Brazil W
The Olympic champions take over from the USA, the team that they beat in the London 2012 Olympic Games gold medal match. The USA had been top since November 2011 when they had knocked Brazil off first place following the second of their three successive World Grand Prix titles.
World Grand Prix hosts Japan remains in third place, followed by Italy and World Grand Prix silver medalists China in fifth. In fact the top five has remained unaltered since October 2011 when Russia were ranked third, Japan fourth and Serbia fifth.
Serbia’s bronze medal success in Sapporo has helped them head back towards the top five after they rose from ninth to seventh.
In the men’s U21 World Rankings meanwhile Russia sit top after they retained their gold medal at the recent FIVB U21 World Championship in Turkey.
The East Europeans have risen from fifth place in the last rankings to knock Serbia off top-spot. In fact it is a completely new top three with U21 silver medalists Brazil in second place and the fast-improving Iran third.
Italy, who won bronze at the U21 World Championship are ranked seventh.
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