# 1997 FIVB Volleyball World League

The 1997 FIVB Volleyball World League was the eighth edition of the annual men's international volleyball tournament, played by 12 countries from 16 May to 5 July 1997. The Final Round was held in Moscow, Russia.

## Pools composition

| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C |
| Argentina  Brazil  Bulgaria  Japan | China  Italy  Spain  Yugoslavia | Cuba  Netherlands  Russia  South Korea |

## Intercontinental round

* The top two teams in each pool will qualify for the Final Round. If the Final Round hosts Russia finish lower than second in Pool C, they will still qualify along with the best two second teams across all three pools.

### Pool A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Brazil | 12 | 11 | 1 | 23 | 34 | 9 | 3.778 | 614 | 420 | 1.462 | Final round |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 12 | 9 | 3 | 21 | 29 | 16 | 1.813 | 596 | 498 | 1.197 | Final round |
| 3 | Argentina | 12 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 0.800 | 526 | 588 | 0.895 | |
| 4 | Japan | 12 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 36 | 0.083 | 339 | 569 | 0.596 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 16 May | Bulgaria | 2–3 | Brazil | 14–16 | 15–10 | 14–16 | 15–7 | 13–15 | 71–64 |
| 17 May | Bulgaria | 0–3 | Brazil | 7–15 | 14–16 | 14–16 | | | 35–47 |
| 17 May | Argentina | 3–0 | Japan | 15–3 | 15–7 | 15–8 | | | 45–18 |
| 18 May | Argentina | 3–0 | Japan | 15–11 | 15–2 | 15–12 | | | 45–25 |
| 23 May | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Japan | 15–6 | 15–5 | 15–8 | | | 45–19 |
| 24 May | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Japan | 15–5 | 15–8 | 15–2 | | | 45–15 |
| 24 May | Argentina | 1–3 | Brazil | 16–14 | 13–15 | 13–15 | 8–15 | | 50–59 |
| 25 May | Argentina | 0–3 | Brazil | 5–15 | 10–15 | 6–15 | | | 21–45 |
| 30 May | Bulgaria | 3–1 | Argentina | 13–15 | 17–16 | 15–10 | 15–6 | | 60–47 |
| 31 May | Japan | 0–3 | Brazil | 9–15 | 8–15 | 5–15 | | | 20–45 |
| 31 May | Bulgaria | 3–1 | Argentina | 15–11 | 2–15 | 15–9 | 15–10 | | 47–45 |
| 1 Jun | Japan | 0–3 | Brazil | 3–15 | 12–15 | 5–15 | | | 20–45 |
| 6 Jun | Brazil | 3–1 | Argentina | 15–17 | 15–4 | 15–8 | 15–8 | | 60–37 |
| 7 Jun | Japan | 1–3 | Bulgaria | 15–8 | 6–15 | 12–15 | 12–15 | | 45–53 |
| 8 Jun | Brazil | 3–1 | Argentina | 16–17 | 15–4 | 15–3 | 15–9 | | 61–33 |
| 8 Jun | Japan | 0–3 | Bulgaria | 8–15 | 14–16 | 3–15 | | | 25–46 |
| 13 Jun | Brazil | 1–3 | Bulgaria | 15–12 | 12–15 | 12–15 | 5–15 | | 44–57 |
| 14 Jun | Japan | 0–3 | Argentina | 12–15 | 10–15 | 16–17 | | | 38–47 |
| 15 Jun | Brazil | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–4 | 15–3 | 15–7 | | | 45–14 |
| 15 Jun | Japan | 1–3 | Argentina | 13–15 | 15–9 | 13–15 | 11–15 | | 52–54 |
| 20 Jun | Brazil | 3–0 | Japan | 15–2 | 15–6 | 15–12 | | | 45–20 |
| 21 Jun | Argentina | 1–3 | Bulgaria | 12–15 | 15–12 | 7–15 | 5–15 | | 39–57 |
| 21 Jun | Brazil | 3–1 | Japan | 15–6 | 15–12 | 9–15 | 15–6 | | 54–40 |
| 22 Jun | Argentina | 2–3 | Bulgaria | 15–13 | 10–15 | 15–8 | 11–15 | 12–15 | 63–66 |

### Pool B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Italy | 12 | 10 | 2 | 22 | 34 | 13 | 2.615 | 652 | 465 | 1.402 | Final round |
| 2 | Yugoslavia | 12 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 29 | 15 | 1.933 | 583 | 461 | 1.265 | |
| 3 | Spain | 12 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 18 | 30 | 0.600 | 544 | 622 | 0.875 | |
| 4 | China | 12 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 31 | 0.258 | 313 | 544 | 0.575 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 16 May | Spain | 3–2 | China | 15–2 | 10–15 | 13–15 | 15–5 | 15–8 | 68–45 |
| 17 May | Italy | 3–1 | Yugoslavia | 13–15 | 15–8 | 16–14 | 15–6 | | 59–43 |
| 18 May | Spain | 3–0 | China | 15–5 | 15–8 | 15–10 | | | 45–23 |
| 18 May | Italy | 3–0 | Yugoslavia | 15–7 | 15–6 | 15–8 | | | 45–21 |
| 23 May | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | China | 15–8 | 15–8 | 15–6 | | | 45–22 |
| 24 May | Italy | 3–0 | Spain | 14–16 | 15–8 | 15–6 | | | 59–40 |
| 24 May | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | China | 15–5 | 15–3 | 15–3 | | | 45–11 |
| 25 May | Italy | 3–1 | Spain | 15–4 | 15–10 | 10–15 | 15–2 | | 55–31 |
| 30 May | Spain | 1–3 | Yugoslavia | 12–15 | 15–9 | 7–15 | 11–15 | | 45–54 |
| 31 May | China | 0–3 | Italy | 6–15 | 6–15 | 6–15 | | | 18–45 |
| 1 Jun | Spain | 3–2 | Yugoslavia | 15–13 | 6–15 | 13–15 | 15–10 | | 64–66 |
| 1 Jun | China | 0–3 | Italy | 11–15 | 15–17 | 6–15 | | | 32–47 |
| 6 Jun | Spain | 2–3 | Italy | 12–15 | 15–8 | 17–15 | 11–15 | 12–15 | 67–68 |
| 7 Jun | China | 0–3 | Yugoslavia | 5–15 | 7–15 | 10–15 | | | 22–45 |
| 8 Jun | Spain | 3–2 | Italy | 15–13 | 15–8 | 1–15 | 8–15 | 15–11 | 54–62 |
| 8 Jun | China | 0–3 | Yugoslavia | 2–15 | 2–15 | 6–15 | | | 10–45 |
| 13 Jun | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | Spain | 15–13 | 15–7 | 15–5 | | | 45–25 |
| 14 Jun | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | Spain | 15–13 | 15–13 | 15–10 | | | 45–36 |
| 14 Jun | Italy | 3–0 | China | 15–8 | 15–7 | 15–3 | | | 45–18 |
| 15 Jun | Italy | 3–0 | China | 15–6 | 15–3 | 15–3 | | | 45–12 |
| 20 Jun | Yugoslavia | 2–3 | Italy | 15–10 | 15–2 | 12–15 | 13–15 | 10–15 | 65–57 |
| 21 Jun | China | 3–1 | Spain | 15–5 | 15–11 | 10–15 | 15–9 | | 55–40 |
| 21 Jun | Yugoslavia | 3–2 | Italy | 15–13 | 15–10 | 9–15 | 10–15 | 15–12 | 64–65 |
| 22 Jun | China | 3–0 | Spain | 15–11 | 15–12 | 15–6 | | | 45–29 |

### Pool C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Cuba | 12 | 11 | 1 | 23 | 35 | 6 | 5.833 | 595 | 369 | 1.612 | Final round |
| 2 | Netherlands | 12 | 9 | 3 | 21 | 28 | 17 | 1.647 | 585 | 523 | 1.119 | Final round |
| 3 | Russia (H) | 12 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 30 | 0.467 | 493 | 570 | 0.865 | Final round |
| 4 | South Korea | 12 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 32 | 0.250 | 351 | 562 | 0.625 | |
* ↑ Qualified as hosts
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 16 May | Cuba | 3–0 | Russia | 15–6 | 15–12 | 15–8 | | | 45–26 |
| 17 May | Netherlands | 3–1 | South Korea | 13–15 | 15–7 | 15–13 | 15–7 | | 58–42 |
| 17 May | Cuba | 3–0 | Russia | 15–2 | 15–9 | 15–11 | | | 45–22 |
| 18 May | Netherlands | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–4 | 15–10 | 15–10 | | | 45–24 |
| 23 May | Russia | 1–3 | Netherlands | 5–15 | 15–17 | 15–4 | 8–15 | | 61–64 |
| 24 May | South Korea | 0–3 | Cuba | 14–16 | 6–15 | 8–15 | | | 28–46 |
| 24 May | Russia | 2–3 | Netherlands | 15–10 | 13–15 | 15–9 | 6–15 | 12–15 | 43–51 |
| 25 May | South Korea | 0–3 | Cuba | 12–15 | 7–15 | 6–15 | | | 25–45 |
| 31 May | Netherlands | 0–3 | Cuba | 8–15 | 5–15 | 11–15 | | | 29–46 |
| 31 May | South Korea | 3–1 | Russia | 15–12 | 6–15 | 15–9 | 15–5 | | 51–41 |
| 1 Jun | Netherlands | 0–3 | Cuba | 14–16 | 3–15 | 12–15 | | | 29–46 |
| 1 Jun | South Korea | 3–1 | Russia | 15–7 | 10–15 | 16–14 | 15–12 | | 56–48 |
| 6 Jun | Cuba | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–8 | 15–1 | 15–5 | | | 45–14 |
| 7 Jun | Netherlands | 3–0 | Russia | 15–13 | 15–10 | 15–7 | | | 45–30 |
| 7 Jun | Cuba | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–3 | 15–2 | 15–1 | | | 45–6 |
| 8 Jun | Netherlands | 3–1 | Russia | 15–10 | 12–15 | 15–13 | 15–12 | | 57–50 |
| 13 Jun | Russia | 1–3 | Cuba | 9–15 | 15–13 | 11–15 | 12–15 | | 47–58 |
| 14 Jun | South Korea | 1–3 | Netherlands | 15–9 | 12–15 | 5–15 | 11–15 | | 43–54 |
| 14 Jun | Russia | 1–3 | Cuba | 9–15 | 16–14 | 6–15 | 4–15 | | 35–59 |
| 15 Jun | South Korea | 0–3 | Netherlands | 8–15 | 6–15 | 9–15 | | | 23–45 |
| 20 Jun | Russia | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–10 | 15–8 | 15–2 | | | 45–20 |
| 20 Jun | Cuba | 3–1 | Netherlands | 15–8 | 15–12 | 15–17 | 15–8 | | 60–45 |
| 21 Jun | Russia | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–7 | 15–8 | 15–4 | | | 45–19 |
| 21 Jun | Cuba | 2–3 | Netherlands | 15–10 | 12–15 | 15–13 | 4–15 | 10–15 | 56–68 |

## Final round

* Venue: Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Moscow, Russia

### Pool play

* Teams from the same pool of Intercontinental Round will not play. Russia will be considered as the runners-up of Pool B.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Italy | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 2.500 | 198 | 157 | 1.261 | Final |
| 2 | Cuba | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 2.000 | 202 | 172 | 1.174 | Final |
| 3 | Netherlands | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 1.125 | 195 | 227 | 0.859 | 3rd place match |
| 4 | Russia | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 1.000 | 205 | 181 | 1.133 | 3rd place match |
| 5 | Brazil | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 0.333 | 141 | 159 | 0.887 | |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 0.500 | 197 | 242 | 0.814 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 30 Jun | Netherlands | 3–1 | Italy | 15–11 | 15–13 | 8–15 | 15–10 | | 53–49 |
| 30 Jun | Cuba | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–11 | 15–11 | 15–9 | | | 45–31 |
| 30 Jun | Bulgaria | 2–3 | Russia | 9–15 | 15–11 | 3–15 | 15–11 | 7–15 | 49–67 |
| 1 Jul | Bulgaria | 2–3 | Cuba | 4–15 | 15–11 | 12–15 | 15–9 | 13–15 | 59–65 |
| 1 Jul | Italy | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–12 | 15–8 | 15–12 | | | 45–32 |
| 1 Jul | Russia | 2–3 | Netherlands | 15–17 | 15–3 | 15–4 | 11–15 | 13–15 | 69–54 |
| 2 Jul | Italy | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–11 | 15–5 | 15–9 | | | 45–25 |
| 2 Jul | Brazil | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–13 | 15–8 | 15–2 | | | 45–23 |
| 2 Jul | Cuba | 3–0 | Russia | 15–11 | 15–7 | 15–5 | | | 45–23 |
| 4 Jul | Netherlands | 3–2 | Bulgaria | 15–9 | 15–13 | 13–15 | 7–15 | 15–12 | 65–64 |
| 4 Jul | Italy | 3–1 | Cuba | 14–16 | 15–11 | 15–12 | 15–8 | | 59–47 |
| 4 Jul | Russia | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–11 | 16–14 | 15–8 | | | 46–33 |

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

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Jul | Netherlands | 0–3 | Russia | 8–15 | 12–15 | 8–15 | | | 28–45 |

#### Final

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Jul | Italy | 3–0 | Cuba | 15–8 | 15–5 | 15–10 | | | 45–23 |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | Italy |
| | Cuba |
| | Russia |
| 4 | Netherlands |
| 5 | Brazil |
| 6 | Bulgaria |
| 7 | Yugoslavia |
| 8 | Argentina |
| 9 | Spain |
| 10 | China |
| 11 | South Korea |
| 12 | Japan |
* 1997 World League champions
* Italy 6th title

## Awards

* MVP
** Guido Görtzen
* Best scorer
** Guido Görtzen
* Best spiker
** Bas van de Goor
* Best server
** Ramón Gato
* Best blocker
** Ihosvany Hernández