The 2014 FIVB Women's World Championship was the seventeenth edition of the competition, contested by the 24 senior women's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the sport's global governing body. The final tournament was held from 23 September to 12 October 2014 in Italy.
The United States won their first world title, defeating China in four sets at the final.[1][2] Reigning Olympic champions Brazil won the 3rd place match, defeating Italy in five sets. Kimberly Hill was selected Most Valuable Player.[3]
The tournament was played in three different stages (first, second and third rounds). In the First round, the 24 participants were divided in four groups of six teams each. A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams group position, the four best teams of each group (total of 16 teams) progressed to the next round.
In the Second round, the 16 teams were divided in two groups of eight teams (four teams from groups A and D in one group, and four teams from groups B and C in the other group). A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams group position, matches already played between teams in the First round were counted in this round. The three best teams of each group (total of 6 teams) progressed to the next round.
In the Third round, the 6 teams were divided in two groups of three teams. A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams group position, the two best teams of each group (total of 4 teams) progressed to the semifinals.
Group standing criteria
1. Ranking points (3 points for a 3–0 or 3–1 win; 2 points for a 3–2 win; 1 point for a 2–3 loss; 0 points for a 1–3 or 0–3 loss)
2. Number of wins
3. Sets ratio
4. Points ratio
5. Head to head
Source: FIVB[6]
Pools composition
Teams were seeded in the first three positions of each pool following the Serpentine system according to their FIVB World Ranking.[7] FIVB reserved the right to seed the hosts as head of Pool A regardless of the World Ranking. All teams not seeded were drawn to take other available positions in the remaining lines, following the World Ranking. The drawing was held in Parma, Italy on 10 March 2014. Because NORCECA qualification were in progress on 10 March 2014, FIVB used the best world rankings of NORCECA when the draw was made. Ranking shown in brackets except Hosts which rank 4th.[8]
The results and points of the matches between the same teams that were already played during the first round were taken into account for the second round.
^Benedetti, Valeria (12 October 2014). "Volley, Mondiale: Usa batte Cina 3-1". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan, Italy. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
^"USA win first World Championship title, China and Brazil complete the podium". Milan, Italy: FIVB. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
^"USA win first World Championship title, China and Brazil complete the podium". Milan, Italy: CEV. 12 October 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
^"2014 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Playoff Round Tournaments NATIONAL TEAM REGISTRATION" (PDF). FIVB. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
^"Host cities and venues". FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship Italy 2014 Media Guide. FIVB. pp. 14–17. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
^"Competition format". FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship Italy 2014 Media Guide. FIVB. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
^"FIVB Senior World Ranking - Women (as of January 2014)". FIVB. January 2014.
^"FIVB – SPORTS REGULATIONS – Volleyball" (PDF). FIVB. 15 May 2013. pp. 19–20. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
^"USA win first World Championship title, China and Brazil complete the podium". Milan, Italy: CEV. 2014-05-11. Archived from the original on 2014-10-19. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2014 FIVB Women's World Championship.