# Volleyball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's qualification

The qualification for the 2016 Women's Olympic volleyball tournament was held from 22 August 2015 to 22 May 2016. Twelve teams qualified, the hosts, the FIVB World Cup champion and runner-up, five continental Olympic qualification tournament champions, and four teams from the World Olympic qualification tournament respectively. Teams already qualified for the event were not eligible to play in the following qualification tournaments.

## Qualification summary

| Means of qualification | Date | Venue | Vacancies | Qualified |
| Host Country | — | — | 1 | Brazil |
| 2015 World Cup | 22 August – 6 September 2015 | Japan | 2 | China |
| 2015 World Cup | 22 August – 6 September 2015 | Japan | 2 | Serbia |
| European Qualifier | 4–9 January 2016 | Ankara | 1 | Russia |
| South American Qualifier | 6–10 January 2016 | Bariloche | 1 | Argentina |
| North American Qualifier | 7–9 January 2016 | Lincoln | 1 | United States |
| African Qualifier | 12–16 February 2016 | Yaoundé | 1 | Cameroon |
| Asian Qualifier | 14–22 May 2016 | Tokyo | 1 | South Korea |
| 1st World Qualifier | 14–22 May 2016 | Tokyo | 3 | Italy |
| 1st World Qualifier | 14–22 May 2016 | Tokyo | 3 | Netherlands |
| 1st World Qualifier | 14–22 May 2016 | Tokyo | 3 | Japan |
| 2nd World Qualifier | 20–22 May 2016 | San Juan | 1 | Puerto Rico |
| Total | Total | Total | 12 | |

## Means of qualification

* Qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics
* Qualified for the 2016 World Olympics Qualification Tournament

## Host country

FIVB reserved a vacancy for the Olympics host country to participate in the tournament.
* Brazil

## FIVB World cup

The winners and runners-up from 2015 FIVB Volleyball World Cup qualified for the Olympics.
* Venue: Japan
* Dates: 22 August – 6 September 2015
| Rank | Team |
| | China |
| | Serbia |
| | United States |
| 4 | Russia |
| 5 | Japan |
| 6 | South Korea |
| 7 | Dominican Republic |
| 8 | Argentina |
| 9 | Cuba |
| 10 | Kenya |
| 11 | Peru |
| 12 | Algeria |

## Continental qualification tournaments
### Africa

African Olympic Qualification Tournament The winners qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games. The second and third teams would play in World Olympic Qualification Tournament.
* Venue: Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex, Yaoundé, Cameroon
* Dates: 12–16 February 2016
| Rank | Team |
| 1 | Cameroon |
| 2 | Egypt |
| 3 | Kenya |
| 4 | Algeria |
| 5 | Botswana |
| 6 | Tunisia |
| 7 | Uganda |

### Asia and Oceania

Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament The Asian Olympic qualification tournament combined with World Olympic qualification tournaments. The host teams and the top three ranked teams from the World ranking as of 1 January 2016 competed in the tournament. The top ranked among the four teams qualified as Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament winners.

### Europe

European Olympic Qualification Tournament The winners qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games. The second and third teams would play in World Olympic Qualification Tournament.
* Venue: Başkent Volleyball Hall, Ankara, Turkey
* Dates: 4–9 January 2016
| Rank | Team |
| 1 | Russia |
| 2 | Netherlands |
| 3 | Italy |
| 4 | Turkey |
| 5 | Germany |
| 6 | Belgium |
| 7 | Poland |
| 8 | Croatia |

### North America

NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament The top four ranked teams from the 2015 NORCECA Volleyball Championship competed in this tournament. The winners qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games. The second and third teams would play in the World Olympic Qualification Tournament.
* Venue: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
* Dates: 7–9 January 2016
* All times are Central Time (UTC−06:00).
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SPW | SPL | SPR | SW | SL | SR |
| 1 | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 249 | 173 | 1.439 | 9 | 1 | 9.000 |
| 2 | Dominican Republic | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 249 | 246 | 1.012 | 6 | 5 | 1.200 |
| 3 | Puerto Rico | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 232 | 258 | 0.899 | 5 | 6 | 0.833 |
| 4 | Canada | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 205 | 258 | 0.795 | 1 | 9 | 0.111 |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 7 Jan | 17:00 | Dominican Republic | 3–1 | Puerto Rico | 17–25 | 25–13 | 25–23 | 25–23 | 92–84 | P2 P3 |
| 7 Jan | 19:00 | United States | 3–0 | Canada | 25–18 | 25–18 | 25–15 | | 75–51 | P2 P3 |
| 8 Jan | 17:00 | Canada | 1–3 | Dominican Republic | 27–25 | 16–25 | 24–26 | 20–25 | 87–101 | P2 P3 |
| 8 Jan | 19:00 | United States | 3–1 | Puerto Rico | 25–14 | 24–26 | 25–12 | 25–14 | 99–66 | P2 P3 |
| 9 Jan | 17:00 | Puerto Rico | 3–0 | Canada | 32–30 | 25–17 | 25–20 | | 82–67 | P2 P3 |
| 9 Jan | 20:00 | United States | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 25–19 | 25–19 | 25–18 | | 75–56 | P2 P3 |

### South America

South American Olympic Qualification Tournament The winners qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games. The second and third teams would play in World Olympic Qualification Tournament.
* Venue: Bomberos Voluntarios Stadium, Bariloche, Argentina
* Dates: 6–10 January 2016
* All times are Argentina Standard Time (UTC−03:00).
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Argentina | 4 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 12.000 | 318 | 231 | 1.377 |
| 2 | Peru | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 3.000 | 284 | 247 | 1.150 |
| 3 | Colombia | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 0.667 | 332 | 329 | 1.009 |
| 4 | Venezuela | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 0.667 | 315 | 314 | 1.003 |
| 5 | Chile | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0.083 | 193 | 321 | 0.601 |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 6 Jan | 15:00 | Colombia | 3–2 | Venezuela | 25–14 | 15–25 | 21–25 | 25–17 | 17–15 | 103–96 | Result |
| 6 Jan | 19:00 | Chile | 0–3 | Argentina | 10–25 | 15–25 | 14–25 | | | 39–75 | Result |
| 7 Jan | 16:00 | Chile | 0–3 | Peru | 10–25 | 13–25 | 10–25 | | | 33–75 | Result |
| 7 Jan | 19:00 | Venezuela | 1–3 | Argentina | 18–25 | 16–25 | 25–17 | 18–25 | | 77–92 | Result |
| 8 Jan | 16:00 | Venezuela | 3–0 | Chile | 25–22 | 25–13 | 25–9 | | | 75–44 | Result |
| 8 Jan | 19:00 | Peru | 3–0 | Colombia | 30–28 | 25–22 | 25–22 | | | 80–72 | Result |
| 9 Jan | 14:00 | Peru | 3–0 | Venezuela | 25–23 | 25–22 | 25–22 | | | 75–67 | Result |
| 9 Jan | 17:00 | Argentina | 3–0 | Colombia | 25–20 | 26–24 | 25–17 | | | 76–61 | Result |
| 10 Jan | 14:00 | Colombia | 3–1 | Chile | 25–17 | 21–25 | 25–19 | 25–16 | | 96–77 | Result |
| 10 Jan | 17:00 | Argentina | 3–0 | Peru | 25–20 | 25–20 | 25–14 | | | 75–54 | Result |

## World Qualification tournaments

There were 2 tournaments to get 5 remaining spots in the 2016 Olympic Games. Only the teams which had not yet qualified from the 3 events above could play in the tournament. 12 teams had rights to play in this tournament, Japan as a host of 1st tournament, the top three Asian teams from World ranking as of 1 January 2016, and the 2nd and 3rd place from continental qualification tournaments. The 1st tournament was combined with the Asian Olympic qualification tournament which played in Japan. The best ranked Asian team qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games. The best three ranked teams, excluding the best Asian team, also secured the vacancies in the 2016 Olympic Games. The 2nd tournament which was held in Puerto Rico consisted of 4 teams, and only the best ranked team could take the last spot for the 2016 Olympic Games. The table below showed the allocation of 12 qualified teams.
| 1st tournament | 1st tournament | 1st tournament | 1st tournament | 2nd tournament | 2nd tournament |
| Qualification | Qualifier | Qualification | Qualifier | Qualification | Qualifier |
| Host country | Japan | European QT | Netherlands | African QT | Kenya |
| World Ranking for Asian teams | South Korea | European QT | Italy | African QT | Algeria |
| World Ranking for Asian teams | Thailand | North American QT 2nd | Dominican Republic | North American QT 3rd | Puerto Rico |
| World Ranking for Asian teams | Kazakhstan | South American QT 2nd | Peru | South American QT 3rd | Colombia |
* Egypt withdrew from the tournament. Therefore, Algeria, as the fourth place team in the African qualifier, replaced Egypt.

### 1st Tournament

* Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
* Dates: 14–22 May 2016
* All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+09:00).
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Italy | 7 | 6 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 7 | 2.571 | 586 | 517 | 1.133 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 7 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 17 | 7 | 2.429 | 571 | 465 | 1.228 |
| 3 | Japan | 7 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 18 | 10 | 1.800 | 644 | 571 | 1.128 |
| 4 | South Korea | 7 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 1.364 | 597 | 577 | 1.035 |
| 5 | Thailand | 7 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 1.250 | 597 | 592 | 1.008 |
| 6 | Dominican Republic | 7 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 0.438 | 517 | 542 | 0.954 |
| 7 | Peru | 7 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 0.438 | 462 | 549 | 0.842 |
| 8 | Kazakhstan | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 0.143 | 426 | 587 | 0.726 |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 14 May | 10:10 | South Korea | 1–3 | Italy | 17–25 | 20–25 | 27–25 | 18–25 | | 82–100 | P2 P3 |
| 14 May | 12:55 | Thailand | 3–1 | Dominican Republic | 26–24 | 26–28 | 25–16 | 25–20 | | 102–88 | P2 P3 |
| 14 May | 15:40 | Kazakhstan | 1–3 | Netherlands | 12–25 | 25–21 | 14–25 | 8–25 | | 59–96 | P2 P3 |
| 14 May | 19:15 | Japan | 3–0 | Peru | 25–23 | 25–10 | 25–14 | | | 75–47 | P2 P3 |
| 15 May | 10:10 | Italy | 3–1 | Thailand | 17–25 | 25–16 | 25–17 | 25–16 | | 92–74 | P2 P3 |
| 15 May | 12:55 | Peru | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 25–22 | 25–16 | 26–24 | | | 76–62 | P2 P3 |
| 15 May | 15:40 | Netherlands | 0–3 | South Korea | 27–29 | 23–25 | 21–25 | | | 71–79 | P2 P3 |
| 15 May | 19:20 | Japan | 3–0 | Kazakhstan | 25–14 | 25–15 | 25–11 | | | 75–40 | P2 P3 |
| 17 May | 10:10 | Kazakhstan | 1–3 | Peru | 25–19 | 22–25 | 23–25 | 23–25 | | 93–94 | P2 P3 |
| 17 May | 12:55 | Dominican Republic | 0–3 | Italy | 22–25 | 23–25 | 23–25 | | | 68–75 | P2 P3 |
| 17 May | 15:40 | Thailand | 0–3 | Netherlands | 14–25 | 16–25 | 20–25 | | | 50–75 | P2 P3 |
| 17 May | 19:15 | South Korea | 3–1 | Japan | 28–26 | 25–17 | 17–25 | 25–19 | | 95–87 | P2 P3 |
| 18 May | 10:10 | Peru | 0–3 | Italy | 19–25 | 16–25 | 17–25 | | | 52–75 | P2 P3 |
| 18 May | 12:55 | Kazakhstan | 0–3 | South Korea | 16–25 | 11–25 | 21–25 | | | 48–75 | P2 P3 |
| 18 May | 15:40 | Netherlands | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 25–22 | 25–18 | 25–21 | | | 75–61 | P2 P3 |
| 18 May | 19:20 | Japan | 3–2 | Thailand | 20–25 | 25–23 | 23–25 | 25–23 | 15–13 | 108–109 | P2 P3 |
| 20 May | 10:10 | Thailand | 3–0 | Kazakhstan | 25–18 | 25–19 | 25–15 | | | 75–52 | P2 P3 |
| 20 May | 12:55 | South Korea | 3–1 | Peru | 18–25 | 25–22 | 25–14 | 25–21 | | 93–82 | P2 P3 |
| 20 May | 15:40 | Italy | 0–3 | Netherlands | 21–25 | 21–25 | 14–25 | | | 56–75 | P2 P3 |
| 20 May | 19:15 | Dominican Republic | 0–3 | Japan | 22–25 | 16–25 | 25–27 | | | 63–77 | P2 P3 |
| 21 May | 10:10 | South Korea | 2–3 | Thailand | 25–19 | 25–22 | 27–29 | 24–26 | 12–15 | 113–111 | P2 P3 |
| 21 May | 12:55 | Kazakhstan | 1–3 | Dominican Republic | 20–25 | 25–22 | 12–25 | 20–25 | | 77–97 | P2 P3 |
| 21 May | 15:40 | Peru | 0–3 | Netherlands | 16–25 | 14–25 | 17–25 | | | 47–75 | P2 P3 |
| 21 May | 19:20 | Japan | 2–3 | Italy | 25–23 | 25–27 | 25–27 | 25–21 | 9–15 | 109–113 | P2 P3 |
| 22 May | 10:10 | Dominican Republic | 3–0 | South Korea | 25–23 | 25–11 | 28–26 | | | 78–60 | P2 P3 |
| 22 May | 12:55 | Thailand | 3–0 | Peru | 25–17 | 26–24 | 25–23 | | | 76–64 | P2 P3 |
| 22 May | 15:40 | Italy | 3–0 | Kazakhstan | 25–22 | 25–16 | 25–19 | | | 75–57 | P2 P3 |
| 22 May | 19:15 | Netherlands | 2–3 | Japan | 25–20 | 13–25 | 25–21 | 30–32 | 11–15 | 104–113 | P2 P3 |

#### Individual awards

* Best outside spiker
** Kim Yeon-Koung (KOR)
** Antonella Del Core (ITA)
* Best opposite
** Lonneke Sloetjes (NED)
* Best middle blocker
** Yang Hyo-Jin (KOR)
** Cristina Chirichella (ITA)
* Best setter
** Haruka Miyashita (JPN)
* Best libero
** Brenda Castillo (DOM)

### 2nd Tournament

* Venue: Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
* Dates: 20–22 May 2016
* All times are Central Daylight Time (UTC−04:00).
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Puerto Rico | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | MAX | 226 | 138 | 1.638 |
| 2 | Colombia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 209 | 164 | 1.274 |
| 3 | Kenya | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0.429 | 186 | 219 | 0.849 |
| 4 | Algeria | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0.111 | 148 | 248 | 0.597 |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 20 May | 17:10 | Kenya | 0–3 | Colombia | 14–25 | 15–25 | 13–25 | | 42–75 | P2 P3 |
| 20 May | 20:10 | Puerto Rico | 3–0 | Algeria | 25–10 | 25–11 | 25–12 | | 75–33 | P2 P3 |
| 21 May | 17:10 | Kenya | 3–1 | Algeria | 25–14 | 23–25 | 25–14 | 25–16 | 98–69 | P2 P3 |
| 21 May | 20:10 | Puerto Rico | 3–0 | Colombia | 25–17 | 26–24 | 25–18 | | 76–59 | P2 P3 |
| 22 May | 15:10 | Algeria | 0–3 | Colombia | 16–25 | 12–25 | 18–25 | | 46–75 | P2 P3 |
| 22 May | 18:10 | Puerto Rico | 3–0 | Kenya | 25–8 | 25–23 | 25–15 | | 75–46 | P2 P3 |