Poland’s triumph
China’s performance at the World Grand Prix Finals in Ningbo saw them edge up the table but USA and Brazil remain world No.1 and 2 respectively in the women’s standings.
China’s gain comes at the expense of Japan who dropped two places to fifth, one place below Italy. Germany also moved two places up the rankings into sixth while Serbia fall a spot to seventh.
Turkey were the biggest winners in the adjustment, with their first World Grand Prix bronze medal seeing them surge three places into eighth. Russia dropped two places to ninth while Cuba remained 10th.
Meanwhile, Dominican Republic moved outside the top ten, dropping two spots to 11th. The only other movers in the top twenty were Poland and Kenya, who both gained a place, rising to 13th and 14th respectively at the expense of Korea who fell two spots.
The top two also stayed the same in the men’s, with Brazil and Russia ahead of Poland, Cuba and USA, with the latter’s bronze and silver medal runs at the 2012 FIVB Volleyball World League moving them up a spot.
Italy dropped three places after failing to reach the World League Finals while Germany returned to the top 10, moving up three places from 13th.
China, Egypt and Iran all dropped a place to 11th, 12th and 13th respectively, while France were the biggest winners as they shot up six places to 15th. Canada moved two spots higher to 16th but Japan, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Tunisia all lost two places to round out the top 20.
