuki Ishii was ...
, but her national team lost the fifth place match 1–3 to Germany. Soon after that, she took part of the NORCECA Champions Cup, taking home the gold medal and the qualification for the 2015 FIVB World Cup and also winning the Best Digger award. Castillo played the Pan-American Cup in Peru, winning the silver medal when her national team lost to the United States 0–3 in the championship match. In spite of that, they qualified to the 2016 FIVB Grand Prix and she won the Best Libero, Digger and Receiver awards. As part of a historic Dominican Republic delegation to the
2015 Pan American Games Fifteen or 15 may refer to: *15 (number), the natural number following 14 and preceding 16 *one of the years 15 BC, AD 15, 1915, 2015 Music * Fifteen (band), a punk rock band Albums * ''15'' (Buckcherry album), 2005 * ''15'' (Ani Lorak al ...
, she won with her national team the bronze medal after losing to the United States in the semifinals and defeated 3-1 the Puerto Rico national team. In the World Cup, Castillo also won the best libero award, while her team finished in the seventh place from twelve with a 5–6 record. On early October, Castillo was awarded Best Libero and Best Digger after her national team lost 1-3 the NORCECA Championship gold medal match against the United States. Later that month, the Azerbaijani club Lokomotiv Baku announced that Castillo have signed a one-year contract with them.


2016

After a 3-0 matches sweep over
Azeryol Baku Azeryol Baku is an Azerbaijani women's volleyball club. History Azeryol Baku is an Azerbaijani women's volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by gr ...
, Castillo helped Lokomotiv Baku to win the 2015–16 Azerbaijan Super League bronze medal and she was awarded Best Digger. She joined her national team, competing in the World Olympic qualification tournament, were her team finished in sixth place from eighth teams, not qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Even though, her performance made her recipient of the Best Libero individual award. After that, she was selected Best Libero by the social media poll conducted by the specialized portal, World of Volley. She received 9,654 votes to lead the liberos contest. After receive a special salute for that accomplishment from the Women's and Sports commissioner of the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee Dulce Piña, she was sidelined from her national team who won the gold in the World Grand Prix Group II along with Prisilla Rivera to give them a rest. But her coach callEd her for the Pan-American Cup played in home soil. Her team performed with 5–0 in the pool play before defeating Cuba 3-0 and finally to Puerto Rico once again, this time 3–2 to win the gold medal and a berth for the
2017 FIVB World Grand Prix The 2017 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix was the 25th edition of the annual women's international volleyball tournament played by 32 teams between 7 July and 6 August. The Group 1 Final Round was held in Nanjing, China. Defending champions Brazi ...
. Castillo was awarded Best Digger, Receiver and Libero. Nonetheless, she expressed that she does not play for the awards, that they come for the strength invested for playing for her native country, and that playing at home brings an extra motivation. Castillo signed with the Brazilian club Genter Vôlei Bauru for the 2016/2017 season.


2017

Genter Vôlei Bauru reached for the first time a Brazilian Superliga quarterfinals berth, but they were defeated by
Minas Minas or MINAS may refer to: People with the given name Minas * Menas of Ethiopia (died 1563) * Saint Menas (Minas, 285–309) * Minias of Florence (Minas, Miniato, died 250) * Minas Alozidis (born 1984), Greek hurdler * Minas Avetisyan (1928 ...
0–2 in the best-of-three playoff. After losing the first match 0–3, Castillo tattooed the John 3:16 Bible verse in one of her arms saying that these passage guided her life. However, Castillo was chosen among the tournament's best players, winning the Best Digger individual award, after she spent the season leading those statistics. She thanked God and expressed the satisfaction for being among the best of the league and described the accomplishment of playing with teamwork, helping her teammates in every match. She was called up to the
2017 FIVB World Grand Prix The 2017 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix was the 25th edition of the annual women's international volleyball tournament played by 32 teams between 7 July and 6 August. The Group 1 Final Round was held in Nanjing, China. Defending champions Brazi ...
and her national team finished the first round in the Netherlands with a 2–1 mark, But on the way to the second leg in Russia, making a stop in Warsaw, their LOT Polish Airlines flight check found
Marianne Fersola Marianne Fersola (born January 16, 1992 in Santo Domingo) is a Dominican volleyball player, who plays as a Center. She was a member of the Women's National Team, who won the bronze medal with her native country at the 2008 NORCECA Girls' U18 Vo ...
,
Niverka Marte Niverka Dharlenis Marte Frica (born October 19, 1990 in Santo Domingo) is a volleyball Player (game), player from the Dominican Republic who currently plays for Indonesian side Jakarta Popsivo Polwan. She played the Volleyball at the 2012 Summer O ...
and Castillo's passports full and could not be stamped anywhere refusing to board them and the whole team decided to stay together. After finally arriving in Russia, the team was overall ranked eight after losing two matches from three played in the second round and Castillo was among the All-Star team from that Russian leg and was leading the WGP Group 1 digs with 3.64 digs per set. The
Russian police The Police of Russia () is the national law-enforcement agency in Russia, operating under the Ministry of Internal Affairs from . It was established by decree from Peter the Great and in 2011, replacing the Militsiya, the former police service. ...
raided the Dominican team hotel suspecting involvement in white-slave traffic from Latin-American to Russia and Castillo was jailed for two days. But she was detained in the airport along with human trafficking involved people; her Russian
travel visa A visa (from the Latin ''charta visa'', meaning "paper that has been seen") is a conditional authorization granted by a polity to a foreigner that allows them to enter, remain within, or leave its territory. Visas typically include limits on ...
expired on July 15, two days before she tried to leave the country on July 17 and with intervention by the Dominican ambassador in Russia, she could travel to the third round on Thailand and together with Niverka Marte and her head coach joined the rest of the team who had traveled on time. The Dominican team finally ranked eight after losing two matches in the Thai round, not qualifying for the final round. She took part in the NORCECA 2018 FIVB World Championship qualification tournament in Santo Domingo were her national team won the qualification and the World Championship berth, with Castillo winning the tournament's Most Valuable Player, Best Libero, Best Digger and Best Receiver awards.


2018

Castillo played the 2018 Dominican Republic Superior Volleyball League from the National District, playing with Cristo Rey and winning the tournament's silver medal when her team lost 1-3 to Caribeñas VC. She won the Best Libero, Best Digger and Best Receiver awards. At the
2018 Central American and Caribbean Games The 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Barranquilla, Colombia. Asamblea ODECABE, Islas Caimán' (translation: "CASCO Assembly, Cayman Islands"). Published by CACSO on 2012-10-27; retrieved 2012-11-13. Bidding process Quet ...
, Castillo won with her team the gold medal and the Best Libero and Best Digger individual awards. In the inaugural Nations League her national team performed 3-12 ranking in the fourteenth place. Her team lost 2-3 in the final match of the Pan-American Cup, winning the silver medal. She was awarded the Best Libero, Best Digger and Best Receiver. Castillo played the
World Championship A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...
in Japan, her team was 3-2 in the first round and 5-4 after the second round and finishing in ninth place when they could not qualify for the third round.


Clubs

* San Cristóbal (2007–2010) * Pueblo Nuevo (2009) * Mirador (2010) *
Criollas de Caguas Criollas de Caguas is a Puerto Rican women's professional volleyball team founded in 1981. The team is based in Caguas, Puerto Rico. History The team was founded in 1980. Team 2022 Previous * Honours Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino ...
(2011) * Rabita Baku (2012-2015) * Lokomotiv Baku (2015-2016) * Genter Vôlei Bauru (2016–2017) * Cristo Rey (2017-19) * SESI/Vôlei Bauru (2020-21) * Savino del Bene Scandicci (2021-)


Awards


Individuals

* '' 2008 NORCECA Junior Continental Championship U-20 "Most Valuable Player"'' * '' 2008 NORCECA Junior Continental Championship U-20 "Best Libero"'' * '' 2008 NORCECA Junior Continental Championship U-20 "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2008 NORCECA Junior Continental Championship U-20 "Best Digger"'' * '' 2008 Pan-American Cup "Rising Star"'' * '' 2008 Final Four Cup "Rising Star"'' * '' 2008 Dominican Volleyball League "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2008 Dominican Volleyball League "Best Digger"'' * '' 2010 World Championship NORCECA Qualification Pool H "Most Valuable Player" * '' 2010 World Championship NORCECA Qualification Pool H "Best Digger" * '' 2010 World Championship NORCECA Qualification Pool H "Best Receiver" * '' 2010 World Championship NORCECA Qualification Pool H "Best Libero" * '' 2009 Pan-American Cup "Rising Star"'' * '' 2009 U20 World Championship "Most Valuable Player"'' * '' 2009 U20 World Championship "Best Libero"'' * '' 2009 U20 World Championship "Best Digger"'' * '' 2009 U20 World Championship "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2009 Final Four Cup "Best Libero"'' * '' 2009 Final Four Cup "Best Digger"'' * '' 2009 Final Four Cup "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2009 NORCECA Championship "Best Libero"'' * '' 2009 NORCECA Championship "Best Digger"'' * '' 2009 NORCECA Championship "Best Receiver"'' * ''2010 Dominican Republic "Athlete of the Year"'' * ''2010 Dominican Republic "Volleyball Player of the Year"'' * '' 2010 Pan-American Cup "Best Libero"'' * '' 2010 Pan-American Cup "Best Digger"'' * '' 2010 Pan-American Cup "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2010 NORCECA Junior Continental Championship U-20 "Best Libero"'' * '' 2010 NORCECA Junior Continental Championship U-20 "Best Digger"'' * '' 2010 NORCECA Junior Continental Championship U-20 "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2010 Final Four Cup "Best Libero"'' * '' 2010 Final Four Cup "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2010 World Club Championship "Best Libero" * '' 2011 Puerto Rican League "Best Libero"'' * '' 2011 Puerto Rican League "Best Digger"'' * '' 2011 Pan-American Cup "Best Libero"'' * '' 2011 Pan-American Cup "Best Digger"'' * '' 2011 NORCECA Championship "Best Libero"'' * '' 2011 NORCECA Championship "Best Digger"'' * '' 2011 NORCECA Championship "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2011 Pan American Games "Best Libero"'' * '' 2011 Pan American Games "Best Digger"'' * '' 2011 Pan American Games "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2012 Summer Olympics NORCECA qualification tournament's "Best Receiver" * '' 2012 Summer Olympics NORCECA qualification tournament's "Best Libero" * '' 2012 Pan-American Cup "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2012 Pan-American Cup "Best Digger"'' * '' 2012 Pan-American Cup "Best Libero"'' * '' 2012 Summer Olympics "Best Libero"'' * '' 2012 U23 Pan-American Cup "Best Digger"'' * ''2012 Dominican Republic "Volleyball Player of the Year"'' * '' 2012-13 Azerbaijan Super League "Best Libero"'' * '' 2013 NORCECA Championship "Best Digger"'' * '' 2013 U23 World Championship "Best Libero"'' * '' 2013-14 CEV Champions League "Best Libero"'' * '' 2013-14 Azerbaijan Super League "Best Libero"'' * '' 2014 Pan-American Cup "Most Valuable Player"'' * '' 2014 Pan-American Cup "Best Libero"'' * '' 2014 Pan-American Cup "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2014 Pan-American Cup "Best Digger"'' * '' 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games "Most Valuable Player"'' * '' 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games "Best Libero"'' * '' 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games Receiver"'' * '' 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games "Best Digger"'' * ''2014-15 Azerbaijan Super League "Best Libero"'' * ''2014-15 Azerbaijan Super League "Best Digger"'' * '' 2015 NORCECA Champions Cup "Best Digger"'' * '' 2015 Pan-American Cup "Best Libero"'' * '' 2015 Pan-American Cup "Best Digger"'' * '' 2015 Pan-American Cup "Best Receiver"'' * '' 2015 FIVB World Cup "Best Libero"'' * '' 2015 NORCECA Championship "Best Libero"'' * ''2015 Women's NORCECA Volleyball Championship#All-Star team, 2015 NORCECA Championship "Best Digger"'' * ''2015–16 Azerbaijan Women's Volleyball Super League#Awards, 2015–16 Azerbaijan Super League "Best Digger"'' * ''Volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's qualification#World qualification tournaments, 2016 World Olympic qualification tournament "Best Libero" * ''Brazilian Volleyball Super League (Women), 2016–17 Brazilian Super League "Best Digger"'' * ''2016 Women's Pan-American Volleyball Cup#Individual awards, 2016 Pan-American Cup "Best Libero"'' * ''2016 Women's Pan-American Volleyball Cup#Individual awards, 2016 Pan-American Cup "Best Digger"'' * ''2016 Women's Pan-American Volleyball Cup#Individual awards, 2016 Pan-American Cup "Best Receiver"'' * ''2018 Dominican Republic Superior Volleyball League "Best Libero"'' * ''2018 Dominican Republic Superior Volleyball League "Best Digger"'' * ''2018 Dominican Republic Superior Volleyball League "Best Receiver"'' * ''Volleyball at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games#Individual awards, 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games "Best Libero"'' * ''Volleyball at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games#Individual awards, 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games "Best Digger"'' * ''2021 Women's Pan-American Volleyball Cup#Individual awards, 2021 Pan-American Cup "Best Receiver"'' * ''2021 Women's Pan-American Volleyball Cup#Individual awards, 2021 Pan-American Cup "Best Digger"'' * ''2021 Women's Pan-American Volleyball Cup#Individual awards, 2021 Pan-American Cup "Best Libero"''


National Team


Junior Team

* NORCECA Women´s Junior Continental Championship U-20, 2008 NORCECA Women´s Junior Continental Championship U-20 Silver Medal * 2009 Women's U20 Volleyball World Championship, 2009 FIVB U20 Volleyball World Championship Silver Medal * NORCECA Women´s Junior Continental Championship U-20, 2010 NORCECA Women´s Junior Continental Championship U-20 Silver Medal * 2012 U23 Pan-American Cup - Gold Medal * 2013 U23 World Championship - Silver Medal


Clubs

*
2008 Dominican Republic Volleyball League The 2008 Dominican Republic Volleyball League was the 2nd official season of the event. The SEDEFIR Cup was dedicated to Daniel Toribio. Distrito Nacional's team won their second title in both genders. Teams Women's * Distrito Nacional Women (Voll ...
Runner-Up, with San Cristóbal * 2011 Puerto Rican League Champion, with Criollas de Caguas * 2012–13 CEV Women's Champions League, 2012–13 CEV Champions League – Runner-Up, with Rabita Baku * 2012-2013 Azerbaijan Women's Volleyball Super League, 2012-13 Azerbaijan Super League - Champion, with Rabita Baku * 2013–14 CEV Champions League – Bronze medal, with Rabita Baku * 2013-14 Azerbaijan Super League Champion, with Rabita Baku * 2014-15 Azerbaijan Super League – Champion, with Rabita Baku * 2015–16 Azerbaijan Super League – Bronze medal, with Lokomotiv Baku


Beach Volleyball

* 2009 Hato Mayor Beach Volleyball Tournament Gold Medal


References


External links


FIVB Profile

CEV Profile

Italian League Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castillo, Brenda 1992 births Living people Dominican Republic Christians Dominican Republic women's volleyball players Volleyball players at the 2011 Pan American Games Volleyball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Volleyball players at the 2015 Pan American Games Pan American Games bronze medalists for the Dominican Republic Olympic volleyball players of the Dominican Republic Pan American Games medalists in volleyball People from San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalists for the Dominican Republic Competitors at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games Competitors at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games Volleyball players at the 2019 Pan American Games Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in volleyball Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games Volleyball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics