All 3 Pool rounds of the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2016 are now complete following conclusion of the matches on Sunday June 26, with the final standings table headed by USA, followed by China, Russia, Brazil and the Netherlands. These 5 teams plus the host nation (Thailand) make up the 6 teams to qualify for the final series in Bangkok from August 6 to 10.
For the finals series, the teams are split into two groups of 3 (Pools J and K). USA, China and the Netherlands are in Pool J. Russia, Brazil and Thailand are in Pool K. In the semi-finals the winner of Pool J will play 2nd in Pool K; while 1st in Pool K will play 2nd in Pool J.
Pool Matches
Hong Kong was host to Pool H1 in this last round of Pool matches. Four teams competed; China, the USA, the Netherlands and Germany. They played in a pool of four, with two matches each day, culminating on Sunday, with the 3rd and 4th place play-off, followed by the 1st and 2nd place final.
The Netherlands faced Germany in the first match. The Dutch team won 3-0; 25-22, 25-23, 25-21. The match was close at times, but the Netherlands always had the edge and closed-out each set without too much pressure.
In the final match, China versus the USA, the Americans had to play against both the crowd and announcers, who constantly egged-on a raucous partisan audience to cheer for China.
It did not seem to disturb the Americans, who got down to business immediately in each set. They won 3-0; 25-19, 25-21, 25-17. It was a comfortable victory. At no stage in any set was the USA behind. Once in front, they slowly extended their lead, varied play and tactics, dominated the net, and coped with the return of serve much better than China. By the time the 3rd set was half way over, the USA had opened a 9 point lead and never looked like losing, and closed out the final set 25-17, despite China gamely saving four match points.
The Hong Kong tournament finished with the USA winning the pool, China runners-up, the Netherlands third and Germany fourth.
In the final Pool G1 matches in Ankara, both Brazil and Italy had straight set wins: Brazil beat Turkey 3-0; 25-14, 25-21, 25-19 and Italy beat Belgium 3-0; 25-14, 25-12, 25-21.
In Pool I1 in Kyoto (Japan), Serbia beat Thailand 3-0; 25-18, 25-29, 25-20. Japan played a spirited match against Russia, but finally lost 3-1; 25-20, 23-25, 24-26, 20-25. With these results Russia and Brazil confirmed their 3rd and 4th places in the overall standings, while Serbia and Italy finished in 6th and 7th places respectively, narrowly missing the Finals.
Grahame Carder is a sports enthusiast, former player and now resident in Hong Kong.
