Qualifying for the 2017 FIVB World Championships via their international ranking, Brunner and Patterson are playing together for the first-time this season. A Rio 2016 Olympian, Patterson placed 17th and fifth in his first two world championships with Gibb in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Brunner placed fourth at the 2015 worlds with Nick Lucena. Patterson started playing internationally in 2011 and teamed with Gibb to win two FIVB events along with gaining a spot in the Rio Summer Games. Brunner joined the FIVB World Tour in 2013 and earned his first medal with Todd Rogers in 2014.