Final Report.

Transcription

1 Final Report

2 Page Message from the President Fifteen ways to be great 2007 Balance Sheet Netherlands claim first major title Presentation of the 2007 World Grand Prix Qualification process for the 15th edition Preliminary Round Single round-robin in 3 pools per week Week 1 Pool A Tokyo 3-5 Japan August Japan Cuba Dominican Kazakhstan Republic Pool B Verona Italy Pool C Rzeszow Poland Italy Brazil Netherlands Chinese Taipei Poland Russia USA China Week 2 Pool D Tokyo Japan August Japan Brazil Netherlands Chinese Taipei Pool E Khabarovsk Russia Pool F Hong Kong China Russia Cuba USA Kazakhstan Italy China Dominican Poland Republic Week 3 Pool G Osaka Japan August Japan Russia Poland Kazakhstan Pool H Taipei Ch. Taipei Pool I Macau China Preliminary Round Final & Qualification Ranking Ch. Taipei Brazil Dominican Italy Republic Cuba China Netherlands USA 2 World Grand Prix 2007

3 2007 Final Report Contents Page Week 4 Qualified teams Final Round Ningbo, China Single round-robin in 5 days CHN BRA ITA RUS POL NED Day 1-22 August Day 2-23 August Day 3-24 August Day 4-25 August Day 5-26 August Awards Ceremony 2007 Final Round Best Players Award winners 2007 Final Ranking Team by Team Statistics Overall standing and Coaches BRA POL ITA RUS CHN NED RUS BRA ITA NED POL CHN BRA NED RUS POL ITA CHN NED POL CHN RUS BRA ITA NED RUS POL ITA CH N BR A Media Report - Increased international TV coverage helps fans worldwide witness 2007 edition Ambience & Supporters Animation & Halls Looking ahead to 2008 FIVB Structure 2007 Credits Text: FIVB Press Department Pictures: FIVB website photo galleries & archives COVER Most Valuable Player Manon Flier shows the commitment that inspired Netherlands to a famous World Grand Prix victory in 2007 Design: FRGraphic Frank Rudaz Print: IRL S.A. Final Report 3

4 Fift Message from the P In fabulous Ningbo, one of the most exciting elements of Volleyball was once again confirmed: something astonishing is always possible. This time, it was the Netherlands who added a dash of surprise to the FIVB event, even after a tough qualification process that saw teams travelling between two continents for three weeks. The press conference the FIVB held at the end of congress in Tokyo in 2006 was full of news and we gave a lot of material to the world media, but the Chinese press was particularly happy when I ended the meeting by announcing the city of Ningbo in China as host of the Final Round of the World Grand Prix The 2007 edition was the 15th year of this top FIVB event, which is something to ponder. We started in 1993 with eight teams competing mainly in Asia, while nowadays we have the 12 best teams in the world with pools also organised in Europe. Throughout this 15-year period, the World Grand Prix audience has witnessed the fantastic development of technique and tactics in Women s Volleyball. We had a delightful Cuban period of fantasy and high jumps, then a 4 World Grand Prix 2007 time of USA steady block-defense Volleyball, alternated by the powerful Russian high-balls, before the Brazilian style emerged to dominate three tournaments in a row. We ve had 15 editions, 15 different ways to show the entire world, thanks to our international broadcasters, how Volleyball has been changing fast, following the rapid development of modern sport. Last year, I wrote on this same page of the Final Report that this growth was going to break common rules, and even some technical

5 resident een ways to be great Tickertape greets Dutch victory domination like the Brazilian dynasty. It has happened: the orange flag was hoisted higher than any other in Ningbo and record six-time winners Brazil were forced into fifth place. For the Netherlands, this victory is the end of a fine technical process, all the players following the instruction of Avital Selinger to focus on one goal. The applause during the tournament didn t come solely from the live audience in Ningbo. TV distribution was the best ever, with 500 hours of first run programming, an increase of more than 13 percent from the last edition. Even more evidence of the success of the World Grand Prix. FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta H. Final Report 5

6 2007 Balance Sheet Netherlands claim first major title Netherlands celebrate gold The Netherlands won their first trophy in major FIVB competitions with a perfect record in the six-team round-robin finals. The Europeans became the sixth team to win the renowned title and snapped Brazil s run of three straight triumphs. Hosts China put a smile on the face of the Ningbo locals by claiming the silver medal, improving on their bronze-medal finish in 2005, while Italy finished in third position for the second year in a row. Russia ended up fourth, Brazil fifth and Poland sixth. Italians all smiles after winning bronze 6 World Grand Prix 2007

7 Final Standings Rk. Country TOTAL PRELIMINARY ROUND FINAL ROUND Matches Sets Matches Sets Matches Sets Total W L W L Total W L W L Total W L W L 1 Netherlands China Italy Russia Brazil Poland Cuba USA Japan Kazakhstan Dominican Rep Chinese Taipei Medallists Medal Showcase Year/finals 1st place 2nd place 3rd place 2007 Ningbo (CHN) Netherlands China Italy 2006 Reggio Calabria (ITA) Brazil Russia Italy 2005 Sendai (JPN) Brazil Italy China 2004 Reggio Calabria (ITA) Brazil Italy USA 2003 Andria (ITA) China Russia USA 2002 Hong Kong (CHN) Russia China Germany 2001 Macau (MAC) USA China Russia 2000 Manila (PHI) Cuba Russia Brazil 1999 Yu Xi (CHN) Russia Brazil China 1998 Hong Kong (CHN) Brazil Russia Cuba 1997 Kobe (JPN) Russia Cuba Korea China happy with winning silver in front of fans 1996 Shanghai (CHN) Brazil Cuba Russia 1995 Shanghai (CHN) USA Brazil Cuba 1994 Shanghai (CHN) Brazil Cuba China 1993 Hong Kong (CHN) Cuba China Russia China coach Chen Zhonghe Final Report 7

8 2006 Qualificat NORCECA & South America Vth Pan-American Cup San Juan, Puerto Rico NORCECA and South America played a combined qualification tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from 27 June to 8 July, Brazil won the tournament and advanced to the World Grand Prix 2007 with runners-up Cuba, third-placed Dominican Republic and fourth-placed USA Teams Final Ranking 1. Brazil 2. Cuba 3. Dominican Republic 4. United States 5. Puerto Rico 6. Peru 7. Canada 8. Venezuela 9. Mexico 10. Argentina 11. Costa Rica 12. Barbados Preliminary Round - Pool A Round Robin Date Teams Sets Result per set (points) Jun Canada Costa Rica Jun Brazil Dom. Rep Jun Puerto Rico Mexico Jun Dom. Rep. Costa Rica Jun Brazil Mexico Jun Puerto Rico Canada July Mexico Costa Rica July Dom. Rep. Canada July Brazil Puerto Rico July Dom. Rep. Mexico July Brazil Canada July Puerto Rico Costa Rica July Canada Mexico July Brazil Costa Rica July Puerto Rico Dom. Rep Pool B Round Robin 29-June Venezuela Barbados June USA Peru June Cuba Argentina June Cuba Barbados June Peru Venezuela June USA Argentina July USA Barbados July Peru Argentina July Cuba Venezuela July Peru Barbados July Argentina Venezuela July Cuba USA July Argentina Barbados July USA Venezuela July Cuba Peru Classifications 11/12-9/10 places 5-July Costa Rica Barbados July Mexico Argentina Quarter-Finals 5-July Dom. Rep. Peru July USA Puerto Rico Classification 7/8-5/6 places 6-July Canada Venezuela July Puerto Rico Peru Semi-Finals 6-July Brazil USA July Cuba Dom. Rep Finals 1 st to 4 th place 7-July USA Dom. Rep July Brazil Cuba World Grand Prix 2007

9 ion tournaments for the 15 th edition European qualification tournament Varna, Bulgaria The European qualification tournament was held in Varna, Bulgaria, from 26 September to 1 October, Russia finished at the top of the final standings and advanced to the World Grand Prix 2007 alongside the Netherlands, who finished second, third-placed Italy and fourth-placed Poland. Teams Final Ranking 1. Russia 2. Netherlands 3. Italy 4. Poland 5. Azerbaijan Turkey 7. Bulgaria Serbia & Montenegro Asian Teams The four best Asian teams in the FIVB World Ranking automatically qualified: China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan Preliminary Round Pool I Round Robin Date Teams Sets Result per set (points) Sept Poland - Netherlands Sept Azerbaijan - Bulgaria Sept Poland - Azerbaijan Sept Netherlands - Bulgaria Sept Azerbaijan - Netherlands Sept Bulgaria - Poland Ranking Matches Sets Set points Rk Team total won lost points won lost ratio won lost ratio 1 Netherlands Azerbaijan Poland Bulgaria Preliminary Round Pool II Round Robin Date Teams Sets Result per set (points) Sept Turkey - Italy Sept Russia - Serbia & M Sept Italy - Serbia & M Sept Turkey - Russia Sept Russia - Italy Sept Serbia & M. - Turkey Ranking Matches Sets Set points Rk Team total won lost points won lost ratio won lost ratio 1 Russia Turkey Italy Serbia & M Playoff Matches Date Teams Sets Result per set (points) Sept Azerbaijan - Poland Sept Turkey - Italy Classification Match 3/4 01-Oct Poland - Italy Final 1/2 01-Oct Netherlands - Russia Remark In the case of a tie of matches won and lost by two or more teams (match points) the points ratio (points quotient) instead of the sets ratio (set quotient) will be applied to establish the final ranking. Decision of the FIVB Board of Administration, April-May 2005 Final Report 9

10 Kazakhstan s Grushko keeps her eyes on the ball

11 Pool by Pool The 2007 Preliminary Round 3 weeks 12 teams 9 pools 9 cities 54 matches Week 1 Pool A Tokyo 3-5 August Japan JPN CUB DOM KAZ Pool B Verona 3-5 August Italy ITA BRA NED TPE Pool C Rzeszow 3-5 August Poland POL RUS USA CHN Week 2 Pool D Tokyo August Japan JPN BRA NED TPE Pool E Khabarovsk August Russia RUS CUB USA KAZ Pool F Hong Kong August China ITA CHN DOM POL Week 3 Pool G Osaka August Japan JPN RUS POL KAZ Pool H Taipei August Chinese Taipei TPE BRA DOM ITA Pool I Macau August China CUB CHN NED USA Final Report 11

12 Preliminary Round Pool A JPN CUB DOM KAZ Cuba beat Dominican Republic Duration 1:13 Pan American Games gold medalwinners Cuba started their Grand Prix campaign with a comfortable victory over Dominican Republic at Ariake Coliseum. After a strong start for Cuba and a second loose set, Santos excellent form and jump-serves caused havoc in the third set, leading Cuba to victory. Cuba was well balanced and were able to keep their good rhythm, said Dominican coach Miguel Beato Cruz. Cuba s Carrillo blocks Japan s Kurihara spikes Japan beat Kazakhstan Duration 1:27 Japan showed no mercy on Grand Prix newcomers and Asian rivals Kazakhstan. In the first set, captain Pavlova lifted her team and Nassedkina continued to battle away at the net, but the variety and speed of the Japanese attack led to a communication breakdown on the Kazakh side. The Japanese were too quick and experienced at this high level for Kazakhstan, and delighted their fans by winning in straight sets. Date Pool A - Results 03-Aug CUB-DOM Aug JPN-KAZ Aug CUB-KAZ Aug JPN-DOM Aug DOM-KAZ Aug JPN-CUB World Grand Prix 2007 Cuba beat Kazakhstan Duration 1:06 World No. 5 Cuba brushed aside 19thranked Kazakhstan on the second day of the Grand Prix preliminary round at Ariake Coliseum. After disposing of NORCECA rivals Dominican Republic, Cuba improved their win-loss record to 2-0 with a straight forward victory. Kazakhstan, on their Grand Prix debut, dropped to 0-2, and would have regarded this match as a lesson for the future on the world stage. Cubans, Kazakhs compete

13 Week 1 Tokyo Japan beat Dominican Republic Duration 1:21 Japan produced another stylish display of slick, high-speed Volleyball to crush Dominican Republic. The home team followed up their straight-sets defeat of Grand Prix rookies Kazakhstan by downing the hot-and-cold Dominicans, to improve their win-loss record to 2-0. We thought serve would be very important to destroy their strategy and it functioned very well, said Japan coach Shoichi Yanagimoto. Japan s Kurihara reaches high Kazakhstan beat Dominican Republic 3-2 Duration 2:04 Kazakhstan won their first Grand Prix match with an exciting display against Dominican Republic. The Kazakhs, playing in the Grand Prix for the first time this season, ended their first weekend with a 1-2 win-loss record. The Dominicans, who had come back strongly from two sets down, slipped to 0-3. I am very happy about this result. It was a great match, so I would like to thank Dominica as well, said Kazakhstan captain Pavlova. Kazakh captain Pavlova attacks Japan s Sano reaches out to Cubans Cuba beat Japan 3-2 Duration 2:08 Two-time Grand Prix champions Cuba completed the first weekend of preliminary round action with a fiveset victory at Ariake Coliseum. The Pan American Games champions recovered from 1-0 and 2-1 down to go 3-for-3 over the weekend. Japan dropped to 2-1, unable to give the crowd of 9,700 a third consecutive victory. From the start of the match our play gradually became better, and we were at our best at the end, said Cuba captain Ruiz. Ranking Pool A Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Cuba Japan Kazakhstan Dominican Rep. 3 3 Final Report 13

14 Brazil beat Netherlands Duration 1:04 Brazil put the Netherlands to the sword in the opening pool game of the Grand Prix in Verona. In an easy game, the South Americans led from the very beginning of the match with a sequence of efficient attacks. I expected a much more difficult game, said Brazil coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes. The Netherlands suffered in receiving but we put on a good performance in blocking. Serving was another key point of this match." Preliminary Round Pool B ITA BRA NED TPE Italians on the offensive Netherlands Flier finds a way around Italy beat Chinese Taipei Duration 1:05 Italy followed Brazil along the winning path in the first round of matches of the Grand Prix pool in Verona. The Italians had an easy night in beating Chinese Taipei in straight sets. Italy coach Massimo Barbolini s team started with a lot of confidence, dealing well with a team that impressed at the 2006 World Championships. Positive debut, said Barbolini. Taipei is a good team but not at our level." Ranking Pool B Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Brazil Italy Netherlands Chinese Taipei World Grand Prix 2007 Brazil s Sheilla smashes one down Brazil beat Chinese Taipei Duration 1:07 Brazil notched their second success, easily beating a lesser experienced Chinese Taipei. Fabiana and her teammates exercised total control even though some Brazilians were sitting this one out. The first set was good, especially in receiving said Taipei coach Jeng Fang Fann. We put Brazil in trouble. Then our opponents started to put into the game a more physical approach and the result was the natural consequence of this mismatch."

15 Week 1 Verona Italy beat Netherlands Duration 1:14 Italy made it six sets won out of six, the same as the Brazilians. The Azzurre beat Netherlands in the fourth pool game in Verona in a match that only in the first set saw both teams battling for the lead. Italian dominance became clear in the last two sets. In the first set we needed to study Holland, said middle blocker Barazza. It was important to win this match in order to have more points for the Grand Prix." Aguero leaps high to spike Netherlands beat Chinese Taipei Duration 1:09 After two losses in a row, the Dutch clinched their first win in the Grand Prix. It was one-way traffic for the girls in orange. Taipei suffered problems in receiving and attacking, leaving Verona with three big losses in a row. I want to thank the organization. I expected a little bit more from my team in the first two games, said Netherlands coach Avital Selinger. Now we need to work hard in order to improve for the future." Netherlands Visser faces resistance Brazil attacks from the right Brazil beat Italy 3-2 Duration 2:12 In the end, Brazil won on the tie break. But what a game before that. Italy and Brazil showed all their talent in the last Grand Prix Pool match played in Verona. The most disputed match of the Italian series showed how both teams deserved to be in the finals. We started well. Some mistakes but at the end the result is OK, said Fabiana. We need to work harder. The road is still long to reach our target." Date Pool B - Results 03-Aug BRA-NED Aug ITA-TPE Aug TPE-BRA Aug ITA-NED Aug NED-TPE Aug ITA-BRA Final Report 15

16 Preliminary Round Pool C POL RUS USA CHN Russia beat China 3-1 Duration 1:53 The Russians used their strong attacking skills well to defeat Olympic champions China in the first match in Poland. I m very happy because I didn t expect my team to play that well, said Russia coach Giovanni Caprara. Now we must stay on that track. Russia captain Sokolova was absent but was impressed by what she saw. I didn t play in the match itself but I saw a great game from my team, said Sokolova. Russia, China do battle at net Polish blockers keep eyes peeled USA beat Poland 3-2 Duration 2:11 A five-set struggle between Poland and USA ended with the Americans coming out on top. Team USA lost 25 points from their own errors in the first two sets but managed to come back and conquer Poland with strong and accurate attacks. I think Poland played really well in the first two sets, said USA captain Ah Mow-Santos. We discussed over our problems, regrouped, started blocking and attacking well." Date Pool C - Results 03-Aug RUS-CHN Aug POL-USA Aug RUS-USA Aug POL-CHN Aug CHN-USA Aug POL-RUS World Grand Prix 2007 USA beat Russia Duration 1:27 World Champions Russia surprised everybody by handing the match to America. Both teams played radically different from the previous matches. Russia had real problems with finishing their attacks and the coach Giovanni Caprara pointed the players young age as the reason for their inconsistent play. USA coach Ping Lang said: It s a short time since we are together as a team and we have to use each match as a chance to improve." Russia s Fateeva, Sedova block

17 Week 1 Rzeszow China beat Poland 3-2 Duration 2:18 The fourth match in Rzeszow was a long, five-set struggle. Poland lost to China, but this time Poland coach Marco Bonitta was much more pleased with the level of the game. China coach Chen Zhonghe had no complaints about his team s performance. Poland captain Swieniewicz was really sorry: We lost in spite of our fans great support. The good thing is that our work is starting to bring good results and soon we ll not only try to win but win." China s Xu attacks China beat USA Duration 1:37 The Chinese attack took the American team by storm. China coach Chen Zhonghe s team left happy with its overall performance in the Rzeszow round. USA coach Ping Lang stressed the great pressure put on her team by China, especially with their serve and very fast attacks. We lost a total of 20 points that way, which is nearly a whole set, said Ping. We have to learn how to deal with quick attack and combinations." China on the offensive Russian players celebrate Russia beat Poland Duration 1:21 The last match of the Poland leg ended with the Polish losing to Russia. Russian supremacy in spike, block and serve was clear from the beginning of the game. In the third set the white-andreds took the lead in a full house of over 4,500 Polish fans, but their sudden surge was not enough against Russia s great game. Poland finished with no victories in Rzeszow, while coach Giovanni Caprara s Russian girls were the best team. Ranking Pool C Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Russia USA China Poland 3 3 Final Report 17

18 Brazil beat Netherlands Duration 1:27 World No. 2 Brazil began the second weekend of the Grand Prix with victory over the 10th-ranked Netherlands in Tokyo Bay. The six-time Grand Prix champions improved their win-loss record in preliminary round play to 4-0. The Dutch dropped to 1-3, but improved on the display in the previous week s loss to Brazil. We could have played much better but the Netherlands played much better than last week, said Brazil coach José Roberto Guimaraes. Preliminary Round Pool D JPN BRA NED TPE Brazilians Sheilla, Fabiana block Chaine Staelens Joyous Japanese players Japan beat Chinese Taipei Duration 1:21 Japan made no mistake this time. In a rematch of their 2006 FIVB World Championship pool game, which Chinese Taipei surprisingly won 3-1, Japan gained a measure of revenge by crushing their Asian rivals in the Grand Prix at Ariake Coliseum. After a shaky start, the Japanese won to improve their win-loss record in the Grand Prix to 3-1. Taipei dropped to 0-4. Before the game, we didn t think about (that defeat), said Japan captain Takeshita. Ranking Pool D Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Brazil Netherlands Japan Chinese Taipei World Grand Prix 2007 Brazil attack Brazil beat Chinese Taipei Duration 1:13 Mighty Brazil outclassed minnows Chinese Taipei for the second time in two weeks in the Grand Prix. Following up their victory over the Asians in Italy, the six-time Grand Prix champions romped to the win. Today s game was a very precious one because all our 12 players had a chance to play, said Brazil coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes. This Grand Prix is a very long tournament so it is necessary to keep a good condition."

19 Week 2 Tokyo Netherlands beat Japan 3-2 Duration 2:22 The dazzling Dutch tamed a feisty Japan team, and a full house of 10,000 at Ariake Coliseum, to win a magnificent match. The Dutch recorded their second victory against three losses in five Grand Prix qualifying games, while Japan dropped to 3-2. We had a nice match but it was very hard. The Netherlands was good at blocking (19 block points) and that is why we could win, said Dutch player Staelens. Netherlands Flier shows spirit Netherlands beat Chinese Taipei Duration 1:14 The Netherlands completed a good weekend s work by beating Chinese Taipei. Following on from their exciting 3-2 victory over Japan, the Dutch were never threatened in the match. So far we played six games and we have improved match by match, studied the opponents and got used to the height of European Volleyball, said Chinese Taipei coach Jeng Fang Fann. I think we have gained good experience." Brazil s Caroline winds up Brazil beat Japan Duration 1:26 Brazil extended their winning streak against sixth-ranked Japan to 19 games. Undefeated against Japan since November 2001, Brazil maintained their dominance with a performance of power and precision in front of another 10,000 capacity crowd. The victory improved Brazil s win-loss record to 6-0, while dropping Japan to 3-3. Our strategy succeeded, said Brazil captain Carol. Serve was good and blocking and defense functioned." Date Pool D - Results 10-Aug BRA-NED Aug JPN-TPE Aug BRA-TPE Aug JPN-NED Aug NED-TPE Aug JPN-BRA Netherlands Kim Staelens sets Final Report 19

20 Preliminary Round Pool E RUS CUB USA KAZ USA beat Cuba 3-1 Duration 1:40 The USA took control from the beginning in the opener in Russia. Cuba littered the first set with attacking mistakes. The USA capitalized on this and with some excellent attacking and blocking in the second bracket strode into a two-set lead. The Cubans experience hauled them team back into it but the Americans regained their momentum and capitalized on more attacking errors from the Cubans to clinch the match. USA coach Lang Ping gives instructions Russian receive the ball Russia beat Kazakhstan Duration 1:12 The world champions secured a tricky victory in their first home match. Well-disciplined at the beginning and keeping mistakes to a minimum, Russia cruised in the first set. But Kazakhstan, with captain Pavlova leading by example, made more of a game of it in the second bracket and also tested their illustrious opponents in the third set. Russia had indeed lost concentration and needed to save a set point but eventually prevailed. Date Pool E - Results 10-Aug CUB-USA Aug RUS-KAZ Aug CUB-KAZ Aug USA-RUS Aug USA-KAZ Aug RUS-CUB World Grand Prix 2007 Cuba beat Kazakhstan Duration 1:09 The Cubans were rattled by a feisty display from the Grand Prix debutants but used their experience to carve out a straight sets win. Kazakhstan came out all guns blazing, using an aggressive floating serve and the irresistible hits of Pavlova to good effect. The Cubans were caught cold but combined tactical nous, fitness, a dash of luck and an indefatigable display from captain Ruiz to gain the upper hand. Cubans combine to block

21 Week 2 Khabarovsk Russia beat USA 3-2 Duration 1:59 Russia came out on top in a spell-binding battle of wits. The hosts started nervously in front of 7,000 fans and a combination of reception and blocking mistakes saw them lose the first set. It was a different story in the next two, though, with Godina, Alimova and Ivanova combining to devastating effect. Despite the best efforts of Safronova, the USA clawed their way back but Russia showed their indomitable spirit in the deciding set. USA s Haneef-Park goes over Russian block Cuba s Ramirez sets for Carrillo USA beat Kazakhstan 3-1 Duration 1:50 Kazakhstan once again went down in a blaze of glory. They pushed their opponents all the way in the first bracket, before leveling things in the second set with an incredible late surge triggered by the introduction of Ishimtseva. America had to buck up their ideas in the third set and Scott-Arruda led by example as her team claimed it. The fourth set was much closer but the Americans secured victory at the second time of asking. Kazakhstan attacks USA Russia beat Cuba 3-2 Duration 1:57 Russia saw a two-set lead disappear before captain Sokolova stepped up in the fifth set. From the get-go, it was an absorbing point by point battle between Russia s Godina and Gamova and Cuba s Ruiz and Carrillo. The Russians had the upper hand, though, especially after Sokolova, returning from injury, was introduced. Cuba came back, Russia struggling after their five-setter against America, but Sokolova ultimately was the difference. Ranking Pool E Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Russia USA Cuba Kazakhstan 3 3 Final Report 21

22 Preliminary Round Pool F ITA CHN DOM POL Poland beat Italy 3-1 Duration 1:38 The Polish came roaring out the blocks with some aggressive attacks and, coupled with some serving and receiving errors from the Italians, were able to claim the first set. Italy gained some rhythm in the second and with some forceful spiking gained an insurmountable lead. Poland came back into it in the third, though, with Skowronska-Dolata and Dziekiewicz combining well to stifle the Italians and clinch the win. Italy s Aguero blocks Poland s Rosner China s Liu shares joke with Li China beat Dominican Republic Duration 1:00 China took little time to dispose of their opponents. They were devastating in their service game, to which the Dominicans had scant response in the first set. China s Wie notched a number of points throughout with her brilliant service game. The blocking of Liu and Xue helped wrap up the last two sets at a canter. (Xue) was able to get hold of the pace and played confidently later in the match, said China coach Chen Zhonghe. Ranking Pool F Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Poland Italy China Dominican Rep World Grand Prix 2007 Italy defends Italy beat Dominican Republic Duration 1:05 The Dominican Republic crumbled in the face of a sustained assault from Italy. Aguero dominated proceedings in the first set and her teammates, buoyed by her example, hammered the faltering Dominicans in the second. The trailing team steadied the ship somewhat in the final set but capitulated in the face of some fearsome spiking. We played very well without many mistakes, especially in serving and blocking, said Italy coach Massimo Barbolini.

23 Week 2 Hong Kong Poland beat Dominican Republic Duration 1:12 Poland won the Hong Kong leg of the Grand Prix with a straightforward dismantling of the Dominicans. Both teams made serving and spiking mistakes at the beginning until Skowronska-Dolata took control with her serve. The Dominicans rallied at the start of the second but even without captain Swieniewicz the Polish were too hot to handle. I am delighted with the result since it is the first time we have won a Grand Prix leg, said Swieniewicz. Dominicans defend in vain Polish celebrate victory Fans pack out Hong Kong arena Italy beat China 3-2 Duration 1:52 Italy rallied from 2-1 down to grab the win over the Chinese. Xu s serves and Aguero s attacks saw the score change hands throughout the first set before Italy prevailed. China attacked furiously in the following two sets, though, to take the lead before the Italians came back with a vengeance, finally sneaking the final set amid unbearable tension. I knew if we served and passed well we could win against China, said Italy coach Massimo Barbolini. Poland beat China 3-2 Duration 1:56 Poland claimed a come-from-behind five-set victory to gain revenge for their epic loss in Rzeszow. China stormed to a two-set lead but the Poles rallied in the third. The fourth seesawed back and forth at the beginning before Poland forged ahead and they kept their momentum in the final set. We played a very good match and were extremely satisfied with our performance especially when we lost the first two sets, said Poland s Swieniewicz. Date Pool F - Results 10-Aug ITA-POL Aug CHN-DOM Aug ITA-DOM Aug CHN-POL Aug DOM-POL Aug CHN-ITA Final Report 23

24 Preliminary Round Pool G JPN RUS POL KAZ Poland beat Russia Duration 1:18 Poland caused a huge upset by downing the world champions in straight sets. The 11th-ranked Poles improved their win-loss record to 4-3 to boost their chances of reaching the final round in China. The Russians, world No. 1 and three-time Grand Prix champions, slipped to 5-2 on the court where they beat Brazil in the World Championship final in November Russia beat Poland in the first round of the Grand Prix. Poland s Dziekiewicz flies high against Russia Japan s Erica powers home a spike Date Pool G - Results 17-Aug POL-RUS Aug JPN-KAZ Aug KAZ-RUS Aug JPN-POL Aug KAZ-POL Aug JPN-RUS World Grand Prix 2007 Russia beat Kazakhstan 3-2 Duration 1:58 World champions Russia were pushed to the limit by 19th-ranked Kazakhstan. The three-time Grand Prix champions improved their win-loss record to 6-2. The Kazakhs dropped to 1-7, but still had the satisfaction of taking the world No. 1 to full sets in their Grand Prix debut. One or two important players such as Sokolova and Merkulova had some injuries and could not play their best match, said Russia coach Giovanni Caprara. Japan beat Kazakhstan Duration 1:26 Japan got back on the winning trail in the Grand Prix by beating Asian rivals Kazakhstan in straightforward fashion. After losing to both the Netherlands and Brazil in Tokyo, Japan improved their win-loss record to 4-3 in the ninegame preliminary round. The Kazakhs dropped to 1-6. Our formation changed for today s game, and the aim was to be more effective for side attacks, said Japan captain Takeshita. Kazakh captain Pavlova attacks

25 Week 3 Japan s Shoji, Takeshita defend against Poland Osaka Poland beat Japan 3-1 Duration 1:51 Poland recorded a vital victory over Japan in their bid to reach the Grand Prix final round in China. Both teams started the match with a 4-3 win-loss record, with Poland improving to 5-3 in front of a capacity crowd of 8,000. Japan dropped to 4-4. There was a big difference about the number of block points, and naturally it would be difficult for us to win the game, said Japan coach Shoichi Yanagimoto. Poland beat Kazakhstan 3-1 Duration 1:40 World No. 11 Poland won the Osaka leg of the Grand Prix by beating 19thranked Kazakhstan in an entertaining match. After disposing of Russia and Japan, the Poles held off Grand Prix rookies Kazakhstan to complete the preliminary round with a 6-3 winloss record. The Kazakhs finished at 1-8 but clearly improved as the nine-game qualifying round progressed. Kazakhstan is a new team but plays at a top level, said Poland coach Marco Bonitta. Kazakh s Grushko sets up an attack Russia, Japan battle at net Russia beat Japan 3-1 Duration 1:54 The world champions ended the Grand Prix preliminary round on a winning note. Russia recovered from losing the first set to finish the qualifying competition with a 7-2 win-loss record. Japan dropped to 4-5 and failed to qualify for the six-team final round. The first set was a little bit difficult but finally we started serving well. Japan s reception was getting worse so eventually we could win, said Russia captain Sokolova. Ranking Pool G Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Poland Russia Japan Kazakhstan 3 3 Final Report 25

26 Preliminary Round Pool H TPE BRA DOM ITA Brazil beat Dominican Republic Duration 1:17 Brazil maintained their unbeaten record with an easy win. The match began with some punishing rallies between the two but the Brazilians soon gained the upper hand. The Dominicans reorganized to good effect but their improvement didn t last long. Brazil performed superbly in the final set. We learned we had to have full concentration and minimize our own mistakes in order to successfully put pressure on them, said Brazil coach José Roberto Guimaraes. Dominican De La Cruz defends against Brazil Chinese Taipei defend in vain Italy beat Chinese Taipei Duration 1:10 Italy improved their win-loss record to 5-2 with another straight sets victory over Chinese Taipei, following on from the one in Verona. Italy s attackers successfully pocketed the first set despite some tough defense from their opponents. The Italians kept pressing and succeeded in claiming the second set, before Chinese Taipei rallied in the third. Italy gradually stabilized, though, and their superior attacking ultimately told. Ranking Pool H Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Italy Brazil Dominican Rep Chinese Taipei 3 3 Italy beat Dominican Republic 3-1 Duration 1:37 A typhoon raged outside the arena while Italy unleashed a storm of attacks inside which proved the difference. The Dominicans strengthened their blocking as Italians relaxed in the third set, which proved costly for the Europeans. Italy regained their focus from the beginning of the fourth set, though, to dominate at the end. It was the most important match because we are now qualified for the final, said Italy coach Massimo Barbolini. 26 World Grand Prix 2007 Italy s Barazza slaps down a spike

27 Week 3 Dominican Republic beat Chinese Taipei Duration 1:12 The Dominicans successfully tripped up Chinese Taipei with superior attacking and alternative tipping. Chinese Taipei were blown away in the first set before reorganizing themselves in the second and claiming some points. The Dominicans countered, though, with some powerful attacks and coasted to victory. We had done well in attacking and blocking during the whole match, which was the key to our victory, said Dominican coach Miguel Beato Cruz. Caso controls the ball Taipei Chinese Taipei take a breather Italy beat Brazil 3-1 Duration 1:45 Italy inflicted a first defeat for Brazil in the Grand Prix preliminary rounds to improve their win-loss record to 7-2 in what was both teams final match before the finals. Italy grabbed the first set and despite a seesaw points battle also nicked the second. Brazil came back in the third through their usual powerful attack plus strong defense, but just when the South Americans seemed to stabilize Italy came up with the crucial workarounds. Brazil beat Chinese Taipei Duration 1:27 It was Mission Impossible for Chinese Taipei but they proved a worthy adversary against the South Americans, who kept their unbeaten record. Brazil pocketed the first two sets within 40 minutes and despite a wobble in the third set, when a Brazilian coach received a red card for protesting a referee decision, the South Americans romped home. We lacked variation to mess up our opponent, said Chinese Taipei coach Jeng Fang Fann. Italy, Brazil meet and greet Date Pool H - Results 17-Aug BRA-DOM Aug TPE-ITA Aug ITA-DOM Aug TPE-BRA Aug TPE-DOM Aug ITA-BRA Final Report 27

28 Preliminary Round Pool I CUB CHN NED USA Netherlands beat Cuba 3-1 Duration 1:40 The Dutch notched their fourth victory against three losses with a four-set win over Cuba, who dropped to 4-3. The first two sets were neck and neck all the way, with the Dutch taking the first and the Cubans the second. The Dutch became more confident in the third and their vigorous attacks and solid defense soon wiped away the Cubans smiles and spirit. There is a positive atmosphere in our team, said Dutch captain Visser. Netherlands scramble against Cuba Chinese celebrate against USA China beat USA Duration 1:13 China improved their win-loss record to 4-3 with another straight sets victory over the USA, following on from their win in Rzeszow. The first set came without much effort but the Chinese faltered at the start of the second. It was a temporary blip, though, and the second was soon wrapped up. Cheered on by the crowd, China surged to victory on the back of some solid spiking and blocking in the third set. Date Pool I - Results 17-Aug CUB-NED Aug CHN-USA Aug CUB-USA Aug CHN-NED Aug USA-NED Aug CHN-CUB World Grand Prix 2007 USA beat Cuba 3-2 Duration 1:59 USA rebounded from defeat to China by downing Cuba in five sets. Both teams impressed at the beginning, not allowing each other any breathing space, but Cuba drew first blood. The Americans retaliated to take the next two sets on the back of some good attacks and blocks. The Cubans were stung into action and sneaked the fourth bracket but America s experience told in the deciding set. It was a great match for the audience, said USA coach Ping Lang. Cubans defend against USA

29 Week 3 Macau Netherlands beat China 3-2 Duration 1:56 The Dutch battled back to claim an epic five-setter against the Chinese for their fifth win in the preliminaries and fourth straight, while China s win-loss record dropped to 4-4. The first set was a topsy-turvy affair till the Dutch clinched it but China won the next two sets with improved defense and serve. The Dutch roared back in the fourth set and their momentum, with powerful spikes and solid blocks, carried through into the final set. Netherlands Flier gets ready for spike Cuba s Ramirez hammers down a spike Netherlands beat USA 3-1 Duration 1:30 After the morale-boosting victory over China, the Netherlands started ambitiously and were able to follow through on their early promise. They took the first set without much effort and their confidence grew from then on, with the Dutch exhibiting some tremendous power in the block. USA turned the tables by easily securing the third set but the Dutch regained their concentration and Flier dispatched the fatal spike to win it in the fourth. Netherlands celebrate win over USA Cuba beat China 3-1 Duration 1:35 Cuba got the better of China in their final preliminary match. The Chinese had the chance to take the first bracket with a set point but mistakes meant Cuba went ahead. China didn t make the same errors in the second and Xue leveled things. Cuba took control at the start of the third but were pushed all the way before securing the vital sets. "I think our attack and reception performed well today, said captain Ruiz. Ranking Pool I Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Netherlands China Cuba USA Final Report 29

30 After the 3 rd week Host China and the 5 bests qualified for the finals 30 World Grand Prix 2007 Preliminary round Summary Ranking after week 1 Rk Country Points Matches Points Sets Won Lost Won Lost Ratio Won Lost Ratio 1 Brazil Cuba Italy Japan Russia USA China Netherlands Kazakhstan Poland Dominican Republic Chinese Taipei After week 2 Rk Country Points Matches Points Sets Won Lost Won Lost Ratio Won Lost Ratio 1 Brazil Russia Italy Cuba USA China Japan Netherlands Poland Kazakhstan Dominican Republic Chinese Taipei Rk Country Points Matches Points Sets Won Lost Won Lost Ratio Won Lost Ratio 1 Brazil Italy Russia Poland Netherlands Cuba USA China Japan Kazakhstan Dominican Republic Chinese Taipei Ningbo-Beilun Gymnasium

31 The Final Round China Brazil Italy Russia Poland Netherlands 5 days 6 teams 15 matches in a single round-robin Final Report 31

32 2007 Final Round From ancient times, Ningbo was a well-known stop on the Asian trading route but the city also is well-regarded for its cultural history, nearby natural beauty and developed science and technology industry. Ningbo China Country Seat of Chicheng Ningbo was the starting point for the Silk Road, the most well-known trading route via land and sea of ancient Chinese civilization. The city lies south of the Yangtze Delta, with the East China Sea lapping its eastern shore, and is separated from Shanghai by Hangzhou Bay. It has grown into one of China s four international deepwater harbors and remains a main harbor for foreign trade, while also being a base for the chemical industry in East China. It has its sights set on becoming one of the most modern harbors in China. The Ningbo-Beilun Gymnasium TAI HU SHANGHAI EAST CHINA SEA HANGZHOU BAY Shanghai-Ningbo Bridge 32 World Grand Prix 2007 HANGZHOU NINGBO Beilun Expressways Railways

33 15th Edition Following the Silk Road Sunset in Ningbo The Three Rivers Junction in Ningbo The Bund The dragon symbolizes the danger caused by the high tides of the Hangzhou Bay Harvest time in Ningbo Ningbo, which has a population of 5.3 million, has gradually broadened its relations with other countries. More than 300,000 overseas Chinese born in Ningbo are dedicated to making contributions to their hometown. There are 225 cultural relics in Ningbo and the Hemudu Cultural Relics go back 7,000 years. With Putuo Mountain and Yandang Mountain nearby, Ningbo is a great place for tourists from all over the world. Final Report 33

34 Final Round August 22 Brazil beat Poland Duration 1:15 Six-time winners Brazil opened the final round with an easy win over Poland. The South Americans, who compiled a ruthless 8-1 record after three weeks preliminaries, snapped Poland s six-match winning steak and emerged as the heavy favorite for the 2007 title. Our service was getting better throughout the match and most of them threatened Poland s defense, said Brazil coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes. Poland captain Swieniewicz was bitterly disappointed. I don t know why we lost the match, she said. Brazilian players embrace Italy attacks Russia Poland s Sadurek sets for Liktoras Results - Day 1 Date Teams Sets / Points by set 22-Aug BRA-POL Aug ITA-RUS Aug CHN-NED Italy beat Russia 3-1 Duration 1:31 Russia had their hopes of landing a fourth Grand Prix title dented. In the first set, Italy started to take the upper hand and pull away while Russia was never into their game, making too many unforced errors. Despite this, Russia found their rhythm and exchanged the lead with their opponents, but some spectacular spikes from Aguero and Guiggi and the Azzurre s battling qualities brought them the victory. Congratulations to Italy, said Russia coach Giovanni Caprara. They played very well " 34 World Grand Prix 2007

35 Round-robin Day 1 CHN BRA ITA RUS POL NED Netherlands, China battle Dutch, Chinese duel at net Netherlands beat China 3-2 Duration 2:10 China let down their roaring fans in the loss in their opening match of the Grand Prix final round. With spectacular spikes from Flier and captain Visser, the Netherlands held the upper hand against China. The reigning Olympic champions, led by captain Zhou, clawed back from two sets down to level the match, only to lose the tie-breaker as their defense was torn apart. I feel quite proud my team showed great courage to win the tie break, said Dutch coach Avital Selinger. Russia s Merkulova spikes against Italy Ranking - Day 1 Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Italy Brazil Netherlands China Poland Russia Final Report 35

36 Final Round August 23 Brazil players listen to tactics Russians attack against Brazil Russia beat Brazil 3-2 Duration 2:04 Brazil s defense never ran smoothly in losing an epic five-setter to the world champions. History repeated itself as Russia had downed Brazil 3-2 in the final of the World Championships in Led by the giant Gamova, Russia finally overcame a slow start to dominate the match with sizzling attack and tougher blocking. After that, the match was dragged into the tie-breaker which Russia managed to claim. We made too many mistakes, said Brazil coach José Roberto Guimaraes. Results - Day 2 Date Teams Sets / Points by set 23-Aug RUS-BRA Aug ITA-NED Aug POL-CHN Poland s Dziekiewicz, Sadurek block China 36 World Grand Prix 2007

37 Round-robin Day 2 CHN BRA ITA RUS POL NED Netherlands beat Italy 3-1 Duration 1:43 Following a gritty 3-2 win over hosts China, the Netherlands looked to be at about the peak of their game when they enjoyed sweet revenge on Italy and a second consecutive win in the final round. Italy, who swept aside the Netherlands in the Verona leg of the Grand Prix preliminaries, were never into their game at the start of the first set. Despite the strong Aguero, the determined Italians were eventually defeated by the high-spirited Dutch girls. Netherlands lay siege against Italy Chinese defend against Poland China beat Poland 3-2 Duration 1:55 China shook off the pressure of playing at home to beat Poland and snap a three-match losing streak in the Grand Prix. China kept on the scoring track early in the opening set, but an enterprising Pole team withstood a strong late charge from China and nicked the first bracket. The host team was still troubled in the second set, but inspired by roaring home support they managed to keep their rhythm under control and win two straight sets. Poland leveled, but China held on in the fifth. Italy s Barazza spikes Ranking - Day 2 Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Netherlands Brazil Italy China Russia Poland Final Report 37

38 Final Round August 24 Netherlands beat Brazil 3-2 Duration 2:00 The Netherlands eye-catching run in the final round continued as they stunned the three-time defending champions Brazil for a third win in a row. Following a grueling 3-2 win over hosts China and a more convincing 3-1 win against second ranked Italy, the Netherlands seemed to be at about the peak of their game in beating top-ranked Brazil. Despite Brazil s excellent defense and spikes, the Dutch girls kept the momentum on their side and clinched the match. Brazil s Caroline puts pressure on Netherlands Russia s Sokolova spikes on Poland s Dziekiewicz Netherlands players scramble in match against Brazil Results - Day 3 Date Teams Sets / Points by set 24-Aug BRA-NED Aug RUS-POL Aug ITA-CHN Russia beat Poland Duration 1:15 Reigning World champions Russia beat Poland in straight sets for a second straight win in the final round. Russia had no great trouble brushing aside an off-color Polish team, improving their record to 2-1. Poland, losers of three matches in a row, seemed to be running out of steam at the showpiece tournament for which they had qualified for the first time. It was a good match. We played solid defense, especially in digging, said Russia captain Sokolova. 38 World Grand Prix 2007

39 Round-robin Day 3 CHN BRA ITA RUS POL NED China s Ma, Wei defend against Fiorin China s Ma spikes against Italy China beat Italy 3-2 Duration 2:01 China defeated Italy in an absorbing five-setter for their second straight win in Ningbo. The hosts third straight match in the final round to go into a tie break ended with them improving their record to 2-1. Chinese veterans Zhou and Yang contributed enough points to keep pressure on Italy, while Aguero and Guiggi scored some sizzling shots for the Azzurre. But China showed battling qualities in front of thunderous home support to claim the match. Russians block Polish attack Ranking - Day 3 Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Netherlands China Russia Italy Brazil Poland Final Report 39

40 Final Round August 25 Netherlands joyous after win MVP Flier crashes in a spike Netherlands beat Poland Duration 1:20 The Netherlands moved one step closer towards their first ever title at the Grand Prix after blitzing Poland. The Dutch remained the sole team with a clean sheet in the sixteam round-robin tournament. The giant-killing run boosted the girls confidence, making them a lot more deadly everywhere on the court. The Flying Dutchwoman Flier, Staelens and Wensink kept the points coming and beat the Polish defense. They are a great team, they deserved to win the match, said Poland captain Swieniewicz. Results - Day 4 Date Teams Sets / Points by set 25-Aug NED-POL Aug CHN-RUS Aug BRA-ITA China s Yang faces Russian resistance 40 World Grand Prix 2007

41 Round-robin Day 4 CHN BRA ITA RUS POL NED Italy beat Brazil 3-1 Duration 1:41 Despite an impressive win over Brazil, Italy s hopes of winning their first-ever title of the renowned event were shattered by the Netherlands. Italian spiker Aguero produced aggressive spikes to claim the first set. Despite the Brazilians winning second set, the Italians were in a class of their own and closed out the match. I am very happy about the win because we played a very good game against a very strong team, said Italy coach Massimo Barbolini. Italy s Aguero faces Brazilian blockers at the net China, Russia compete at the net China beat Russia Duration 1:24 A recovering Chinese team stunned the world champions to keep alive their title hopes. The hosts improved to a 3-1 record in the six-team round-robin tournament with a well-deserved third straight victory, following an opening five-set loss to the Netherlands. The Chinese girls, who collected their only Grand Prix title in 2003, had the game in control with tougher blocking and cover defense. We did a great job in blocking and it was won through teamwork, said China captain Zhou. Brazilians team up against Italy Ranking - Day 4 Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Netherlands China Italy Russia Brazil Poland Final Report 41

42 Final Round August 26 Netherlands beat Russia 3-2 Duration 1:53 Inspired by Staelens and the Flying Dutchwoman Flier, the Netherlands landed their first title at the FIVB World Grand Prix in style after beating Russia in five sets for their fifth straight victory. The orange contingent, the only team with a clean sheet at the six-strong round robin tournament, held off a strong surge from Russia to become the sixth team to win the renowned title. We worked hard and this is proof that if we work hard we win more than we lose, said Dutch coach Avital Selinger. Russian blockers stretch for the ball Aguero evades Poland s Skowronska Netherlands come together after victory at the 2007 World Grand Prix Results - Day 5 Date Teams Sets / Points by set 26-Aug NED-RUS Aug POL-ITA Aug CHN-BRA Poland beat Italy Duration 1:15 European champions Poland finally won a match in the final round as they made short work of Italy. Poland coach Marco Bonitta seemed to know which way to play his former team and the Polish looked almost invincible at the net, stifling Italy s top scorer Aguero in the first two sets. In the third, the Poles were just in a class of their own and spiker Podolec closed out the match. They played very well while we had trouble in blocking and our defense system, said Italy captain Lo Bianco. 42 World Grand Prix 2007

43 Round-robin Day 5 CHN BRA ITA RUS POL NED China, Brazil battle at the net China defends against Brazil China beat Brazil Duration 1:13 Hosts China made short work of six-time winners Brazil for their fourth straight win in the final round. Following an opening loss to the Netherlands, China bounced back and finished second in the final rankings on nine points. We showed enough morale and played without thinking too much about the result, said China coach Chen Zhonghe. Italy finished third and Russia fourth. Three-time defending champions Brazil had to settle for a disappointing fifth place in the six-strong round robin tournament. Poland s Skowronska spikes against Fiorin Final Ranking - Day 5 Rk Country Points Matches Won Lost 1 Netherlands China Italy Russia Brazil Poland Final Report 43

44 th edition Best Scorer & Best Spiker Aguero of Italy Best Server Yang of China Most Valuable Player Manon Flier of Netherlands The winning teams celebrate 44 World Grand Prix 2007

45 Final Round Awards Ceremony Best Setter Wei of China Best Receiver, Digger, Libero Zhang of China Best Blocker Dziekiewicz of Poland Final Ranking Rk Country Points Matches Points Sets Won Lost Won Lost Ratio Won Lost Ratio 1 Netherlands China Italy Russia Brazil Poland Final Report 45