# 1996 FIVB Volleyball World League

The 1996 FIVB Volleyball World League was the seventh edition of the annual men's international volleyball tournament, played by 11 countries from 10 May to 29 June 1996. The Final Round was held in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

## Pools composition

| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C |
| Argentina  Brazil  Cuba  Spain | Bulgaria  Greece  Italy  Netherlands | China  Japan  Russia |

## Intercontinental round
### Pool A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Brazil | 12 | 10 | 2 | 22 | 34 | 13 | 2.615 | 653 | 517 | 1.263 | Final round |
| 2 | Cuba | 12 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 1.000 | 612 | 591 | 1.036 | Final round |
| 3 | Argentina | 12 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 26 | 0.846 | 562 | 594 | 0.946 | |
| 4 | Spain | 12 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 13 | 30 | 0.433 | 460 | 585 | 0.786 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 10 May | Cuba | 3–1 | Argentina | 15–17 | 15–7 | 15–4 | 15–9 | | 60–37 |
| 10 May | Spain | 0–3 | Brazil | 13–15 | 4–15 | 8–15 | | | 25–45 |
| 12 May | Cuba | 3–1 | Argentina | 15–6 | 13–15 | 15–9 | 15–12 | | 58–42 |
| 12 May | Spain | 3–2 | Brazil | 12–15 | 15–10 | 5–15 | 15–12 | 15–10 | 62–62 |
| 17 May | Cuba | 3–2 | Brazil | 15–11 | 12–15 | 15–6 | 10–15 | 15–12 | 67–59 |
| 17 May | Spain | 3–2 | Argentina | 6–15 | 2–15 | 15–6 | 15–11 | 15–12 | 53–59 |
| 18 May | Cuba | 2–3 | Brazil | 15–11 | 7–15 | 14–16 | 15–13 | 13–15 | 64–70 |
| 18 May | Spain | 0–3 | Argentina | 5–15 | 9–15 | 12–15 | | | 26–45 |
| 25 May | Cuba | 3–0 | Spain | 15–6 | 15–13 | 15–9 | | | 45–28 |
| 25 May | Argentina | 2–3 | Brazil | 10–15 | 13–15 | 15–8 | 15–12 | 17–19 | 70–69 |
| 26 May | Cuba | 2–3 | Spain | 15–7 | 9–15 | 15–8 | 13–15 | 9–15 | 61–60 |
| 26 May | Argentina | 1–3 | Brazil | 15–7 | 10–15 | 9–15 | 8–15 | | 45–52 |
| 1 Jun | Brazil | 3–1 | Argentina | 14–16 | 15–9 | 15–7 | 15–4 | | 59–36 |
| 1 Jun | Spain | 0–3 | Cuba | 9–15 | 9–15 | 16–17 | | | 34–47 |
| 2 Jun | Brazil | 3–0 | Argentina | 15–7 | 15–11 | 15–1 | | | 45–19 |
| 2 Jun | Spain | 3–0 | Cuba | 15–9 | 16–14 | 15–12 | | | 46–35 |
| 8 Jun | Brazil | 3–0 | Cuba | 15–6 | 15–12 | 15–10 | | | 45–28 |
| 8 Jun | Argentina | 3–1 | Spain | 6–15 | 15–8 | 15–11 | 15–12 | | 51–46 |
| 9 Jun | Brazil | 3–1 | Cuba | 15–7 | 12–15 | 15–6 | 15–12 | | 57–40 |
| 9 Jun | Argentina | 3–0 | Spain | 15–9 | 15–5 | 15–5 | | | 45–19 |
| 15 Jun | Brazil | 3–0 | Spain | 15–13 | 15–9 | 15–10 | | | 45–32 |
| 15 Jun | Argentina | 2–3 | Cuba | 15–12 | 10–15 | 15–6 | 11–15 | 11–15 | 62–63 |
| 16 Jun | Brazil | 3–0 | Spain | 15–11 | 15–10 | 15–8 | | | 45–29 |
| 16 Jun | Argentina | 3–1 | Cuba | 15–12 | 15–7 | 6–15 | 15–10 | | 51–44 |

### Pool B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Italy | 12 | 11 | 1 | 23 | 34 | 10 | 3.400 | 609 | 430 | 1.416 | Final round |
| 2 | Netherlands (H) | 12 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 28 | 13 | 2.154 | 536 | 412 | 1.301 | Final round |
| 3 | Bulgaria | 12 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 25 | 0.680 | 476 | 516 | 0.922 | |
| 4 | Greece | 12 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 35 | 0.114 | 308 | 571 | 0.539 | |
* ↑ Qualified as hosts
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 10 May | Netherlands | 0–3 | Italy | 8–15 | 9–15 | 12–15 | | | 29–45 |
| 10 May | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Greece | 15–13 | 15–3 | 15–4 | | | 45–20 |
| 12 May | Netherlands | 1–3 | Italy | 15–7 | 10–15 | 12–15 | 13–15 | | 50–52 |
| 12 May | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Greece | 15–6 | 15–11 | 15–10 | | | 45–27 |
| 17 May | Italy | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–9 | 15–7 | 15–5 | | | 45–21 |
| 17 May | Greece | 0–3 | Netherlands | 4–15 | 13–15 | 13–15 | | | 30–45 |
| 18 May | Italy | 3–1 | Bulgaria | 14–16 | 15–9 | 15–11 | 15–10 | | 59–46 |
| 18 May | Greece | 1–3 | Netherlands | 10–15 | 10–15 | 15–7 | 2–15 | | 37–52 |
| 25 May | Bulgaria | 0–3 | Netherlands | 8–15 | 11–15 | 10–15 | | | 29–45 |
| 25 May | Greece | 0–3 | Italy | 4–15 | 7–15 | 11–15 | | | 22–45 |
| 26 May | Bulgaria | 0–3 | Netherlands | 12–15 | 8–15 | 9–15 | | | 29–45 |
| 26 May | Greece | 0–3 | Italy | 10–15 | 11–15 | 8–15 | | | 29–45 |
| 1 Jun | Netherlands | 3–0 | Greece | 15–4 | 15–2 | 15–6 | | | 45–12 |
| 1 Jun | Bulgaria | 3–1 | Italy | 15–11 | 15–1 | 13–15 | 15–12 | | 58–39 |
| 2 Jun | Netherlands | 3–0 | Greece | 15–12 | 15–4 | 15–6 | | | 45–22 |
| 2 Jun | Bulgaria | 2–3 | Italy | 5–15 | 6–15 | 15–11 | 15–12 | 13–15 | 54–68 |
| 8 Jun | Italy | 3–1 | Netherlands | 15–4 | 12–15 | 15–10 | 15–2 | | 57–31 |
| 8 Jun | Greece | 3–2 | Bulgaria | 10–15 | 10–15 | 15–7 | 15–7 | 27–25 | 67–69 |
| 9 Jun | Italy | 3–2 | Netherlands | 13–15 | 16–14 | 15–3 | 5–15 | 15–12 | 64–59 |
| 9 Jun | Greece | 0–3 | Bulgaria | 6–15 | 3–15 | 2–15 | | | 11–45 |
| 15 Jun | Italy | 3–0 | Greece | 15–6 | 15–3 | 15–6 | | | 45–15 |
| 15 Jun | Netherlands | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–6 | 15–4 | 15–7 | | | 45–17 |
| 16 Jun | Italy | 3–0 | Greece | 15–5 | 15–8 | 15–3 | | | 45–16 |
| 16 Jun | Netherlands | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–9 | 15–3 | 15–6 | | | 45–18 |

### Pool C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Russia | 12 | 12 | 0 | 24 | 36 | 7 | 5.143 | 625 | 423 | 1.478 | Final round |
| 2 | China | 12 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 31 | 0.548 | 525 | 637 | 0.824 | Final round |
| 3 | Japan | 12 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 0.516 | 522 | 612 | 0.853 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 10 May | China | 2–3 | Japan | 15–10 | 13–15 | 16–14 | 6–15 | 13–15 | 63–69 |
| 11 May | Russia | 3–2 | Japan | 15–7 | 12–15 | 12–15 | 15–7 | 20–18 | 74–62 |
| 12 May | China | 0–3 | Russia | 8–15 | 7–15 | 9–15 | | | 24–45 |
| 17 May | Russia | 3–0 | Japan | 17–15 | 15–6 | 15–2 | | | 47–23 |
| 18 May | Japan | 3–1 | China | 11–15 | 15–8 | 15–3 | 15–7 | | 56–33 |
| 19 May | Russia | 3–1 | China | 16–14 | 12–15 | 15–7 | 15–9 | | 58–45 |
| 24 May | Russia | 3–0 | China | 15–12 | 15–7 | 15–8 | | | 45–27 |
| 25 May | Japan | 3–1 | China | 11–15 | 15–12 | 15–4 | 15–4 | | 56–35 |
| 26 May | Japan | 0–3 | Russia | 14–16 | 10–15 | 7–15 | | | 31–46 |
| 31 May | China | 0–3 | Russia | 13–15 | 6–15 | 11–15 | | | 30–45 |
| 1 Jun | Russia | 3–0 | Japan | 15–11 | 15–6 | 15–4 | | | 45–21 |
| 2 Jun | China | 3–0 | Japan | 15–5 | 15–6 | 15–4 | | | 45–15 |
| 7 Jun | Russia | 3–1 | China | 15–11 | 15–9 | 13–15 | 15–3 | | 58–38 |
| 8 Jun | China | 3–2 | Japan | 15–13 | 13–15 | 15–6 | 7–15 | 15–5 | 65–54 |
| 9 Jun | Russia | 3–0 | Japan | 16–14 | 15–11 | 15–2 | | | 46–27 |
| 14 Jun | Russia | 3–2 | China | 9–15 | 15–11 | 15–5 | 10–15 | 15–13 | 64–59 |
| 15 Jun | Japan | 2–3 | China | 13–15 | 16–17 | 15–11 | 15–3 | 13–15 | 72–61 |
| 16 Jun | Japan | 1–3 | Russia | 6–15 | 15–6 | 14–16 | 1–15 | | 36–52 |

## Final round

* Venue: Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands

### Pool play

* Teams from the same pool of Intercontinental Round will not play.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Netherlands | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 6.000 | 202 | 128 | 1.578 | Final |
| 2 | Italy | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 1.500 | 208 | 170 | 1.224 | Final |
| 3 | Russia | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 1.000 | 188 | 207 | 0.908 | 3rd place match |
| 4 | Cuba | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 0.667 | 164 | 178 | 0.921 | 3rd place match |
| 5 | Brazil | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 0.556 | 172 | 183 | 0.940 | |
| 6 | China | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 0.333 | 108 | 176 | 0.614 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 24 Jun | Italy | 3–1 | Brazil | 15–9 | 15–9 | 11–15 | 15–10 | | 56–43 |
| 24 Jun | Russia | 3–2 | Cuba | 4–15 | 15–6 | 15–7 | 7–15 | 15–13 | 56–56 |
| 24 Jun | Netherlands | 3–0 | China | 15–4 | 15–7 | 15–3 | | | 45–14 |
| 25 Jun | Italy | 3–0 | Cuba | 15–10 | 15–3 | 15–6 | | | 45–19 |
| 25 Jun | Brazil | 3–0 | China | 15–4 | 15–9 | 16–14 | | | 46–27 |
| 25 Jun | Netherlands | 3–0 | Russia | 15–9 | 15–2 | 16–14 | | | 46–25 |
| 27 Jun | Italy | 3–2 | Russia | 10–15 | 10–15 | 16–14 | 15–4 | 16–14 | 67–62 |
| 27 Jun | Cuba | 3–0 | China | 15–10 | 15–7 | 15–4 | | | 45–21 |
| 27 Jun | Netherlands | 3–1 | Brazil | 15–12 | 15–9 | 10–15 | 15–9 | | 55–45 |
| 28 Jun | China | 3–0 | Italy | 15–13 | 16–14 | 15–13 | | | 46–40 |
| 28 Jun | Russia | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–13 | 15–12 | 15–13 | | | 45–38 |
| 28 Jun | Netherlands | 3–1 | Cuba | 11–15 | 15–10 | 15–8 | 15–11 | | 56–44 |

### Finals
#### 3rd place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 29 Jun | Russia | 3–2 | Cuba | 3–15 | 15–7 | 4–15 | 16–14 | 19–17 | 57–68 |

#### Final

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 29 Jun | Netherlands | 3–2 | Italy | 17–15 | 15–12 | 10–15 | 10–15 | 22–20 | 74–77 |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | Netherlands |
| | Italy |
| | Russia |
| 4 | Cuba |
| 5 | Brazil |
| 6 | China |
| 7 | Argentina |
| 8 | Bulgaria |
| 9 | Japan |
| 10 | Spain |
| 11 | Greece |
* 1996 World League champions
* Netherlands 1st title

## Awards

* Most valuable player
** Lorenzo Bernardi
* Best scorer
** Lorenzo Bernardi
* Best spiker
** Stanislav Dineykin
* Best server
** Alain Roca
* Best blocker
** Ihosvany Hernández