In gaining a “host” country berth for the 2017 FIVB World Championships, Schutzenhofer and Schwaiger will be the top ranked Austrian women’s pair in the competition.  After missing the 2015 worlds in The Hague, both players are back in the competition with Schwaiger making her sixth appearance and Schutzenhofer her second.  Schwaiger placed fifth in the 2009 and 2011 worlds with her sister (Doris) while Schutzenhofer and Barbara Hansel were ninth in 2013.  Schwaiger placed fifth in both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games with her sister.  Schwaiger, who started playing internationally in 2002, has played in more FIVB-sanctioned events than any other player in the world (168 and counting).  Schutzenhofer’s first FIVB event was 2010.  Both players have FIVB youth World Championship medals with the Schwaiger sisters capturing bronze at the 2005 uinder-21s in Rio.  Schutzenhofer has a 2011 under-19 silver and 2013 under-21 bronze with Lena Plesiutschnig at events in Croatia.