# 2006 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix

The FIVB World Grand Prix 2006 was the fourteenth edition of the annual women's volleyball tournament, which is the female equivalent of the Men's Volleyball World League.

## Qualification
### Asia

* The top four Asian teams according to the FIVB World Rankings
** China
** Japan
** South Korea
** Thailand

### Europe

* European Qualification Tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan from July 26 to July 31, 2005

#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Russia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 2.000 | 281 | 259 | 1.085 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Poland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 1.600 | 280 | 263 | 1.065 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 1.400 | 275 | 266 | 1.034 | |
| 4 | Romania | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 180 | 228 | 0.789 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 26 Jul | Russia | 2–3 | Poland | 25–23 | 19–25 | 25–17 | 24–26 | 10–15 | 103–106 |
| 26 Jul | Netherlands | 3–0 | Romania | 26–24 | 25–21 | 25–21 | | | 76–66 |
| 27 Jul | Netherlands | 1–3 | Russia | 27–29 | 25–22 | 19–25 | 22–25 | | 93–101 |
| 27 Jul | Romania | 0–3 | Poland | 20–25 | 16–25 | 18–25 | | | 54–75 |
| 28 Jul | Russia | 3–0 | Romania | 27–25 | 25–17 | 25–18 | | | 77–60 |
| 28 Jul | Poland | 2–3 | Netherlands | 25–20 | 19–25 | 20–25 | 25–21 | 10–15 | 99–106 |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Azerbaijan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 8.000 | 306 | 293 | 1.044 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Germany | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 1.400 | 268 | 254 | 1.055 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Turkey | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 0.750 | 312 | 316 | 0.987 | |
| 4 | Bulgaria | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 0.571 | 247 | 270 | 0.915 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 26 Jul | Germany | 3–2 | Turkey | 23–25 | 19–25 | 25–19 | 25–20 | 15–10 | 107–99 |
| 26 Jul | Azerbaijan | 3–1 | Bulgaria | 26–24 | 21–25 | 25–23 | 25–20 | | 97–92 |
| 27 Jul | Bulgaria | 3–1 | Turkey | 25–23 | 29–27 | 21–25 | 25–23 | | 100–98 |
| 27 Jul | Azerbaijan | 3–1 | Germany | 25–27 | 25–21 | 25–21 | 25–17 | | 100–86 |
| 28 Jul | Germany | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 25–15 | 25–22 | 25–18 | | | 75–55 |
| 28 Jul | Turkey | 3–2 | Azerbaijan | 22–25 | 25–23 | 25–22 | 28–30 | 15–9 | 115–109 |

#### Semi finals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 30 Jul | Russia | 3–2 | Poland | 19–25 | 20–25 | 25–20 | 25–23 | 15–8 | 104–101 |
| 30 Jul | Azerbaijan | 3–0 | Germany | 28–26 | 25–10 | 25–20 | | | 78–56 |

#### Third-place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 31 Jul | Poland | 3–1 | Germany | 25–27 | 25–13 | 25–21 | 25–19 | | 100–80 |

#### First Place Match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 31 Jul | Russia | 2–3 | Azerbaijan | 25–17 | 16–25 | 17–25 | 25–18 | 15–17 | 98–102 |
** Azerbaijan, Russia and Poland qualified; Italy received a wild card as the host nation.

### North and South America

* Pan-American Cup in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from June 8 to June 19, 2005
** Cuba
** United States
** Dominican Republic
** Brazil

## Preliminary rounds
### Ranking

The host China and top five teams in the preliminary round advance to the final round.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Brazil | 9 | 9 | 0 | 18 | 27 | 4 | 6.750 | 765 | 632 | 1.210 | Final round |
| 2 | Russia | 9 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 24 | 12 | 2.000 | 836 | 736 | 1.136 | Final round |
| 3 | China | 9 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 24 | 9 | 2.667 | 767 | 700 | 1.096 | Final round |
| 4 | Italy (H) | 9 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 22 | 10 | 2.200 | 763 | 672 | 1.135 | Final round |
| 5 | Cuba | 9 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 19 | 14 | 1.357 | 750 | 733 | 1.023 | Final round |
| 6 | Japan | 9 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 1.071 | 643 | 631 | 1.019 | Final round |
| 7 | United States | 9 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 1.056 | 844 | 840 | 1.005 | |
| 8 | Dominican Republic | 9 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 24 | 0.500 | 739 | 821 | 0.900 | |
| 9 | South Korea | 9 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 23 | 0.435 | 671 | 751 | 0.893 | |
| 10 | Azerbaijan | 9 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 0.615 | 887 | 919 | 0.965 | |
| 11 | Thailand | 9 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 26 | 0.269 | 690 | 798 | 0.865 | |
| 12 | Poland | 9 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 26 | 0.423 | 738 | 860 | 0.858 | |
* ↑ Qualified as hosts

### First round
#### Group A

* Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 18 Ago | Brazil | 3–0 | South Korea | 25–14 | 25–17 | 25–14 | | 75–45 | P2 |
| 18 Ago | Cuba | 0–3 | Japan | 27–29 | 18–25 | 17–25 | | 62–79 | P2 |
| 19 Ago | Cuba | 1–3 | Brazil | 19–25 | 27–25 | 20–25 | 21–25 | 87–100 | P2 |
| 19 Ago | South Korea | 0–3 | Japan | 20–25 | 20–25 | 17–25 | | 57–75 | P2 |
| 20 Ago | Cuba | 3–0 | South Korea | 25–23 | 25–20 | 25–23 | | 75–66 | P2 |
| 20 Ago | Brazil | 3–0 | Japan | 25–22 | 25–16 | 25–20 | | 75–58 | P2 |

#### Group B

* Venue: Hong Kong Coliseum, Hong Kong
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 18 Ago | Russia | 3–2 | Azerbaijan | 22–25 | 21–25 | 27–25 | 25–23 | 15–7 | 110–105 | P2 |
| 18 Ago | China | 3–0 | Thailand | 25–20 | 25–19 | 25–22 | | | 75–61 | P2 |
| 19 Ago | Russia | 3–1 | Thailand | 25–17 | 25–15 | 26–28 | 25–19 | | 101–79 | P2 |
| 19 Ago | China | 3–2 | Azerbaijan | 21–25 | 25–23 | 22–25 | 25–21 | 15–13 | 108–107 | P2 |
| 20 Ago | Azerbaijan | 3–2 | Thailand | 20–25 | 22–25 | 25–19 | 25–20 | 16–14 | 108–103 | P2 |
| 20 Ago | China | 3–0 | Russia | 25–15 | 25–23 | 25–21 | | | 75–59 | P2 |

#### Group C

* Venue: Łuczniczka, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 18 Ago | United States | 2–3 | Dominican Republic | 25–21 | 23–25 | 25–19 | 25–27 | 8–15 | 106–107 | P2 |
| 18 Ago | Poland | 0–3 | Italy | 23–25 | 18–25 | 21–25 | | | 75–61 | P2 |
| 19 Ago | Italy | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 25–17 | 25–17 | 25–18 | | | 101–79 | P2 |
| 19 Ago | Poland | 1–3 | United States | 24–26 | 22–25 | 25–18 | 21–25 | | 108–107 | P2 |
| 20 Ago | Italy | 3–1 | United States | 25–21 | 27–25 | 18–25 | 25–17 | | 108–103 | P2 |
| 20 Ago | Poland | 1–3 | Dominican Republic | 23–25 | 20–25 | 30–28 | 17–25 | | 75–59 | P2 |

### Second round
#### Group D

* Venue: Macau Forum, Macau
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 25 Ago | Brazil | 3–2 | Dominican Republic | 25–14 | 22–25 | 20–25 | 25–17 | 15–8 | 107–89 | P2 |
| 25 Ago | China | 3–2 | United States | 25–27 | 25–22 | 25–22 | 20–25 | 16–14 | 111–110 | P2 |
| 26 Ago | Brazil | 3–1 | United States | 29–27 | 25–22 | 23–25 | 25–21 | | 102–95 | P2 |
| 26 Ago | China | 3–1 | Dominican Republic | 25–22 | 25–20 | 20–25 | 25–22 | | 95–89 | P2 |
| 27 Ago | United States | 3–1 | Dominican Republic | 25–22 | 22–25 | 26–24 | 25–16 | | 98–87 | P2 |
| 27 Ago | China | 0–3 | Brazil | 22–25 | 19–25 | 17–25 | | | 58–75 | P2 |

#### Group E

* Venue: Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 25 Ago | South Korea | 1–3 | Russia | 15–25 | 18–25 | 25–20 | 20–25 | | 78–95 | P2 |
| 25 Ago | Poland | 0–3 | Japan | 18–25 | 24–26 | 18–25 | | | 60–76 | P2 |
| 26 Ago | Russia | 3–2 | Poland | 25–16 | 28–30 | 25–16 | 24–26 | 15–6 | 117–94 | P2 |
| 26 Ago | South Korea | 0–3 | Japan | 22–25 | 15–25 | 19–25 | | | 56–75 | P2 |
| 27 Ago | South Korea | 3–2 | Poland | 23–25 | 25–10 | 19–25 | 25–22 | 15–9 | 107–91 | P2 |
| 27 Ago | Russia | 3–0 | Japan | 25–23 | 25–17 | 25–21 | | | 75–61 | P2 |

#### Group F

* Venue: Taipei Municipal Gymnasium, Taipei, Taiwan
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 25 Ago | Italy | 3–2 | Azerbaijan | 25–18 | 25–20 | 22–25 | 23–25 | 15–11 | 110–99 | P2 |
| 25 Ago | Thailand | 0–3 | Cuba | 23–25 | 21–25 | 17–25 | | | 61–75 | P2 |
| 26 Ago | Cuba | 3–2 | Azerbaijan | 22–25 | 26–24 | 21–25 | 25–21 | 15–12 | 109–107 | P2 |
| 26 Ago | Thailand | 1–3 | Italy | 25–23 | 20–25 | 23–25 | 20–25 | | 88–98 | P2 |
| 27 Ago | Cuba | 3–1 | Italy | 25–22 | 25–23 | 20–25 | 25–18 | | 95–88 | P2 |
| 27 Ago | Azerbaijan | 2–3 | Thailand | 21–25 | 25–18 | 25–17 | 23–25 | 10–15 | 104–100 | P2 |

### Third round
#### Group G

* Venue: Beilun Gymnasium, Ningbo, China
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 1 Sep | Cuba | 3–2 | Poland | 18–25 | 25–27 | 25–15 | 25–16 | 15–9 | 108–92 | P2 |
| 1 Sep | China | 3–1 | Azerbaijan | 25–18 | 25–20 | 19–25 | 26–24 | | 95–87 | P2 |
| 2 Sep | Cuba | 3–0 | Azerbaijan | 25–18 | 25–21 | 28–26 | | | 78–65 | P2 |
| 2 Sep | China | 3–0 | Poland | 25–22 | 25–15 | 25–14 | | | 75–51 | P2 |
| 3 Sep | Poland | 3–2 | Azerbaijan | 25–21 | 25–21 | 19–25 | 22–25 | 15–13 | 106–105 | P2 |
| 3 Sep | China | 3–0 | Cuba | 25–19 | 25–23 | 25–19 | | | 75–61 | P2 |

#### Group H

* Venue: Nimiboot Gymnasium, Bangkok, Thailand
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 1 Sep | Russia | 3–2 | South Korea | 21–25 | 25–22 | 25–20 | 21–25 | 15–7 | 107–99 | P2 |
| 1 Sep | Thailand | 0–3 | United States | 27–29 | 15–25 | 25–27 | | | 67–81 | P2 |
| 2 Sep | South Korea | 1–3 | United States | 25–12 | 16–25 | 27–29 | 16–25 | | 84–91 | P2 |
| 2 Sep | Russia | 3–0 | Thailand | 25–19 | 25–20 | 27–25 | | | 77–64 | P2 |
| 3 Sep | United States | 1–3 | Russia | 22–25 | 25–20 | 11–25 | 23–25 | | 81–95 | P2 |
| 3 Sep | Thailand | 0–3 | South Korea | 27–29 | 18–25 | 22–25 | | | 67–79 | P2 |

#### Group I

* Venue: Momotaro Arena, Okayama, Japan
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 1 Sep | Brazil | 3–0 | Italy | 25–22 | 25–22 | 30–28 | | | 80–72 | P2 |
| 1 Sep | Dominican Republic | 2–3 | Japan | 16–25 | 25–18 | 16–25 | 25–15 | 14–16 | 96–99 | P2 |
| 2 Sep | Brazil | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 25–22 | 25–22 | 26–24 | | | 76–68 | P2 |
| 2 Sep | Italy | 3–0 | Japan | 25–18 | 25–19 | 25–23 | | | 75–60 | P2 |
| 3 Sep | Dominican Republic | 0–3 | Italy | 13–25 | 19–25 | 16–25 | | | 48–75 | P2 |
| 3 Sep | Brazil | 3–0 | Japan | 25–21 | 25–21 | 25–18 | | | 75–60 | P2 |

## Final round

* Venue: PalaCalafiore, Reggio Calabria, Italy

### Pool play
#### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Italy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1.333 | 170 | 143 | 1.189 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Cuba | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1.000 | 178 | 191 | 0.932 | Semifinals |
| 3 | China | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0.750 | 185 | 196 | 0.944 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 6 Sep | China | 3–1 | Cuba | 25–19 | 21–25 | 25–23 | 25–16 | 96–83 | P2 |
| 7 Sep | Cuba | 3–1 | Italy | 26–24 | 19–25 | 25–23 | 25–23 | 95–95 | P2 |
| 8 Sep | Italy | 3–0 | China | 25–17 | 25–17 | 25–14 | | 75–48 | P2 |

#### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Brazil | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 6.000 | 173 | 136 | 1.272 | Semifinals |
| 2 | Russia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 135 | 139 | 0.971 | Semifinals |
| 3 | Japan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 | 144 | 177 | 0.814 | |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 6 Sep | Brazil | 3–0 | Russia | 25–15 | 25–19 | 25–22 | | 75–56 | P2 |
| 7 Sep | Russia | 3–0 | Japan | 25–15 | 25–22 | 29–27 | | 79–64 | P2 |
| 8 Sep | Japan | 1–3 | Brazil | 25–23 | 22–25 | 16–25 | 17–25 | 80–98 | P2 |

### Final four

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 9 September | 9 September |
| Italy | 2 |
| Italy | 2 | 10 September | 10 September |
| Russia | 3 | 10 September | 10 September |
| Russia | 3 | Russia | 1 |
| 9 September | 9 September | | Russia | 1 |
| 9 September | 9 September | Brazil | 3 |
| Cuba | 0 | Brazil | 3 |
| Brazil | 3 | | |
| Brazil | 3 | 3rd place match | 3rd place match |
| | | 10 September | 10 September |
| | | Italy | 3 |
| | | Cuba | 2 |

#### Semifinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 9 Sep | Cuba | 0–3 | Brazil | 20–25 | 15–25 | 18–25 | | | 53–75 | P2 |
| 9 Sep | Italy | 2–3 | Russia | 25–21 | 25–23 | 23–25 | 15–25 | 10–15 | 98–109 | P2 |

#### 5th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 9 Sep | China | 3–0 | Japan | 25–20 | 25–13 | 25–18 | | | 75–51 | P2 |

#### 3rd place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 10 Sep | Italy | 3–2 | Cuba | 25–17 | 25–15 | 23–25 | 23–25 | 15–11 | 111–93 | P2 |

#### Final

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 10 Sep | Russia | 1–3 | Brazil | 20–25 | 20–25 | 25–23 | 17–25 | | 82–98 | P2 |

## Overall ranking

| Place | Team |
| | Brazil |
| | Russia |
| | Italy |
| 4. | Cuba |
| 5. | China |
| 6. | Japan |
| 7. | United States |
| 8. | Dominican Republic |
| 9. | South Korea |
| 10. | Azerbaijan |
| 11. | Thailand |
| 12. | Poland |
* 2006 FIVB Women's World Grand Prix winners
* Brazil 6th title
* Team Roster
* Walewska Oliveira, Carolina Albuquerque, Marianne Steinbrecher, Caroline Gattaz, Helia Souza, Valeska Menezes, Fabiana Claudino, Welissa Gonzaga, Jaqueline Carvalho, Sheilla Castro, Arlene Xavier, Renata Colombo
* Head coach
* José Roberto Guimarães

## Individual awards

* Most valuable player:
** Sheilla Castro (BRA)
* Best scorer:
** Ekaterina Gamova (RUS)
* Best spiker:
** Fabiana Claudino (BRA)
* Best blocker:
** Sara Anzanello (ITA)
* Best server:
** Nancy Carrillo (CUB)
* Best libero:
** Arlene Xavier (BRA)
* Best setter:
** Eleonora Lo Bianco (ITA)