USA
Undefeated China – who finished fifth in the 2012 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix – and World No. 9 Serbia were the first teams on Saturday who confirmed spots for the Finals on Saturday, along with hosts Japan.
Six teams remained in the running to fill the remaining three Finals places and played their decisive matches today, on the last day of the Preliminary rounds. Those were the USA, Brazil, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria and Russia.
In the big match of the day the U.S. team had passed the Bulgarians in the tie-break. Bulgaria lost the chance to become the second nation ever at the World Grand Prix with a top-6 classification in their debut season.
Italy made a great success going to F6 after sending combined team to compete at Grand Prix. They beat Turkey 3-2 in the direct confrontation of two teams who had the chance to pass to the Finals.
The mighty volleyball nation will miss the Final tournament – Russia. “Zbornaya” needed a victory against Thailand (they won 3-2) but it was necessary that USA or Brazil loose. It didn’t happen, both of them won their clashes and secured their places in F6. Brazil easily cruised Kazakhstan (3-0), while the USA beat Bulgaria, as we mantioned.
Final tournament of the World Grand Prix will be held in Sapporo, Japan from August 28 to September 1.
Classification after the Preliminary round: 1. China 25 (9-0) (27-6), 2. Brazil 23 (8-1) (25-8), 3. Serbia 23 (7-2) (25-8), 4. USA 22 (8-1) (25-9), 5. Italy 21 (7-2) (24-9), 6. Japan 19 (7-2) (22-12), 7. Russia 19 (7-2) (24-14). 8. Turkey 19 (6-3) (23-12), 9. Bulgaria 19 (6-3) (22-13), 10. Dominican Rep. 17 (6-3) (21-14), 11. Germany 16 (4-5) (21-17), 12. Netherlands 12 (4-5) (14-15), 13. Thailand 10 (3-6) (11-20), 14. Czech Rep. 8 (2-7) (11-22), 15. Poland 6 (2-7) (11-23), 16. Argentina 5 (2-7) (10-25), 17. Kazakhstan 4 (1-8) (8-25), 18. Puerto Rico 2 (1-8) (5-26), 19. Cuba 0 (0-9) (3-27), 20. Algeria 0 (0-9) (0-27).
For more news from this competition, click on World Grand Prix 2013.
