# 2008 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix

The FIVB World Grand Prix 2008 was a women's volleyball tournament in which 12 countries competed from 20 June to 12 July 2008. The finals were held in Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan. Cuba, Brazil, Dominican Republic and the United States qualified for the tournament at the 2007 Women's Pan-American Cup in Colima, Mexico. Germany, Turkey, Italy, and Poland qualified through the European Qualifying Tournament in Ankara, Turkey. China, Japan, Thailand, and Kazakhstan qualified as the best four Asian teams.

## Competing nations

The following national teams qualified:
| Europe | America | Asia |
| Germany  Italy  Poland  Turkey | Brazil  Cuba  Dominican Republic  United States | China  Japan  Kazakhstan  Thailand |

## Calendar

Week 1 20–22 June 2008 :
| Group A: Kobe, Japan | Group B: Ningbo, China | Group C: Alassio, Italy |
| Japan  United States  Turkey  Kazakhstan | China  Brazil  Germany  Thailand | Italy  Cuba  Poland  Dominican Republic |
| Week 2 27–29 June 2008 |||
| Group D: Vĩnh Phúc, Vietnam | Group E: Wrocław, Poland | Group F: Hong Kong |
| Brazil  Turkey  Kazakhstan  Germany | Poland  United States  Dominican Republic  Thailand | Italy  China  Japan  Cuba |
| Week 3 4–6 July 2008 |||
| Group G: Bangkok, Thailand | Group H: Taipei, Chinese Taipei | Group I: Macau |
| Thailand  Cuba  Kazakhstan  Germany | Italy  United States  Turkey  Poland | China  Brazil  Japan  Dominican Republic |
| Week 4 Final Round 9–13 July 2008 |||
| Yokohama, Japan |||
| Top five teams  Brazil China Italy United States Cuba and  Japan as host |||

## Preliminary rounds
### Ranking

The host Japan 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 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 26 | 6 | 4.333 | 766 | 639 | 1.199 | Final round |
| 2 | China | 9 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 24 | 10 | 2.400 | 783 | 687 | 1.140 | Final round |
| 3 | Italy | 9 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 26 | 10 | 2.600 | 844 | 751 | 1.124 | Final round |
| 4 | United States | 9 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 22 | 11 | 2.000 | 771 | 664 | 1.161 | Final round |
| 5 | Cuba | 9 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 22 | 15 | 1.467 | 856 | 785 | 1.090 | Final round |
| 6 | Turkey | 9 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 0.941 | 743 | 732 | 1.015 | |
| 7 | Germany | 9 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 1.000 | 710 | 709 | 1.001 | |
| 8 | Dominican Republic | 9 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 0.789 | 725 | 761 | 0.953 | |
| 9 | Japan (H) | 9 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 23 | 0.391 | 641 | 737 | 0.870 | Final round |
| 10 | Poland | 9 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 24 | 0.542 | 768 | 855 | 0.898 | |
| 11 | Thailand | 9 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 0.385 | 710 | 824 | 0.862 | |
| 12 | Kazakhstan | 9 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 26 | 0.154 | 552 | 725 | 0.761 | |
* ↑ Qualified as hosts

### First round
#### Group A

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 20 Jun | Turkey | 3–1 | United States | 28–26 | 25–16 | 21–25 | 25–19 | | 99–86 | P2 P3 |
| 20 Jun | Japan | 3–0 | Kazakhstan | 25–17 | 25–13 | 25–23 | | | 75–53 | P2 P3 |
| 21 Jun | Kazakhstan | 0–3 | United States | 16–25 | 17–25 | 18–25 | | | 51–75 | P2 P3 |
| 21 Jun | Japan | 3–2 | Turkey | 21–25 | 25–16 | 17–25 | 25–19 | 15–12 | 103–97 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Jun | Kazakhstan | 0–3 | Turkey | 17–25 | 24–26 | 15–25 | | | 56–76 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Jun | Japan | 2–3 | United States | 29–27 | 18–25 | 25–18 | 16–25 | 13–15 | 101–110 | P2 P3 |

#### Group B

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 20 Jun | Brazil | 3–0 | Thailand | 25–22 | 25–18 | 25–20 | | | 75–60 | P2 P3 |
| 20 Jun | China | 3–1 | Germany | 19–25 | 25–19 | 25–11 | 25–21 | | 94–76 | P2 P3 |
| 21 Jun | China | 3–0 | Thailand | 25–11 | 25–16 | 25–19 | | | 75–46 | P2 P3 |
| 21 Jun | Germany | 1–3 | Brazil | 25–15 | 23–25 | 20–25 | 28–30 | | 96–95 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Jun | Germany | 3–1 | Thailand | 19–25 | 25–18 | 25–21 | 25–22 | | 94–86 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Jun | China | 3–2 | Brazil | 22–25 | 26–24 | 22–25 | 25–22 | 15–13 | 110–109 | P2 P3 |

#### Group C

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 20 Jun | Cuba | 3–1 | Poland | 25–20 | 29–31 | 25–21 | 26–24 | | 105–96 | P2 P3 |
| 20 Jun | Italy | 3–1 | Dominican Republic | 19–25 | 25–19 | 25–17 | 25–15 | | 94–76 | P2 P3 |
| 21 Jun | Dominican Republic | 0–3 | Cuba | 22–25 | 15–25 | 19–25 | | | 56–75 | P2 P3 |
| 21 Jun | Italy | 3–1 | Poland | 25–17 | 25–22 | 23–25 | 25–16 | | 98–80 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Jun | Poland | 2–3 | Dominican Republic | 21–25 | 25–23 | 25–19 | 23–25 | 11–15 | 105–107 | P2 P3 |
| 22 Jun | Italy | 3–0 | Cuba | 25–23 | 27–25 | 27–25 | | | 79–73 | P2 P3 |

### Second round
#### Group D

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 27 Jun | Brazil | 3–0 | Kazakhstan | 25–10 | 25–17 | 25–19 | | 75–46 | P2 P3 |
| 27 Jun | Turkey | 3–1 | Germany | 25–21 | 25–22 | 25–27 | 25–18 | 100–88 | P2 P3 |
| 28 Jun | Kazakhstan | 0–3 | Germany | 17–25 | 19–25 | 21–25 | | 57–75 | P2 P3 |
| 28 Jun | Brazil | 3–0 | Turkey | 25–23 | 25–19 | 25–15 | | 75–57 | P2 P3 |
| 29 Jun | Germany | 0–3 | Brazil | 15–25 | 25–27 | 16–25 | | 56–77 | P2 P3 |
| 29 Jun | Turkey | 3–0 | Kazakhstan | 25–16 | 25–20 | 25–17 | | 75–53 | P2 P3 |

#### Group E

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 27 Jun | Poland | 1–3 | Dominican Republic | 22–25 | 25–19 | 17–25 | 20–25 | | 84–94 | P2 P3 |
| 27 Jun | Thailand | 1–3 | United States | 18–25 | 17–25 | 28–26 | 13–25 | | 76–101 | P2 P3 |
| 28 Jun | Poland | 2–3 | Thailand | 25–19 | 21–25 | 25–18 | 23–25 | 4–15 | 98–102 | P2 P3 |
| 28 Jun | United States | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 25–13 | 25–21 | 25–20 | | | 75–54 | P2 P3 |
| 29 Jun | Poland | 0–3 | United States | 17–25 | 16–25 | 20–25 | | | 53–75 | P2 P3 |
| 29 Jun | Dominican Republic | 3–1 | Thailand | 25–19 | 24–26 | 25–21 | 25–22 | | 99–88 | P2 P3 |

#### Group F

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 27 Jun | Italy | 3–0 | Japan | 25–17 | 25–20 | 25–22 | | | 75–59 | P2 P3 |
| 27 Jun | China | 3–2 | Cuba | 25–18 | 25–27 | 21–25 | 25–21 | 15–13 | 111–104 | P2 P3 |
| 28 Jun | Cuba | 2–3 | Italy | 25–21 | 19–25 | 25–19 | 20–25 | 13–15 | 102–105 | P2 P3 |
| 28 Jun | China | 3–0 | Japan | 25–16 | 29–27 | 25–22 | | | 79–65 | P2 P3 |
| 29 Jun | Japan | 1–3 | Cuba | 25–22 | 21–25 | 19–25 | 16–25 | | 81–97 | P2 P3 |
| 29 Jun | China | 3–2 | Italy | 18–25 | 25–20 | 21–25 | 27–25 | 15–8 | 106–103 | P2 P3 |

### Third round
#### Group G

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 4 Jul | Thailand | 2–3 | Kazakhstan | 19–25 | 19–25 | 25–19 | 25–17 | 14–16 | 102–102 | P2 P3 |
| 4 Jul | Cuba | 3–1 | Germany | 23–25 | 25–21 | 25–8 | 25–21 | | 98–75 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Jul | Germany | 3–0 | Thailand | 25–18 | 25–15 | 25–16 | | | 75–49 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Jul | Kazakhstan | 1–3 | Cuba | 25–22 | 19–25 | 21–25 | 16–25 | | 81–97 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Jul | Thailand | 2–3 | Cuba | 20–25 | 22–25 | 25–23 | 25–17 | 9–15 | 101–105 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Jul | Germany | 3–0 | Kazakhstan | 25–15 | 25–19 | 25–19 | | | 75–53 | P2 P3 |

#### Group H

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 4 Jul | United States | 3–1 | Poland | 20–25 | 25–23 | 25–19 | 25–10 | | 95–77 | P2 P3 |
| 4 Jul | Italy | 3–1 | Turkey | 25–20 | 21–25 | 30–28 | 25–23 | | 101–96 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Jul | United States | 3–1 | Turkey | 25–16 | 25–20 | 20–25 | 25–17 | | 95–78 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Jul | Italy | 3–2 | Poland | 23–25 | 23–25 | 25–20 | 25–14 | 18–16 | 114–100 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Jul | Poland | 3–0 | Turkey | 25–21 | 25–22 | 25–22 | | | 75–65 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Jul | Italy | 3–0 | United States | 25–22 | 25–21 | 25–16 | | | 75–59 | P2 P3 |

#### Group I

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 4 Jul | Brazil | 3–2 | Dominican Republic | 23–25 | 22–25 | 25–22 | 25–23 | 15–9 | 110–104 | P2 P3 |
| 4 Jul | China | 3–0 | Japan | 25–16 | 25–19 | 25–15 | | | 75–50 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Jul | Brazil | 3–0 | Japan | 25–16 | 25–21 | 25–15 | | | 75–52 | P2 P3 |
| 5 Jul | China | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 25–16 | 25–22 | 25–21 | | | 75–59 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Jul | Dominican Republic | 3–0 | Japan | 26–24 | 25–13 | 25–18 | | | 76–55 | P2 P3 |
| 6 Jul | China | 0–3 | Brazil | 21–25 | 17–25 | 20–25 | | | 58–75 | P2 P3 |

## Final round

* Venue– Yokohama Arena, Yokohama
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 9 Jul | Brazil | 3–0 | United States | 25–19 | 25–19 | 25–23 | | | 75–61 | P2 P3 |
| 9 Jul | China | 2–3 | Italy | 25–22 | 27–29 | 25–20 | 20–25 | 9–15 | 106–111 | P2 P3 |
| 9 Jul | Japan | 1–3 | Cuba | 25–19 | 23–25 | 18–25 | 19–25 | | 85–94 | P2 P3 |
| 10 Jul | China | 1–3 | Cuba | 21–25 | 25–20 | 24–26 | 16–25 | | 86–96 | P2 P3 |
| 10 Jul | Italy | 0–3 | Brazil | 20–25 | 17–25 | 23–25 | | | 60–75 | P2 P3 |
| 10 Jul | Japan | 2–3 | United States | 28–26 | 20–25 | 25–22 | 20–25 | 11–15 | 104–113 | P2 P3 |
| 11 Jul | Brazil | 3–1 | China | 25–18 | 25–16 | 21–25 | 25–18 | | 96–77 | P2 P3 |
| 11 Jul | Cuba | 3–2 | United States | 22–25 | 17–25 | 25–18 | 25–21 | 15–11 | 104–100 | P2 P3 |
| 11 Jul | Japan | 3–0 | Italy | 25–23 | 25–22 | 26–24 | | | 76–69 | P2 P3 |
| 12 Jul | Brazil | 3–0 | Cuba | 25–14 | 25–15 | 25–20 | | | 75–49 | P2 P3 |
| 12 Jul | Italy | 3–1 | United States | 25–17 | 26–28 | 25–19 | 25–19 | | 101–83 | P2 P3 |
| 12 Jul | Japan | 1–3 | China | 17–25 | 30–28 | 15–25 | 21–25 | | 83–103 | P2 P3 |
| 13 Jul | United States | 3–2 | China | 25–23 | 25–19 | 22–25 | 21–25 | 17–15 | 110–107 | P2 P3 |
| 13 Jul | Cuba | 3–1 | Italy | 28–30 | 25–18 | 25–23 | 25–19 | | 103–90 | P2 P3 |
| 13 Jul | Japan | 0–3 | Brazil | 23–25 | 23–25 | 19–25 | | | 65–75 | P2 P3 |

### Final ranking

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Brazil | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 1 | 15.000 | 396 | 312 | 1.269 |
| 2 | Cuba | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 1.500 | 446 | 436 | 1.023 |
| 3 | Italy | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 0.583 | 431 | 443 | 0.973 |
| 4 | United States | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 0.692 | 467 | 491 | 0.951 |
| 5 | China | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 0.692 | 479 | 496 | 0.966 |
| 6 | Japan | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 0.583 | 412 | 454 | 0.907 |

## Overall ranking

| Place | Team |
| | Brazil |
| | Cuba |
| | Italy |
| 4 | United States |
| 5 | China |
| 6 | Japan |
| 7 | Turkey |
| 8 | Germany |
| 9 | Dominican Republic |
| 10 | Poland |
| 11 | Thailand |
| 12 | Kazakhstan |
* 2008 FIVB Women's World Grand Prix winners
* Brazil Seventh title
* Team roster
* Walewska Oliveira, Carolina Albuquerque, Marianne Steinbrecher, Paula Pequeno, Thaísa Menezes, Hélia Souza (c), Valeska Menezes, Fabiana Claudino, Wélissa Gonzaga, Jaqueline Carvalho, Sheilla Castro, Fabiana Oliveira
* Head coach
* José Roberto Guimarães

## Individual awards

* Most valuable player:
** Marianne Steinbrecher (BRA)
* Best spiker:
** Daimí Ramírez (CUB)
* Best blocker:
** Walewska Oliveira (BRA)
* Best server:
** Megumi Kurihara (JPN)
* Best libero:
** Yuko Sano (JPN)
* Best setter:
** Yoshie Takeshita (JPN)
* Best scorer:
** Megumi Kurihara (JPN)