International Volleyball

[fripp]

The olympics concluded almost 4 months ago but since no Volleyball coverage was made by any Philippine broadcaster, (though Solar covered some..only a handful) most pinoy enthusiasts found it hard to follow with what is happening in the volleyball scene Internationally.

INDOOR VOLLEYBALL:

We have new Olympic champions for both the men and women.

The women from Brazil took home its first ever gold medal defeating the women from the US in 4 sets. The Brazilians, world ranked #1, were on an unbeaten run (no set/game loss) before facing the Americans in the finals. Although the Brazilians eventually defeated the Americans in 4 sets, the latter were successful on putting a blemish at the Brazilian's impressive record in Beijing.



The Chinese Women, 2004 Gold medallists, made sure it will please the home crowd as they have taken the Bronze defeating powerhouse Cuba.

---------

The USA Men's Team made a revenge for the women's loss defeating Defending champions Brazil in 4 sets. Clayton Stanley(#13), playing at the opposite, was awarded as the games' MVP. It was an amazing run made by the US men who were not considered as contenders at the beginning.




The giants from Russia took home the Bronze after defeating 2004 Athens' games Silver medallists Italy in 4 sets.




BEACH VOLLEYBALL:

The pair of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh(USA) made history when they took their 2nd consecutive gold medal in the beach. They defeated a pair from China.

The US made history again when the pair of Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser(USA) defeated a Brazilian pair in the Men's finals and completed a US sweep in beach.



Next Competitions:

FIVB World Grand Prix (Women)
FIVB World League (Men)
Qualification matches for 2010 World Championships

[fripp]

LATEST WORLD RANKINGS:

FIVB World Ranking - Women

1 (1) Brazil 255
2 (2) Italy 233.75
3 (3) Cuba 202.5
4 (4) USA 182.25
5 (8 ) Japan 138.25
6 (7) Serbia 136
7 (6) China 127.5
8 (5) Russia 119.5
9 (9) Poland 81.5
10 (11) Korea 74.5
11 (14) Dom. Rep.
12 (12) Kenya 49.75
13 (15) Germany 48.5
14 (10) Netherlands 48
15 (13) Peru 47.5
16 (22) Turkey 40.75
17 (18 ) Thailand 36
18 (17) Ch. Taipei 32.75
19 (19) Puerto Rico 32.5
20 (20) Egypt 32.25
.
.
.
65 Philippines 4.5



FIVB World Ranking - Men

As per July 28th, 2008
1 (1) Brazil 248.0
2 (2) Russia 195.5
3 (3) USA 174.5
4 (4) Bulgaria 150.5
5 (8 ) Serbia 111.8
6 (5) Poland 95.8
7 (6) Spain 91.5
8 (8 ) Puerto Rico 88.8
9 (6) Argentina 87.5
10 (10) Italy 84.0
11 (12) Japan 75.0
12 (11) Australia 69.8
13 (13) France 51.8
14 (14) Egypt 51.3
15 (15) Tunisia 50.3
16 (16) Korea 45.0
17 (19) Germany 44.8
18 (17) Cuba 43.8 10
19 (18 ) Canada 43.3
20 (20) Venezuela 40.5
.
.
.
73 Philippines 5.3


* The numbers in parentheses are rankings before the Olympics.

[fripp]

17th Edition
July 31 - August 23 2009

TEAMS for this year's Edition:

Brazil
USA
China
Russia
Germany
Puerto Rico
Poland
Japan
Netherlands
Thailand
Dominican Republic
Korea

*Countries with flags are the Olympic medallists.


Week 1: July 31 to August 2

Group A (Hosts Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Brazil
USA
Germany
Puerto Rico

Group B (Poland)
Poland
Japan
Netherlands
Thailand

Group C (Ningbo, China)
China
Russia
Dominican Republic
Korea


Week 2: August 7-9

Group D (Miao Li, Chinese Taipei)
USA
Netherlands
Dominican Republic
Germany

Group E (Macau)
China
Brazil
Poland
Thailand

Group F (Osaka, Japan)
Japan
Korea
Russia
Puerto Rico


Week 3: August 14-16

Group G (Hong Kong)
China
Poland
Netherlands
Dominican Republic

Group H (Korea)
Brazil
Japan
Germany
Korea

Group I (Bangkok, Thailand)
Thailand
USA
Russia
Puerto Rico


Week 4: August 19-23

Final round (Tokyo, Japan)
Japan plus the top five ranked teams after the preliminary rounds will qualify.

---------------------------

Road to the 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix

The story of qualification for the 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix concluded with some surprise first-time appearances, shock absences and welcome returns.

The 12 teams ultimately successful in securing a place in the 17th edition of FIVB’s annual women’s international event were Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, USA, Poland, Netherlands, Russia, Germany, China, Japan, Korea and Thailand.

Puerto Rico booked their place in the FIVB World Grand Prix for the first time with a fourth-place finish at the Pan American Cup in Mexicali, Mexico, in June 2008.

It was a glorious achievement for the NORCECA team, not least because they qualified at the expense of the mighty Cuba, the three-time Olympic champions, who have previously appeared in every single World Grand Prix, winning gold in 1993 and 2000 and claiming silver in 2008.

Also conspicuous by their absence will be 2007 FIVB World Cup winners and 2008 World Grand Prix bronze medallists Italy, who will miss the tournament for the first time since 2002. They were unable to crack the top three at the European qualification tournament, with the Netherlands, World Grand Prix winners in 2007, finishing first at the Euro qualifier to make a welcome return to the competition.

There are some familiar faces among the other qualified countries. Reigning Olympic and World Grand Prix champions Brazil, who have won a record seven golds, two silvers and one bronze in the tournament’s history, qualified after finishing second at the Pan American Cup. Dominican Republic, who finished first at the Pan American Cup, and two-time gold medallists USA, who will make their 16th World Grand Prix appearance, also advanced.

Russia, who have racked up three golds, four silvers and three bronze medals in 14 appearances in the competition, and Germany, whose best finish is third in 2002, advanced from the European qualification tournament in Omsk, Russia, in September 2008 behind the Netherlands in second and third place, respectively. They are joined by FIVB wild-card Poland, whose best performance was sixth in 2007.

China and Japan will be the only two countries to have competed in every single World Grand Prix when they appear in 2009, with both set to chalk up their 17th straight appearance. China have won one gold, four silvers and three bronze in the event, while Japan’s best finish was fourth in 1994 and 1997.

The other two Asian teams who will appear in 2009 will be Korea and Thailand, who finished in the qualifying positions at the Asian Women’s Cup Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, in September 2008.

The Koreans are set to make their 14th appearance, with a bronze medal in 1997 their best performance. Thailand’s best effort was eighth in 2002.

[fripp]

Last Year's (2007) FIVB Grad Prix final ranking:

1). BRAZIL
2). CUBA
3). ITALY
4). U.S.A.
5). CHINA
6). JAPAN
7). TURKEY
8 ). GERMANY
9). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
10). POLAND
11). THAILAND
12). KAZAKHSTAN

LAST YEAR's BEST PLAYERS:

BEST SCORER - Seda Tokatlioglu (Turkey)
BEST SPIKER - Ruirui Zhao (China)
BEST BLOCKER - Nancy Carillo Dela Paz (Cuba)
BEST SERVER - Saori Kimura (Japan)
BEST DIGGER - Agata Sawicka (Poland)
BEST SETTER - Tomkom Nootsara (Thailand)
BEST RECEIVER - Miyuki Kano (Japan)
BEST LIBERO - Paola Cardullo (Italy)

[fripp]

June 12 - July 18, 2009
(World League is the Men's counterpart of the Women's Grand Prix)

TEAMS for this year's Edition:

USA
Brazil
Russia
Italy
China
Netherlands
Serbia
France
Korea
Argentina
Bulgaria
Japan
Cuba
Poland
Finland
Venezuela

*Countries with flags are the Olympic medallists.



POOL A - USA, Italy, China, Netherlands

POOL B - Serbia, France, Korea, Argentina

POOL C - Russia, Bulgaria, Japan, Cuba

POOL D - Brazil, Poland, Finland, Venezuela


Final Round:

Wednesday, July 22 to Sunday, July 26, 2009 - Belgrade, SERBIA


The Final Round will be played by the six qualified teams over five days (10 matches in total), with the final matches (gold-medal match and bronze-medal match) on Sunday, July 26.



Last Year's (2007) FIVB Grad Prix final ranking:


1). U.S.A.
2). SERBIA
3). RUSSIA
4). BRAZIL
5). POLAND
6). JAPAN
7). BULGARIA
CHINA
ITALY
10). CUBA
FINLAND
FRANCE
13). EGYPT
KOREA
SPAIN


LAST YEAR's BEST PLAYERS:

BEST SCORER - Ivan Miljkovic (Serbia)
BEST SPIKER - Dante Guimaraes Amaral (Brazil)
BEST BLOCKER - Marko Podrascanin (Serbia)
BEST SERVER - Gilberto Godoy Filho (Brazil)
BEST DIGGER - Daisuke Sakai (Japan)
BEST SETTER - Lloy Ball (USA)
BEST RECEIVER - Sergio Dutra Santos (Brazil)
BEST LIBERO - Richard Lambourne (USA)

[fripp]

PICTURES FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Women's Gold Medal match - BRAZIL vs USA


A Panoramic shot of the Capital Gymnasium before a sell-out crowd during the women's finals.


Logan Tom of USA, the Olympic Games' Best Scorer, spikes against Brazil's triple block


A jubilant Brazilian team led by Olympic Games' MVP and Team Captain Helia "Fofao" Souza...on her 5th Olympic Games


6'7 Opposite Tayyiba Haneef-Park of USA spiking against the Brazilian defenders in the middle


Sheilla Castro, Brazil's Opposite, spikes against a double block of USA's Haneef-Park and Bown


Celebration from the Brazilian Coaches (At the left is the Head Coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes...who is now written in the volleyball history books as the only coach to have led both its women's and men's team from clinching an Olympic Gold



source of pictures: fivb.org

[fripp]

PICTURES FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Women's Bronze Medal match - CHINA vs CUBA


The women from Cuba, once the dominant force in volleyball, is facing the 2004 Athens Games' Champion China in the Bronze medal match


The 2004 Olympic Champion China playing on their home turf against Cuba


The legendary open hitter from Cuba(also its team captain), Yumilka Ruiz leading a young-laden team. Standing at 5'9, she's one of the highest vertical jumpers in the world. Yumilka is part of the 2000 Sydney Olympics Champion Cuban team.


The 2004 Athens Olympics MVP # 2 Feng Kun, China's setter and team captain, with Yang Hao, China's top hitter at the open.


Middle attack from Cuba's Nancy Carillo Dela Paz with Zhao Ruirui as the only blocker


Running back slide attack from China's opposite Zhou Suhong


China celebrating a 3-set win over Cuba and thus clinching the Bronze



source of pictures: fivb.org

[fripp]

Pictures during the Italy-Russia match:
With impressive victories in the past, everyone thought that Italy(Reigning World Cup champions) and Russia(Reigning World champions) were going to reach the medal round. But both were eliminated at the quarterfinals with Italy bowing to USA in 5 sets and Russia being defeated by China in 3 sets. However, in this game, Italy won a hard-fought 4-setter over Russia.


The Russian Women's Team. Reigning World Champions. 2000 and 2004 Olympics Silver medallists with its famous stars Ekaterina Gamova, Lioubov Sokolova, Evgenia Artamonova-Estes and Elena Godina.


The Italian Women's Team. Reigning World Cup champions and European Champions.


An attack from Lioubov Sokolova, the Russian Opposite. Rumors has it that she doesn't want to play anymore for Russia


Francesca Piccinini celebrating a point. Piccinini is arguably Italy's best player at the open and one of the world's best as well. (Very pretty)


Ekaterina Gamova, currently the tallest volleyball player in the world at 6'9. She's playing on her 3rd Olympic games. She's one of the world's best open hitters together with Piccinini (Italy), Tom (USA), Pequeno (Brazil) and Ruiz (Cuba).


Observers mentioned that when Italy's defense works, they are quite unstoppable. Italy's defense is led by Athen's best receiver Paola Cardullo(#10, Libero)


Observers also noted that the Russian's disappointing outing at the recent olympic games was probably brought about by its very weak setter (on picture: Maria Sheshinina).



source of pictures: fivb.org

[fripp]

PICTURES FROM JAPAN-POLAND MATCH:
Japan, Asia's 2nd best team, goes up against one of Europe's best, Poland. There has been a long rivalry happening between the two teams as wherever competitions they meet, they would always play a 5-setter or they would always rank near with each other. Poland, however, has the height advantage while Japan is very famous with their impeccable defense. Japan won over Poland in this game.


The Japanese Women's Team led by Miyuki Takahashi, one of the first Asians who was able to play professional volleyball in Europe. The Japanese are the current Asian champions and the silver medallists from Doha Asiad.


The Polish Women's team. Bronze medallist from the 2007 European championships. Leading the pack is Milena Rosner, an unusually Team captain (she's not in the first six as most team captains would be in).


The biggest volleyball star in Poland, Maggie Glinka. She's a world class player in the open.


The Japanese young opposite, Kimura Saori. she's one of the olympic games' Best Servers.


The Russian-born Middle attacker from Poland, Maria Liktoras given a set by the Polish setter Sadurek.



Megumi Kurihara, Japan's open hitter, attacks during their game against Poland.


Celebrating a point is the Japanese women's team. # 5 player is Miyuki Takahashi, team captain of the team.



source of pictures: fivb.org

[fripp]

THE OTHER TEAMS WHO PLAYED DURING THE OLYMPIC GAMES:

SERBIA

- 3rd place at the 2006 World Championships
- Silver medallists a the European Championships
- Defeated by Cuba (3-0) at the quarterfinals in the recent Olympic games in Beijing


The Serbians, who have a close affinity with the Russians as having really tall players but with a questionable (and sometimes awful) defense. This team is led by its open hitter Jelena Nikolic.



KAZAKHSTAN

- The 3rd Asian team who has clinched a spot at the Olympic games just points ahead of Korea. This team is led by Yelena Pavlova.
- Did not advanced to the quarterfinals.





ALGERIA

- Algeria defeated Africa's representative to the 2004 Athens Olympic games' Kenya, enroute to representing the African continent at last year's edition of the Olympic games.
- Some of its Players are playing professionally in Israel super league and some leagues in Europe.
- Did not advanced to the quarterfinals





VENEZUELA

- The South American representatives for the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.
- Did not advanced to the quarterfinals.






sources of pictures: fivb.org

[fripp]

PICTURES FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Men's Gold Medal match - USA vs BRAZIL

Reigning World champions and 2004 Athens Olympic champions Brazil faces USA, the reigning World League champions. Many observers have said that everytime the men from Brazil faces the Americans, they always lose in that match. USA has an impressive win-loss record of 4-0 in the last 3 years against Brazil.





The jubilant American team during their final game against Brazil


#1 Bruno Rezende, the subsitute setter for Brazil, showing some emotions to Brazil's head coach Bernardo Resende...who happens to be Bruno's father!


Probably one of the world's tallest(and best) setters at 6'9, Lloy Ball is playing for the USA on his 5th and Last Olympic game. What a way to end his Olympic career.


Considered by many as the Best Player in the world, Gilberto "Giba" Godoy Filho of Brazil(Team captain) is a digging machine. Giba is the MVP of the Men's Volleyball competition at the Athens Olympics and considers the Beijing games as his last.


Clayton Stanley of USA, MVP of the Men's volleyball competition in Beijing, spikes against a double block of Dante and Gustavo. Clayton plays at the opposite/right side.


Celebration from the new Olympic champions




sources of pics: fivb.org

[fripp]

OTHER PICTURES OF USA-BRAZIL MEN'S GOLD MEDAL MATCH


William Reid Priddy, a 6'5 outside hitter from the US, spikes against two Brazilian blockers Andre Heller and Marcelinho.


Andre Heller spikes in the middle against the US' blockers. The middle attack is very much utilized in the International volleyball arena.


USA's David Lee, a middle blocker/attacker out of UCLA, spikes against the Brazilian net defense.


Dante Amaral, Brazil's outside hitter, spiking against a double block of USA.


Ryan Millar, a middle blocker/attacker of the USA, celebrating their victory against Brazil.


Riley Salmon, the only player of the USA National team who have not attended an NCAA school, attacks against the tandem of brothers Gustavo and Murillo.



sources of pics: fivb.org

[quasi09]

This was the least exciting Olympic games with most of the games in Women's volleyball ending in 3 or 4 sets as compared to the Athens Games where the finals, semi-finals and even the preliminary games ending mostly in 5 sets. Well, this is aside from the fact that my favorite Russian team lost.

I don't know how Brazil won the Gold so easily. Is it because it was just of a different league compared to the other teams? Or the other teams just played terribly bad? I can't believe how the teams like Cuba, China and Russia could be defeated that easily in an Olympic season.

Anyway, congratulations to the Brazilian team. They deserved it a million times more than any other team in the world.

[fripp]

This was the least exciting Olympic games with most of the games in Women's volleyball ending in 3 or 4 sets as compared to the Athens Games where the finals, semi-finals and even the preliminary games ending mostly in 5 sets. Well, this is aside from the fact that my favorite Russian team lost.

I don't know how Brazil won the Gold so easily. Is it because it was just of a different league compared to the other teams? Or the other teams just played terribly bad? I can't believe how the teams like Cuba, China and Russia could be defeated that easily in an Olympic season.

Anyway, congratulations to the Brazilian team. They deserved it a million times more than any other team in the world.

I would have to agree with you in that the Women's volleyball competition in Beijing was not as exciting as everyone expected it to be. Yes, the World Cup(Olympic quali) held in Japan 2 years ago was more exciting, imho. However, there were some matches in Beijing that drew a lot of attention, most are those matches from Pool A - China vs USA, USA vs Poland, Cuba vs China. And i think the quarterfinal match of USA and Italy was an exciting one as well. The finals(BRA-USA) was very lame for an olympic final game except for the last(4th) set where the two teams battled and fought very hard.

Your favorite team, Russia, was clearly a disappointment in Beijing knowing the fact that some of the big stars from Athens were still there. Ive read somewhere that Sokolova, Godina and Artamonova are not interested anymore in representing Russia...leaving Gamova and Merkulova for the team. For Gamova, no denying that she can lead the team. But Merkulova? She's 6'9 yet not showing any signs of improvement. This team really needs a major repair. Gone are the days where the Russian team is one of the most feared teams in the world.

Brazil won the gold so easily(well except for the final match) for the reason that they were very consistent in their line up. They have paraded the same line up since 2005 and with that thing, you really can't go wrong. Notice that some of the top teams had a change in their line up:

Italy - Lost a strong open hitter in Del Core...forcing the opposite Taismary Aguero to change position...She can't receive very well that's why she was targeted in Beijing in serve-receive. Jenny Barraza is suffering from injury.

USA- Tom and Sykora had a 3-year hiatus, Haneef experiencing a heart problem, Glass joined the team in 2007.

Russia - Artamonova just re-joined the team. Losing Tistchenko in the Middle. Injured Godina.

China - Losing Zhang Ping and some of its stars, Zhao Ruirui joined the team in 2007

It seems that Cuba and Brazil are the only teams who have the same line up for the last 3-4 years. Cuba, with problems in Mental toughness, failed to join Brazil in the party in Beijing. Leaving Brazil with no other option() but claim that Gold Medal.

However, before the competition in Beijing, I was really expecting an Italy-Brazil finals. Italy being undefeated in World Cup while Brazil in 2nd. Italy then was such a strong team in all areas. However, they got so wrong in putting Aguero in the OH and putting a Nadia Centoni in the opposite. It would have been wiser to retain Aguero in Opposite and place Serena Ortolani in the open. She can receive and attack consistently. Oh well

[HollyHood]

Yumilka Ruiz is my idol.

Bakit walang Cuba sa World Grand Prix?

[fripp]

Yumilka Ruiz is my idol.

Bakit walang Cuba sa World Grand Prix?

Good question.

The Grand Prix in 2009 will be the first time that Cuba and Italy will not be competing.

Italy, after that disappointing finish in Beijing, decided to send a young team to the Grand Prix qualifiers in Russia of which 3 slots are up for grabs. Netherlands went undefeated, Russia came in second and Germany, having Furst, Kozuch and Hippe in their team, easily defeated the Italians (which was led by Serena Ortolani then).

Cuba, on the other hand, sent a young team because of a conflict in the schedule. Their main national team (Ruiz, Carillo) was still competing at a tournament in Abu Dhabi(?) when the NORCECA(North, Central and Caribean) qualifiers were held in Mexico, of which 3 slots are up for grabs...one for a North American nation, one for a central/south american nation and the other for a Carribean nation. Although the Americans finished 5th in the tournament(they were represented by College players), they were the highest-ranked North American nation(Canada @ 6th) at that qualifiers giving them a ticket for the 09 Grand Prix. Im not really good at geography but since Cuba and Dominican Republic are both in the Carribean(?), they need to battle it out for one slot..of which Dominican Republic, the silver medallists in the tournament, have won....allowing Cuba to bid goodbye for the Grand Prix for the first time in so many years. And Puerto Rico, having won the tournament, got also the other ticket.

[keyser_soze]

thanks for sharing these info fripp.

buti pa thailand (W) patuloy ang improvement sa game nila, #17 na sila.. phils. #65?!

[HollyHood]

Oh, nagamit na pala ang bagong design ng volleyball sa Olympics.

fripp, may mga channel ba dito na nagpapalabas ng international volleyball matches?

[fripp]

Oh, nagamit na pala ang bagong design ng volleyball sa Olympics.

fripp, may mga channel ba dito na nagpapalabas ng international volleyball matches?

Yes. Solar covered some of the matches...but i only managed to witness a game. Heck..i didn't even witnessed the finals thru solar(only thru live internet streaming)

But if any of you would want to see some Olympic matches, go to this site: www.volleyball-video.com (must see: Women's Italy vs USA, Men's Brazil vs USA)

[quasi09]

Wow thank you for the site. I was not able to view the other matches - only the Russian games.

I actually hoped for the Russian finals but it did not happen. I think it will take years or a decade before the Russian team will again be top contender in world volleyball, with its present crop of players that is below par compared to Sokolova, Godina and Artamonova. I think only Gamova will be leading the team, but she will not join the team for a year or two. The good news though is that a new player is joining - Makrova, I think - a former Ukranian player, now a Russian citizen. She is a sign of hope for the team. Fateeva, Pasynkova and Kosheleva are below expectations. Merkulova is actually doing well as middle ATTACKER but terrible as a BLOCKER. Borodakova is good at blocking but bad at attacking. Well, at least, the middle positions are not as problematic as the wing spiker positions.

I wonder how Italy will be doing in the next few years because it seems that they are as problematic as the Russian team. No more Togut, Piccinini. Only Ortolani and setter Ferriti are the veterans now.