# 2015 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup

The 2015 FIVB Men's World Cup was held from 8 to 23 September 2015 in Japan. The tournament served as a qualification process for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The top two teams, USA and Italy, qualified for the Olympics, and joined Brazil as they had already secured a berth as the host country.
United States secured the country's second title with 10 victories and only 1 loss. Matt Anderson was elected the Most Valuable Player. Moreover, there were 3 record breakings. Firstly, Thomas Edgar broke the highest score points in a single match record in Australia's win over Egypt with 50 points. Secondly, in Canada's win over Australia in five sets (32–34, 25–14, 25–21, 27–29, 20–18), two tournament records were broken: the longest match (2 hours and 49 minutes) and the highest scoring game (245 points).

## 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 Champions Cup.

### Changes

* Olympics places Only the winners and runners-up of the competition could secure the berths in the 2016 Summer Olympics. 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 standing procedure 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 Summer Olympics 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 Summer Olympics could compete in the tournament.
| Means of qualification | Date | Venue | Qualified |
| Host country | 31 January 2013 | Lausanne | Japan |
| 2014 World Championship | 30 Aug – 21 Sep 2014 | Poland | Poland |
| World Ranking for Asian Team | 22 September 2014 | Bangkok | Iran |
| World Ranking for Asian Team | 22 September 2014 | Bangkok | Australia |
| European Ranking | 15 October 2014 | Luxembourg | Russia |
| European Ranking | 15 October 2014 | Luxembourg | Italy |
| South American Qualifier | 19–23 May 2015 | Cali | Argentina |
| South American Qualifier | 19–23 May 2015 | Cali | Venezuela |
| 2015 NORCECA Champions Cup | 21–23 May 2015 | Detroit | Canada |
| 2015 NORCECA Champions Cup | 21–23 May 2015 | Detroit | United States |
| 2015 African Championship | 22–30 July 2015 | Cairo | Egypt |
| 2015 African Championship | 22–30 July 2015 | Cairo | Tunisia |
| 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 | HiroshimaOsakaTokyoHamamatsuToyama |
| A | Hiroshima | Osaka | Tokyo | HiroshimaOsakaTokyoHamamatsuToyama |
| A | Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center | Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium | Yoyogi National Gymnasium | HiroshimaOsakaTokyoHamamatsuToyama |
| A | Capacity: 4,750 | Capacity: 7,000 | Capacity: 13,291 | HiroshimaOsakaTokyoHamamatsuToyama |
| B | Hamamatsu | Toyama | Tokyo | HiroshimaOsakaTokyoHamamatsuToyama |
| B | Hamamatsu Arena | Toyama City Gymnasium | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium | HiroshimaOsakaTokyoHamamatsuToyama |
| B | Capacity: 8,000 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 10,000 | HiroshimaOsakaTokyoHamamatsuToyama |

## Pool standing procedure

* Match points
* Number of matches won
* 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 | United States | 11 | 10 | 1 | 30 | 31 | 6 | 5.167 | 899 | 746 | 1.205 |
| 2 | Italy | 11 | 10 | 1 | 29 | 30 | 8 | 3.750 | 918 | 780 | 1.177 |
| 3 | Poland | 11 | 10 | 1 | 29 | 31 | 11 | 2.818 | 1011 | 884 | 1.144 |
| 4 | Russia | 11 | 8 | 3 | 23 | 25 | 12 | 2.083 | 885 | 794 | 1.115 |
| 5 | Argentina | 11 | 7 | 4 | 21 | 26 | 16 | 1.625 | 985 | 922 | 1.068 |
| 6 | Japan | 11 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 1.000 | 928 | 934 | 0.994 |
| 7 | Canada | 11 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 0.818 | 886 | 940 | 0.943 |
| 8 | Iran | 11 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 24 | 0.667 | 905 | 893 | 1.013 |
| 9 | Australia | 11 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 24 | 0.625 | 831 | 925 | 0.898 |
| 10 | Egypt | 11 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 30 | 0.433 | 889 | 976 | 0.911 |
| 11 | Venezuela | 11 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 32 | 0.250 | 815 | 981 | 0.831 |
| 12 | Tunisia | 11 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 33 | 0.152 | 747 | 924 | 0.808 |
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 |
| 8 Sep | 12:10 | Canada | 1–3 | Italy | 19–25 | 20–25 | 25–22 | 13–25 | | 77–97 | P2 P3 |
| 8 Sep | 15:10 | United States | 3–0 | Australia | 25–23 | 25–12 | 25–15 | | | 75–50 | P2 P3 |
| 8 Sep | 19:20 | Japan | 3–2 | Egypt | 25–19 | 23–25 | 25–18 | 17–25 | 15–7 | 105–94 | P2 P3 |
| 9 Sep | 12:10 | Australia | 0–3 | Italy | 17–25 | 18–25 | 15–25 | | | 50–75 | P2 P3 |
| 9 Sep | 15:10 | Egypt | 2–3 | Canada | 22–25 | 23–25 | 25–21 | 26–24 | 12–15 | 108–110 | P2 P3 |
| 9 Sep | 19:20 | United States | 3–1 | Japan | 25–23 | 21–25 | 25–11 | 25–14 | | 96–73 | P2 P3 |
| 10 Sep | 12:10 | Italy | 3–1 | Egypt | 20–25 | 26–24 | 25–22 | 25–13 | | 96–84 | P2 P3 |
| 10 Sep | 15:10 | Canada | 0–3 | United States | 21–25 | 20–25 | 17–25 | | | 58–75 | P2 P3 |
| 10 Sep | 19:20 | Japan | 3–1 | Australia | 25–17 | 25–21 | 25–27 | 25–18 | | 100–83 | P2 P3 |
| 12 Sep | 12:10 | United States | 3–0 | Italy | 25–18 | 25–23 | 29–27 | | | 79–68 | P2 P3 |
| 12 Sep | 15:10 | Australia | 3–2 | Egypt | 23–25 | 26–24 | 25–23 | 20–25 | 15–13 | 109–110 | P2 P3 |
| 12 Sep | 19:20 | Japan | 3–0 | Canada | 25–17 | 25–15 | 25–21 | | | 75–53 | P2 P3 |
| 13 Sep | 12:10 | Egypt | 0–3 | United States | 20–25 | 13–25 | 21–25 | | | 54–75 | P2 P3 |
| 13 Sep | 15:10 | Canada | 3–2 | Australia | 32–34 | 25–14 | 25–21 | 27–29 | 20–18 | 129–116 | P2 P3 |
| 13 Sep | 19:20 | Italy | 3–0 | Japan | 25–21 | 25–20 | 25–15 | | | 75–56 | P2 P3 |

#### Site B

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 8 Sep | 12:10 | Argentina | 3–1 | Iran | 25–27 | 25–22 | 25–22 | 26–24 | | 101–95 | P2 P3 |
| 8 Sep | 15:10 | Russia | 3–0 | Venezuela | 29–27 | 25–16 | 25–15 | | | 79–58 | P2 P3 |
| 8 Sep | 18:40 | Poland | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–17 | 25–15 | 25–20 | | | 75–52 | P2 P3 |
| 9 Sep | 12:10 | Argentina | 3–2 | Venezuela | 30–32 | 25–15 | 24–26 | 25–13 | 15–10 | 119–96 | P2 P3 |
| 9 Sep | 15:20 | Tunisia | 1–3 | Iran | 17–25 | 25–21 | 14–25 | 20–25 | | 76–96 | P2 P3 |
| 9 Sep | 18:40 | Poland | 3–1 | Russia | 26–28 | 27–25 | 25–19 | 25–22 | | 103–94 | P2 P3 |
| 10 Sep | 12:10 | Iran | 3–0 | Venezuela | 25–20 | 25–17 | 25–15 | | | 75–52 | P2 P3 |
| 10 Sep | 15:10 | Argentina | 1–3 | Poland | 18–25 | 25–19 | 21–25 | 25–27 | | 89–96 | P2 P3 |
| 10 Sep | 18:40 | Russia | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–17 | 25–16 | 29–27 | | | 79–60 | P2 P3 |
| 12 Sep | 12:10 | Poland | 3–2 | Iran | 18–25 | 23–25 | 25–15 | 25–20 | 15–11 | 106–96 | P2 P3 |
| 12 Sep | 15:10 | Tunisia | 2–3 | Venezuela | 25–19 | 18–25 | 25–22 | 26–28 | 13–15 | 107–109 | P2 P3 |
| 12 Sep | 18:40 | Russia | 3–1 | Argentina | 25–19 | 21–25 | 25–18 | 25–20 | | 96–82 | P2 P3 |
| 13 Sep | 12:10 | Venezuela | 1–3 | Poland | 27–25 | 23–25 | 16–25 | 23–25 | | 89–100 | P2 P3 |
| 13 Sep | 15:10 | Argentina | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–20 | 25–19 | 25–20 | | | 75–59 | P2 P3 |
| 13 Sep | 18:40 | Iran | 0–3 | Russia | 24–26 | 18–25 | 20–25 | | | 62–76 | P2 P3 |

### Second round
#### Site A

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 16 Sep | 12:10 | United States | 3–0 | Venezuela | 25–18 | 25–16 | 25–20 | | | 75–54 | P2 P3 |
| 16 Sep | 15:10 | Italy | 3–0 | Iran | 25–19 | 25–23 | 25–21 | | | 75–63 | P2 P3 |
| 16 Sep | 19:20 | Japan | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–21 | 25–19 | 25–19 | | | 75–59 | P2 P3 |
| 17 Sep | 12:10 | United States | 3–1 | Iran | 20–25 | 25–19 | 25–22 | 25–21 | | 95–87 | P2 P3 |
| 17 Sep | 15:10 | Italy | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–18 | 25–23 | 25–22 | | | 75–63 | P2 P3 |
| 17 Sep | 19:20 | Japan | 3–0 | Venezuela | 33–31 | 26–24 | 25–19 | | | 84–74 | P2 P3 |
| 18 Sep | 12:10 | United States | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–14 | 25–19 | 29–27 | | | 79–60 | P2 P3 |
| 18 Sep | 15:10 | Italy | 3–0 | Venezuela | 25–16 | 25–22 | 25–18 | | | 75–56 | P2 P3 |
| 18 Sep | 19:20 | Japan | 2–3 | Iran | 25–22 | 25–23 | 18–25 | 21–25 | 12–15 | 101–110 | P2 P3 |

#### Site B

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 16 Sep | 12:10 | Egypt | 0–3 | Argentina | 18–25 | 19–25 | 21–25 | | 58–75 | P2 P3 |
| 16 Sep | 15:10 | Canada | 1–3 | Poland | 25–23 | 15–25 | 19–25 | 19–25 | 78–98 | P2 P3 |
| 16 Sep | 19:10 | Australia | 0–3 | Russia | 24–26 | 16–25 | 18–25 | | 58–76 | P2 P3 |
| 17 Sep | 12:10 | Egypt | 0–3 | Poland | 20–25 | 23–25 | 18–25 | | 61–75 | P2 P3 |
| 17 Sep | 15:10 | Canada | 0–3 | Russia | 21–25 | 16–25 | 19–25 | | 56–75 | P2 P3 |
| 17 Sep | 19:10 | Australia | 0–3 | Argentina | 21–25 | 23–25 | 16–25 | | 60–75 | P2 P3 |
| 18 Sep | 12:10 | Egypt | 0–3 | Russia | 20–25 | 24–26 | 18–25 | | 62–76 | P2 P3 |
| 18 Sep | 15:10 | Argentina | 3–1 | Canada | 25–21 | 23–25 | 29–27 | 25–22 | 102–95 | P2 P3 |
| 18 Sep | 19:10 | Australia | 0–3 | Poland | 15–25 | 22–25 | 17–25 | | 54–75 | P2 P3 |

### Third round
#### Site A

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 21 Sep | 10:30 | Italy | 3–0 | Russia | 25–15 | 26–24 | 25–18 | | | 76–57 | P2 P3 |
| 21 Sep | 14:15 | Japan | 0–3 | Argentina | 24–26 | 22–25 | 21–25 | | | 67–76 | P2 P3 |
| 21 Sep | 17:10 | United States | 1–3 | Poland | 25–17 | 19–25 | 23–25 | 15–25 | | 82–92 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Sep | 10:30 | Italy | 3–2 | Argentina | 22–25 | 25–20 | 25–21 | 20–25 | 16–14 | 108–105 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Sep | 14:15 | Japan | 1–3 | Poland | 26–24 | 25–27 | 21–25 | 19–25 | | 91–101 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Sep | 17:10 | United States | 3–0 | Russia | 25–23 | 26–24 | 25–17 | | | 76–64 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Sep | 10:30 | Italy | 3–1 | Poland | 26–24 | 22–25 | 25–22 | 25–19 | | 98–90 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Sep | 14:15 | Japan | 2–3 | Russia | 29–27 | 17–25 | 25–21 | 17–25 | 13–15 | 101–113 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Sep | 18:40 | United States | 3–1 | Argentina | 25–20 | 25–21 | 17–25 | 25–20 | | 92–86 | P2 P3 |

#### Site B

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 21 Sep | 11:10 | Egypt | 3–2 | Tunisia | 23–25 | 25–21 | 23–25 | 25–17 | 15–11 | 111–99 | P2 P3 |
| 21 Sep | 14:10 | Canada | 3–0 | Venezuela | 25–18 | 25–22 | 25–23 | | | 75–63 | P2 P3 |
| 21 Sep | 17:10 | Australia | 3–0 | Iran | 27–25 | 27–25 | 25–22 | | | 79–72 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Sep | 11:10 | Egypt | 3–1 | Venezuela | 25–18 | 20–25 | 25–18 | 25–20 | | 95–81 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Sep | 14:10 | Canada | 3–0 | Iran | 25–23 | 29–27 | 26–24 | | | 80–74 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Sep | 17:10 | Australia | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–19 | 25–17 | 25–19 | | | 75–55 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Sep | 11:10 | Egypt | 0–3 | Iran | 18–25 | 11–25 | 23–25 | | | 52–75 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Sep | 14:10 | Canada | 3–0 | Tunisia | 25–19 | 25–21 | 25–17 | | | 75–57 | P2 P3 |
| 23 Sep | 17:10 | Australia | 3–1 | Venezuela | 25–16 | 25–21 | 22–25 | 25–21 | | 97–83 | P2 P3 |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | United States |
| | Italy |
| | Poland |
| 4 | Russia |
| 5 | Argentina |
| 6 | Japan |
| 7 | Canada |
| 8 | Iran |
| 9 | Australia |
| 10 | Egypt |
| 11 | Venezuela |
| 12 | Tunisia |
* Qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics
* 2015 Men's World Cup champions
* United States 2nd title
* Team roster
* Matt Anderson, Aaron Russell, Taylor Sander, David Lee (c), Paul Lotman, Kawika Shoji, Micah Christenson, Russell Holmes, Jayson Jablonsky, Murphy Troy, Maxwell Holt, David Smith, Erik Shoji, Dustin Watten
* Head coach
* John Speraw

## Awards

* Most valuable player
    Matt Anderson
* Best setter
    Micah Christenson
* Best outside spikers
    Osmany Juantorena
    Yūki Ishikawa
* Best middle blockers
    Sebastián Sole
    Mohammad Mousavi
* Best opposite spiker
    Ivan Zaytsev
* Best libero
    Erik Shoji

## Statistics leaders

Best Scorers :
| Rank | Name | Points |
| 1 | Ahmed Abdelhay | 230 |
| 2 | Facundo Conte | 214 |
| 3 | Ivan Zaytsev | 197 |
| 4 | Kunihiro Shimizu | 191 |
| 5 | Bartosz Kurek | 190 |
| 6 | Yūki Ishikawa | 188 |
| 7 | Thomas Edgar | 176 |
| 8 | Matt Anderson | 172 |
| 9 | Dmitriy Muserskiy | 157 |
| 10 | Osmany Juantorena | 156 |
Best Spikers :
| Rank | Name | %Succ |
| 1 | Ivan Zaytsev | 59.15 |
| 2 | Osmany Juantorena | 56.84 |
| 3 | Dmitriy Muserskiy | 55.93 |
| 4 | Yūki Ishikawa | 55.82 |
| 5 | Ahmed Abdelhay | 55.50 |
| 6 | Maxim Mikhaylov | 54.81 |
| 7 | Amir Ghafour | 53.55 |
| 8 | Kunihiro Shimizu | 53.53 |
| 9 | Facundo Conte | 53.40 |
| 10 | Filippo Lanza | 53.08 |
Best Blockers :
| Rank | Name | Avg/set |
| 1 | Sebastián Sole | 0.81 |
| 2 | Mohammad Mousavi | 0.80 |
| 3 | Maxwell Holt | 0.70 |
| 4 | Matteo Piano | 0.63 |
| 5 | Facundo Conte | 0.55 |
| 6 | David Lee | 0.54 |
| 7 | Nehemiah Mote | 0.54 |
| 8 | Justin Duff | 0.50 |
| 9 | Abd Elhalim Mohamed Abou | 0.49 |
| 10 | Daniel Cornelius Jansen Vandoorn | 0.48 |
Best Servers :
| Rank | Name | Avg/set |
| 1 | Matt Anderson | 0.70 |
| 2 | Ivan Zaytsev | 0.55 |
| 3 | Maxim Mikhaylov | 0.51 |
| 4 | Mateusz Bieniek | 0.48 |
| 5 | Masahiro Yanagida | 0.45 |
| 6 | Bartosz Kurek | 0.45 |
| 7 | Facundo Conte | 0.43 |
| 8 | Micah Christenson | 0.43 |
| 9 | Ahmed Abdelhay | 0.42 |
| 10 | Dmitriy Muserskiy | 0.41 |
Best Setters :
| Rank | Name | Avg/set |
| 1 | Hideomi Fukatsu | 10.17 |
| 2 | Micah Christenson | 9.57 |
| 3 | Luciano De Cecco | 8.93 |
| 4 | Saeid Marouf | 8.58 |
| 5 | Simone Giannelli | 7.58 |
| 6 | TJ Sanders | 7.20 |
| 7 | José Carrasco | 6.63 |
| 8 | Fabian Drzyzga | 5.90 |
| 9 | Sergey Grankin | 4.65 |
| 10 | Grigory Sukochev | 4.38 |
Best Diggers :
| Rank | Name | Avg/set |
| 1 | Luke Perry | 2.33 |
| 2 | Takeshi Nagano | 2.33 |
| 3 | Erik Shoji | 2.22 |
| 4 | Massimo Colaci | 2.11 |
| 5 | Tayeb Korbosli | 1.92 |
| 6 | Paweł Zatorski | 1.76 |
| 7 | Mehdi Marandi | 1.45 |
| 8 | Moalla Ismail | 1.39 |
| 9 | Osmany Juantorena | 1.39 |
| 10 | Yūki Ishikawa | 1.31 |
Best Receivers :
| Rank | Name | %Eff |
| 1 | Badawy Mohamed Moneim | 58.62 |
| 2 | Milad Ebadipour | 57.89 |
| 3 | Mehdi Marandi | 53.54 |
| 4 | Rafał Buszek | 52.20 |
| 5 | Luciano Zornetta | 52.17 |
| 6 | Michał Kubiak | 51.79 |
| 7 | John Gordon Perrin | 50.00 |
| 8 | Mohamed Ali Ben Othmen Miladi | 50.00 |
| 9 | Nicholas Hoag | 46.15 |
| 10 | Osmany Juantorena | 45.28 |