FIVB Grand Prix Finals

FIVB Volleyball’s 24^th edition of the World Grand Prix has come down to the semifinal match tomorrow and the championship match on Sunday. Let’s review this final week at the Grand Prix in Bangkok, Thailand, and how we got where we are today.

This year the preliminary rounds began on June 3 and the Grand Prix will culminate with the Group 1 Finals in Bangkok, Thailand, where the winner will be crowned on July 10 after pool play. Only China and Japan have taken part in all 23 previous editions. Of the rest, the USA missed the 1999 World Grand Prix and Brazil did not take part in 1997. All previous winners of the World Grand Prix are present again this year, including Brazil, USA, Russia the Netherlands, and Cuba. Brazil tops the Grand Prix medal list with 10 gold medals, followed by USA with six – including the top prize at the Finals in Omaha, Nebraska, last year.

Pool Play Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Pool K1 – USA defeated Netherlands 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, & 25-23)

Pool J1 – Brazil defeated Thailand 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, & 25-11)

Pool Play Thursday, July 7, 2016

Pool K1 – the Netherlands defeated China 3-2 (23-25, 25-14, 19-25, 25-20, & 15-8)

Pool J1 – Brazil defeated Russia 3-0 (25-22, 25-10, & 25-21)

Pool Play Friday, July 8, 2016

Pool K1 – USA defeated China 3-2 (25-21, 26-24, & 25-22)

Pool J1 – Russia defeated Thailand 3-0 (27-25, 26-24, & 25-19)

Therefore:

USA and Netherlands advanced from Pool K1 into the semifinals bracket.

Brazil and Russia advanced from Pool J1 into the semifinals bracket.

The Semifinals matchups:

Match 61 – Brazil versus Netherlands, July 9, 2016, at 3:00 PM Central time.

Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIA9ZnMbErA

Match 62 – USA versus Russia, July 9, 2016, at 6:00 PM Central time.

Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ab8wfAl0R4

The USA versus Russia match may also be televised in your area. Check with your provider for the exact details.

The Finals (Match 65) between the winners of the semifinals matches, are scheduled for Sunday, July 10, 2016, at 6:00 PM Central time.

Here’s the link to the final round schedule.

http://worldgrandprix.2016.fivb.com/en/group1/schedule#/d201607069