Matchups for Semi-Finals at Women’s Volleyball World Championships Set

The matchups for the semifinals at the 2018 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship are set. Coming into Tuesday’s final matches of the 3rd round of play (aka the “Final 6”), the 4 teams that had advanced to the semi-finals were known. What was still uncertain, however, was which of the 4 nations would play which.

• Tuesday: Serbia Hands Italy First Loss of Worlds to Take Pool G (Recap)
• Tuesday: China Owns the Net, Rallies Past Dutch in 4 Sets in Pool H Finale (RECAP)

With Serbia’s win over Italy, they locked up the win in Pool G, which meant that they would play the losers of Tuesday’s Pool H match in the semi-finals. With China beating the Netherlands, that means Serbia and the Netherlands will play in one semi-final, while China and Italy will play in the other.

Japan and the US, who finished last in each of their groups in the Final 6, will play on Friday for 5th place.

The only of the remaining teams to have won a title are China with 2 (1982, 1986) and Italy with 1 (2002). Russia, the winningest team in tournament history (6 titles) was eliminated in the 2nd round.

Italy beat China 3-1 when they faced off in Pool B play in the opening round of the tournament. The Netherlands swept a Serbian team that was both without Tijana Boskovic, and much motivation, to close the 2nd round of play, after Serbia had already clinched its spot in the Final 6.

Semi-Finals Schedule:

5th-Place Match Schedule: