# 2015 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup

The 2015 FIVB Women's World Cup was held from August 22 to September 6 in Japan. The tournament was a qualification process for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The top two ranked teams, China and Serbia, qualified for the Olympics, and joined Brazil as they had already secured a berth as the host country.

## Information

The FIVB Volleyball World Cup began with signing a contract between Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) and Japan Volleyball Association (JVA) for hosting the tournament on 31 January 2013. In this event, Fuji TV had the right to broadcast the tournament. Moreover, the FIVB released the qualification process of the tournament:
* Host country
* 2014 World champions
* 2 teams per Continental confederation considered by World ranking, Continental ranking, or Continental championship
But, on 10 March 2015, the FIVB announced a change of the continental events following each continental confederation's agreement.
* AVC used the World ranking as of 1 January 2015.
* CAVB used the African Championship.
* CEV used the European ranking as of 1 January 2015.
* CSV held a qualification tournament.
* NORCECA used the 2015 NORCECA Champion Cup (Final Four).

### Changes

* Olympics places Only the winners and runners-up of the competition could secure the berths in the 2016 Olympic Games. It was different from last edition which three medalists teams joined the Olympics.
* Qualification format The 2015 World Cup changed the format of the competition following the information above. There were not 2 wild card teams like 2011 edition. One of these spots belonged to the World champions, the other one belonged to the 2nd place of a continental event (2011 edition gave tickets to 4 of 5 continents, but 2015 edition gave tickets to all 5 continents).
* Competition format Competition rounds decreased from 4 in 2011 to 3. Combining rounds 1 (3 days) and 2 (2 days) in 2011 to 1 round of 5 days. The hosts also reduced the venues from 8 to 6.
* Pool ranking criteria In 2011 edition, match points was the first criterion, but 2015 changed it to number of matches won. All criteria are shown in section Pool standing procedure.
* Net touch In this edition, players can not touch the whole net and antennas, not just the white band like in 2011 edition.
* Roster All 14 players (maximum 12 regular players and maximum 2 liberos) can play in every match and be named in score sheets.
* Individual awards Individual awards were given to players by positions, unlike previous editions when awards were given to players by volleyball skills.
* Attribution of points FIVB approved the proposal that in case the team hosting the Olympic Games participated in a previous World Cup then they would keep the World Ranking points gained at the previous World Cup.
* Referee It was the first time in the competition when there was a challenge referee. In each match, there was a referee who controlled the challenge system.

## Qualification

12 teams participated in the World Cup. Only teams who had not yet qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games could compete in the tournament.
| Means of qualification | Date | Venue | Qualified |
| Host country | 31 January 2013 | Lausanne | Japan |
| 2014 World Championship | 23 Sep – 12 Oct 2014 | Italy | United States |
| World Ranking for Asian Team | 13 October 2014 | Bangkok | China |
| World Ranking for Asian Team | 13 October 2014 | Bangkok | South Korea |
| European Ranking | 15 October 2014 | Luxembourg | Russia |
| European Ranking | 15 October 2014 | Luxembourg | Serbia |
| South American Qualifier | 3–7 June 2015 | Comodoro Rivadavia | Argentina |
| South American Qualifier | 3–7 June 2015 | Comodoro Rivadavia | Peru |
| 2015 NORCECA Champions Cup | 5–7 June 2015 | Havana | Dominican Republic |
| 2015 NORCECA Champions Cup | 5–7 June 2015 | Havana | Cuba |
| 2015 African Championship | 12–20 June 2015 | Nairobi | Kenya |
| 2015 African Championship | 12–20 June 2015 | Nairobi | Algeria |
| Total | | | 12 |

## Squads

Maximum of 12 regular players and maximum of 2 liberos can be selected to play in the tournament. The rosters of 14 players of each team can be seen in the article below.

## Venues

| Site | First round | Second round | Third round | MatsumotoOkayamaTokyoKomakiNagoyaSendai |
| A | Tokyo | Sendai | Nagoya | MatsumotoOkayamaTokyoKomakiNagoyaSendai |
| A | Yoyogi National Gymnasium | Sendai Gymnasium | Nippon Gaishi Hall | MatsumotoOkayamaTokyoKomakiNagoyaSendai |
| A | Capacity: 13,291 | Capacity: 7,000 | Capacity: 10,000 | MatsumotoOkayamaTokyoKomakiNagoyaSendai |
| B | Matsumoto | Okayama | Komaki | MatsumotoOkayamaTokyoKomakiNagoyaSendai |
| B | Matsumoto City Gymnasium | Momotaro Arena | Park Arena Komaki | MatsumotoOkayamaTokyoKomakiNagoyaSendai |
| B | Capacity: 6,000 | Capacity: 11,000 | Capacity: 5,000 | MatsumotoOkayamaTokyoKomakiNagoyaSendai |

## Format

| Group 1 | Group 2 |
| Japan (Host) | United States (1) |
| Dominican Republic (6) | China (3) |
| Russia (7) | Serbia (8) |
| Argentina (14) | South Korea (10) |
| Kenya (19) | Peru (23) |
| Cuba (26) | Algeria (25) |
The competition system of the 2015 World Cup for women is the single Round-Robin system. Each team plays once against each of the 11 remaining teams.
The teams were divided into 2 groups of 6 teams each. In round 1, total 30 matches in 5 days, each team plays against the other teams from the same group. For rounds 2 and 3, total 36 matches in 6 days, each teams play against the teams from another group.
The pools composition followed the Serpentine system based on the World ranking where the host team was at the top position. Numbers in brackets denoted the FIVB World Ranking as of 13 October 2014 except the hosts who ranked 4th.

## Pool standing procedure

* Number of matches won
* Match points
* Sets ratio
* Points ratio
* Result of the last match between the tied teams
Match won 3–0 or 3–1: 3 match points for the winner, 0 match points for the loser
Match won 3–2: 2 match points for the winner, 1 match point for the loser

## Results

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | China | 11 | 10 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 7 | 4.286 | 900 | 658 | 1.368 |
| 2 | Serbia | 11 | 10 | 1 | 26 | 31 | 11 | 2.818 | 964 | 739 | 1.304 |
| 3 | United States | 11 | 9 | 2 | 28 | 29 | 7 | 4.143 | 839 | 617 | 1.360 |
| 4 | Russia | 11 | 9 | 2 | 27 | 30 | 8 | 3.750 | 889 | 702 | 1.266 |
| 5 | Japan | 11 | 7 | 4 | 22 | 27 | 14 | 1.929 | 922 | 779 | 1.184 |
| 6 | South Korea | 11 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 0.947 | 816 | 787 | 1.037 |
| 7 | Dominican Republic | 11 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 0.857 | 835 | 859 | 0.972 |
| 8 | Argentina | 11 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 23 | 0.652 | 738 | 819 | 0.901 |
| 9 | Cuba | 11 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 25 | 0.520 | 740 | 876 | 0.845 |
| 10 | Kenya | 11 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 0.241 | 683 | 844 | 0.809 |
| 11 | Peru | 11 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 30 | 0.300 | 732 | 899 | 0.814 |
| 12 | Algeria | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0.000 | 326 | 825 | 0.395 |
All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+09:00).

### First round
#### Site A

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 22 Aug | 12:10 | Dominican Republic | 0–3 | Russia | 15–25 | 18–25 | 18–25 | | | 51–75 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Aug | 14:40 | Cuba | 3–1 | Kenya | 27–25 | 25–23 | 12–25 | 25–22 | | 89–95 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Aug | 19:20 | Argentina | 0–3 | Japan | 16–25 | 19–25 | 12–25 | | | 47–75 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Aug | 12:10 | Kenya | 0–3 | Dominican Republic | 26–28 | 24–26 | 17–25 | | | 67–79 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Aug | 15:10 | Argentina | 3–0 | Cuba | 25–15 | 25–21 | 25–23 | | | 75–59 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Aug | 19:20 | Japan | 2–3 | Russia | 25–12 | 18–25 | 21–25 | 25–23 | 13–15 | 102–100 | P2 P3 |
| 24 Aug | 12:10 | Dominican Republic | 3–1 | Argentina | 25–21 | 25–22 | 19–25 | 25–15 | | 94–83 | P2 P3 |
| 24 Aug | 15:10 | Russia | 3–0 | Kenya | 25–16 | 25–21 | 25–21 | | | 75–58 | P2 P3 |
| 24 Aug | 19:20 | Cuba | 0–3 | Japan | 15–25 | 12–25 | 16–25 | | | 43–75 | P2 P3 |
| 26 Aug | 12:10 | Argentina | 0–3 | Russia | 10–25 | 10–25 | 16–25 | | | 36–75 | P2 P3 |
| 26 Aug | 15:10 | Cuba | 1–3 | Dominican Republic | 22–25 | 22–25 | 25–18 | 23–25 | | 92–93 | P2 P3 |
| 26 Aug | 19:20 | Japan | 3–0 | Kenya | 25–15 | 25–20 | 25–12 | | | 75–47 | P2 P3 |
| 27 Aug | 12:10 | Russia | 3–0 | Cuba | 25–19 | 25–13 | 25–18 | | | 75–50 | P2 P3 |
| 27 Aug | 15:10 | Kenya | 0–3 | Argentina | 12–25 | 17–25 | 20–25 | | | 49–75 | P2 P3 |
| 27 Aug | 19:20 | Dominican Republic | 2–3 | Japan | 18–25 | 25–20 | 32–30 | 15–25 | 13–15 | 103–115 | P2 P3 |

#### Site B

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 22 Aug | 12:10 | United States | 3–0 | South Korea | 25–15 | 25–22 | 25–15 | | | 75–52 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Aug | 15:10 | Serbia | 1–3 | China | 25–19 | 23–25 | 15–25 | 19–25 | | 82–94 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Aug | 18:40 | Peru | 3–0 | Algeria | 25–16 | 25–13 | 25–16 | | | 75–45 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Aug | 12:10 | South Korea | 3–0 | Peru | 25–19 | 25–18 | 25–18 | | | 75–55 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Aug | 15:10 | China | 3–0 | Algeria | 25–5 | 25–11 | 25–8 | | | 75–24 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Aug | 18:40 | Serbia | 3–2 | United States | 25–20 | 22–25 | 18–25 | 25–19 | 15–6 | 105–95 | P2 P3 |
| 24 Aug | 12:10 | Algeria | 0–3 | South Korea | 8–25 | 9–25 | 19–25 | | | 36–75 | P2 P3 |
| 24 Aug | 15:10 | Peru | 0–3 | Serbia | 10–25 | 17–25 | 10–25 | | | 37–75 | P2 P3 |
| 24 Aug | 18:40 | United States | 3–0 | China | 25–23 | 25–17 | 25–23 | | | 75–63 | P2 P3 |
| 26 Aug | 12:10 | United States | 3–0 | Peru | 25–17 | 25–15 | 25–12 | | | 75–44 | P2 P3 |
| 26 Aug | 15:10 | Serbia | 3–0 | Algeria | 25–7 | 25–11 | 25–3 | | | 75–21 | P2 P3 |
| 26 Aug | 18:40 | China | 3–1 | South Korea | 23–25 | 25–15 | 25–20 | 25–23 | | 98–83 | P2 P3 |
| 27 Aug | 12:10 | Algeria | 0–3 | United States | 7–25 | 2–25 | 5–25 | | | 14–75 | P2 P3 |
| 27 Aug | 15:10 | Peru | 0–3 | China | 11–25 | 18–25 | 17–25 | | | 46–75 | P2 P3 |
| 27 Aug | 18:40 | South Korea | 0–3 | Serbia | 16–25 | 19–25 | 16–25 | | | 51–75 | P2 P3 |

### Second round
#### Site A

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 30 Aug | 12:10 | Dominican Republic | 0–3 | Serbia | 18–25 | 22–25 | 22–25 | | | 62–75 | P2 P3 |
| 30 Aug | 15:10 | Russia | 3–0 | South Korea | 25–20 | 26–24 | 25–22 | | | 76–66 | P2 P3 |
| 30 Aug | 19:20 | Japan | 3–0 | Peru | 25–19 | 25–21 | 25–15 | | | 75–55 | P2 P3 |
| 31 Aug | 12:10 | Dominican Republic | 3–1 | Peru | 25–18 | 25–19 | 22–25 | 25–17 | | 97–79 | P2 P3 |
| 31 Aug | 15:10 | Russia | 2–3 | Serbia | 25–22 | 25–22 | 14–25 | 23–25 | 12–15 | 99–109 | P2 P3 |
| 31 Aug | 19:20 | Japan | 3–0 | South Korea | 25–17 | 26–24 | 25–17 | | | 76–58 | P2 P3 |
| 1 Sep | 12:10 | Russia | 3–0 | Peru | 25–14 | 25–10 | 25–20 | | | 75–44 | P2 P3 |
| 1 Sep | 15:10 | Dominican Republic | 1–3 | South Korea | 25–18 | 17–25 | 23–25 | 18–25 | | 83–93 | P2 P3 |
| 1 Sep | 19:20 | Japan | 2–3 | Serbia | 26–24 | 17–25 | 14–25 | 25–21 | 9–15 | 91–110 | P2 P3 |

#### Site B

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Total | Report |
| 30 Aug | 12:10 | Argentina | 3–0 | Algeria | 25–11 | 25–8 | 25–11 | 75–30 | P2 P3 |
| 30 Aug | 15:10 | Kenya | 0–3 | United States | 15–25 | 16–25 | 13–25 | 44–75 | P2 P3 |
| 30 Aug | 18:40 | Cuba | 0–3 | China | 19–25 | 10–25 | 14–25 | 43–75 | P2 P3 |
| 31 Aug | 12:10 | Cuba | 3–0 | Algeria | 25–17 | 25–16 | 25–14 | 75–47 | P2 P3 |
| 31 Aug | 15:10 | Argentina | 0–3 | United States | 16–25 | 19–25 | 14–25 | 49–75 | P2 P3 |
| 31 Aug | 18:40 | Kenya | 0–3 | China | 7–25 | 15–25 | 14–25 | 36–75 | P2 P3 |
| 1 Sep | 12:10 | Kenya | 3–0 | Algeria | 25–14 | 25–11 | 25–11 | 75–36 | P2 P3 |
| 1 Sep | 15:10 | Argentina | 0–3 | China | 14–25 | 15–25 | 20–25 | 49–75 | P2 P3 |
| 1 Sep | 18:40 | Cuba | 0–3 | United States | 15–25 | 11–25 | 15–25 | 41–75 | P2 P3 |

### Third round
#### Site A

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 4 Sep | 12:10 | Dominican Republic | 0–3 | China | 16–25 | 17–25 | 19–25 | | 52–75 | P2 P3 |
| 4 Sep | 15:10 | Russia | 3–0 | United States | 25–17 | 31–29 | 25–23 | | 81–69 | P2 P3 |
| 4 Sep | 19:20 | Japan | 3–0 | Algeria | 25–8 | 25–10 | 25–6 | | 75–24 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Sep | 12:10 | Dominican Republic | 3–0 | Algeria | 25–11 | 25–12 | 25–7 | | 75–30 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Sep | 15:10 | Russia | 1–3 | China | 23–25 | 15–25 | 25–23 | 20–25 | 83–98 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Sep | 19:20 | Japan | 1–3 | United States | 25–20 | 23–25 | 20–25 | 10–25 | 78–95 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Sep | 12:10 | Russia | 3–0 | Algeria | 25–5 | 25–6 | 25–8 | | 75–19 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Sep | 15:10 | Dominican Republic | 0–3 | United States | 10–25 | 19–25 | 17–25 | | 46–75 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Sep | 19:20 | Japan | 1–3 | China | 17–25 | 25–22 | 21–25 | 22–25 | 85–97 | P2 P3 |

#### Site B

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 4 Sep | 12:10 | Argentina | 3–2 | Peru | 16–25 | 25–20 | 21–25 | 25–22 | 15–12 | 102–104 | P2 P3 |
| 4 Sep | 15:10 | Cuba | 0–3 | Serbia | 22–25 | 19–25 | 15–25 | | | 56–75 | P2 P3 |
| 4 Sep | 18:40 | Kenya | 0–3 | South Korea | 16–25 | 16–25 | 19–25 | | | 51–75 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Sep | 12:10 | Cuba | 3–1 | Peru | 13–25 | 25–16 | 25–18 | 25–19 | | 88–78 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Sep | 15:10 | Kenya | 0–3 | Serbia | 11–25 | 14–25 | 19–25 | | | 44–75 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Sep | 18:40 | Argentina | 0–3 | South Korea | 21–25 | 17–25 | 20–25 | | | 58–75 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Sep | 11:10 | Kenya | 3–2 | Peru | 23–25 | 29–27 | 25–27 | 25–23 | 15–13 | 117–115 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Sep | 14:10 | Argentina | 2–3 | Serbia | 16–25 | 19–25 | 25–20 | 25–23 | 4–15 | 89–108 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Sep | 17:10 | Cuba | 3–2 | South Korea | 25–22 | 18–25 | 16–25 | 30–28 | 15–13 | 104–113 | P2 P3 |

## Final standing

| 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 |
* Qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics
* 2015 Women's World Cup champions
* China 4th title
* Team roster
* Yuan Xinyue, Zhu Ting, Shen Jingsi, Yang Junjing, Wei Qiuyue, Zeng Chunlei, Zhang Changning, Zhang Xiaoya, Lin Li, Ding Xia, Yan Ni, Wang Mengjie, Liu Yanhan, Liu Xiaotong
* Head coach
* Lang Ping

## Awards

* Most valuable player
    Zhu Ting
* Best Setter
    Niverka Marte
* Best Outside Hitters
    Brankica Mihajlović
    Tatiana Kosheleva
* Best Middle Blockers
    Daymara Lescay
    TeTori Dixon
* Best Opposite Hitter
    Nataliya Obmochaeva
* Best libero
    Brenda Castillo

## Statistics leaders

Best Scorers :
| Rank | Name | Points |
| 1 | Kim Yeon-koung | 197 |
| 2 | Nataliya Obmochaeva | 161 |
| 3 | Tijana Bošković | 159 |
| 4 | Miyu Nagaoka | 156 |
| 5 | Sarina Koga | 150 |
| 6 | Mercy Moim | 146 |
| 7 | Brankica Mihajlovic | 142 |
| 7 | Tatiana Kosheleva | 142 |
| 9 | Zhu Ting | 141 |
| 10 | Kim Hee-jin | 136 |
Best Spikers :
| Rank | Name | %Succ |
| 1 | Zhu Ting | 52.07 |
| 2 | Brankica Mihajlovic | 51.60 |
| 3 | Tatiana Kosheleva | 50.43 |
| 4 | Nicole Fawcett | 50.00 |
| 5 | Tijana Bošković | 48.70 |
| 6 | Nataliya Obmochaeva | 48.58 |
| 7 | Zhang Changning | 46.05 |
| 8 | Kim Yeon-koung | 45.64 |
| 9 | Yonkaira Peña | 45.57 |
| 10 | Zeng Chunlei | 44.10 |
Best Blockers :
| Rank | Name | Avg/set |
| 1 | Alena Rojas | 0.74 |
| 2 | Daymara Lescay | 0.74 |
| 3 | Zhu Ting | 0.68 |
| 4 | TeTori Dixon | 0.61 |
| 5 | Irina Fetisova | 0.61 |
| 6 | Tatiana Kosheleva | 0.61 |
| 7 | Emilce Sosa | 0.58 |
| 8 | Nicole Fawcett | 0.58 |
| 9 | Ruth Jepngetich | 0.58 |
| 10 | Milena Rašić | 0.57 |
Best Servers :
| Rank | Name | Avg/set |
| 1 | Zhang Changning | 0.57 |
| 2 | Miyu Nagaoka | 0.44 |
| 3 | Katherine Regalado | 0.41 |
| 4 | Sarina Koga | 0.39 |
| 5 | Haruka Miyashita | 0.37 |
| 6 | Prisilla Rivera | 0.36 |
| 7 | Yan Ni | 0.35 |
| 8 | Foluke Akinradewo | 0.31 |
| 9 | Jovana Stevanović | 0.31 |
| 10 | Milena Rašić | 0.29 |
Best Setters :
| Rank | Name | Avg/set |
| 1 | Niverka Marte | 7.67 |
| 2 | Haruka Miyashita | 6.98 |
| 3 | Ekaterina Kosianenko | 6.68 |
| 4 | Maja Ognjenović | 6.67 |
| 5 | Alisha Glass | 6.56 |
| 6 | Shen Jingsi | 5.89 |
| 7 | Zoila La Rosa | 5.51 |
| 8 | Yael Castiglione | 5.24 |
| 9 | Yamila Hernández | 4.76 |
| 10 | Molly Kreklow | 4.47 |
Best Diggers :
| Rank | Name | Avg/set |
| 1 | Brenda Castillo | 5.15 |
| 2 | Tatiana Rizzo | 3.71 |
| 3 | Susan Egoavil | 3.64 |
| 4 | Anna Malova | 3.08 |
| 5 | Brackcides Khadambi | 2.50 |
| 6 | Emily Borrell | 2.45 |
| 7 | Kayla Banwarth | 2.44 |
| 8 | Katherinne Olemar | 2.44 |
| 9 | Ryma Mebarki | 2.27 |
| 10 | Miyu Nagaoka | 2.17 |
Best Receivers :
| Rank | Name | %Eff |
| 1 | Sarina Koga | 57.78 |
| 2 | Saori Kimura | 56.68 |
| 3 | Anna Malova | 54.31 |
| 4 | Kim Yeon-koung | 53.89 |
| 5 | Tijana Malešević | 51.79 |
| 6 | Katherinne Olemar | 48.07 |
| 7 | Kimberly Hill | 45.83 |
| 8 | Yana Shcherban | 44.09 |
| 9 | Yonkaira Peña | 40.65 |
| 10 | Karla Ortiz | 40.31 |