Transgender Tiffany blazing a trail

BAURU, Brazil - While playing in men's professional volleyball leagues in Europe, heavy-hitting Brazilian player Tiffany Abreu accumulated dozens of trophies.

But she said that among her most important accolades was being named most valuable player for a match with a countryside team on Tuesday night as rain leaked from the roof in a half-empty gymnasium.

"I had two of those (MVP) awards playing in the men's league. But this is a special one," Abreu told Associated Press in an interview after the match. "I didn't even know until recently that I could play volleyball again."