Jefferson and Cherif, who gained a spot in the 2017 FIVB World Championships via the Asian continental qualifying process, were the “surprise” team in the 2015 event in The Netherlands as the pair placed fifth in the competition after being seeded 27th. During 2015 pool play, Jefferson and Cherif dropped a three-set to eventual champions Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt of Brazil. Winners of a 2016 FIVB World Tour event on Kish Island in Iran, Jefferson and Cherif have 10 other titles to their credit the last two-plus seasons. The Qatar pair placed ninth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, including a pool play victory over Adrian Gavira and Pablo Herrera of Spain.