From the record 141 teams that initially participated in the Women’s continental (or zonal) qualification process, 24 teams are now competing for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship title from 23 September through 12 October, 2014. A total of 102 matches will be played over the 20 day tournament in six different cities in Italy – Bari, Milan, Modena, Rome, Trieste, and Verona.
The Women’s World Championship tournament consists of 24 teams – two teams from South America, five from Asia, nine (including the host) from Europe, two from Africa and six from the North America, including Central America and the Caribbean, known as NORCECA. The 24 teams will be divided into four pools (A, B, C, & D) of six teams playing in a round-robin system with the top four teams from each pool advancing to a second round of preliminary matches featuring two pools (E & F) of eight teams.
The top three teams from pools E and F will qualify for the third round, where the six remaining teams will be split into two pools (G & H). The top two teams from pools G and H will then advance to the semifinals and finals with the third place teams from pools G and H playing off for fifth place. Yes, this format is virtually identical to the format used in the men’s World Championship.
QUALIFIERS
Asia & Oceania (5) – Azerbaijan, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Thailand
Africa (2) – Cameroon, Tunisia,
Europe (8) – Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Turkey
South America (2) – Argentina, Brazil
NORCECA (6) – Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, USA
Host Nation (1) – Italy
THE POOLS
Pool A as of 9/25/2014
| COUNTRY | POINTS | RECORD |
| Italy | 9 | 3 – 0 |
| Dominican Republic | 7 | 3 – 0 |
| Germany | 7 | 2 – 1 |
| Croatia | 4 | 1 – 2 |
| Argentina | 0 | 0 – 3 |
| Tunisia | 0 | 0 – 3 |
Pool B as of 9/25/2014
| COUNTRY | POINTS | RECORD |
| Brazil | 9 | 3 – 0 |
| Serbia | 8 | 3 – 0 |
| Turkey | 4 | 1 – 2 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 1 – 2 |
| Canada | 3 | 1 – 2 |
| Cameroon | 0 | 0 – 3 |
Pool C as of 9/25/2014
| COUNTRY | POINTS | RECORD |
| Russia | 9 | 3 – 0 |
| USA | 9 | 3 – 0 |
| Netherlands | 6 | 2 – 1 |
| Thailand | 3 | 1 – 2 |
| Mexico | 0 | 0 – 3 |
| Kazakhstan | 0 | 0 – 3 |
Pool D as of 9/25/2014
| COUNTRY | POINTS | RECORD |
| China | 9 | 3 – 0 |
| Japan | 7 | 2 – 1 |
| Azerbaijan | 4 | 2 – 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 4 | 1 – 2 |
| Belgium | 3 | 1 – 2 |
| Cuba | 0 | 0 – 3 |
THE POINT SYSTEM
The point system used by FIVB is a way to try to ensure that every set and match matters in the outcome and figures into the results. Points are awarded based upon the six possible match outcomes, as shown in the following table.
| OUTCOME | POINTS |
| Win Match by a score of 3 – 0 | 3 |
| Win Match by a score of 3 – 1 | 3 |
| Win Match by a score of 3 – 2 | 2 |
| Lose Match by a score of 3 – 2 | 1 |
| Lose Match by a score of 3 – 1 | 0 |
| Lose Match by a score of 3 – 0 | 0 |
A team can lose a match by a score of 3 – 2 and still receive a point in the standings. Teams advance to the next round based on their point total first and their Won – Lost record second. Therefore, every set and every match potentially figures into the standings.
So, if we look at Pool A. above, Dominican Republic and Germany are tied with 7 points each. If Germany wins their next match 3 – 1 or better and Dominican Republic wins their next match by a 3 – 2 score, Germany moves ahead of Dominican Republic even though Dominican Republic is undefeated and Germany has one loss. HMMMM!
MATCH SCHEDULE
No matches are scheduled for Friday, 9/26/2014. Play resumes on Saturday, 9/27/2014.
| Day | Date | Time (ET) | Teams | Location |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 4:30 PM | Tunisia vs Croatia | Rome |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 4:30 PM | Bulgaria vs Cameroon | Trieste |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 4:30 PM | Mexico vs Kazakhstan | Verona |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 4:30 PM | Azerbaijan vs Belgium | Bari |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 11:00 PM | Dom Rep vs Argentina | Rome |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 11:00 PM | Serbia vs Canada | Trieste |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 11:00 PM | Russia vs Netherlands | Verona |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 11:00 PM | Japan vs Puerto Rico | Bari |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 2:00 PM | Italy vs Germany | Rome |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 2:00 PM | Brazil vs Turkey | Trieste |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 2:00 PM | USA vs Thailand | Verona |
| Saturday | 9/27 | 2:00 PM | China vs Cuba | Bari |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 4:30 PM | Tunisia vs Argentina | Rome |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 4:30 PM | Cameroon vs Turkey | Trieste |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 4:30 PM | Mexico vs Netherlands | Verona |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 4:30 PM | Azerbaijan vs Cuba | Bari |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 11:00 PM | Croatia vs Germany | Rome |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 11:00 PM | Bulgaria vs Canada | Trieste |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 11:00 PM | Kazakhstan vs Thailand | Verona |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 11:00 PM | Japan vs China | Bari |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 2:00 PM | Italy vs Dominican Rep | Rome |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 2:00 PM | Brazil vs Serbia | Trieste |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 2:00 PM | USA vs Russia | Verona |
| Sunday | 9/28 | 2:00 PM | Belgium vs Puerto Rico | Bari |
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