Pools, Schedule Set for Round 2 of Women’s Volleyball World Champs

2018 FIVB WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Sept. 30 – Oct. 20, 2018
• Schedule/Results
• Teams

Both the field, and the schedule, are set for round 2 of the 2018 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championships. For those who followed our coverage of the men’s championship that wrapped up last week, or who followed the 2014 Women’s World Championships, take note that the format has been changed (which, was not widely disseminated until the 2nd round standings were released this week).

16 teams have advanced to the 2nd round of the 2018 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championships. Besides keeping their World Championship dreams alive, which in some cases might be a longshot at best, those 16 teams have also qualified for the 2019 Olympic Qualifying Tournament – the primary (but not only) means by which teams can qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The qualifying is pretty simple here: all matches from the opening round carry forward from the preliminary round (in 2014, only matches against other teams that advanced did so, recognizing the relative lack of parity in the women’s game). All 4 advancing teams in Pool A will play all 4 advancing teams in Pool D, and the same matchup from B and C. The top 3 teams in each of the two 2nd-round pools (when combining 1st and 2nd round points)

Pool Breakout of Round 2 of 2018 Women’s Volleyball World Championships

Ranks based on latest FIVB World Rankings

Pool E

Serbia has looked machine-like, in spite of rolling through a number of reserves (and losing one to injury in their last match). Nobody even came close to them in their 5 matches, and they had the maximum sets, and best points, ratio of any team in the first round. The interesting battle will be Brazil and Japan for 3rd in the group. Can the Japanese cash in with a Final 6 appearance?

		Matches		Pts	Sets			Points
Rank	Team	W	L		W	L	Ratio	W	L	Ratio
1	#3 Serbia	5	0	15	15	0	MAX	377	262	1.439
2	#8 Netherlands	5	0	14	15	3	5.000	435	375	1.160
3	#6 Japan	4	1	13	14	3	4.667	417	309	1.350
4	#4 Brazil	4	1	12	12	3	4.000	360	259	1.390
5	#13 Germany	3	2	9	10	6	1.667	401	351	1.142
6	#9 Dominican Republic	3	2	9	9	6	1.500	341	292	1.168
7	#13 Puerto Rico	2	3	6	6	9	0.667	318	344	0.924
8	#26 Mexico	1	4	3	4	12	0.333	312	383	0.815

Pool F

The real surprise here is Turkey who seemed to be riding a ton of momentum, with a veteran team, after finishing as silver medalists behind the United States in the Nations League earlier this summer. After 2 losses in the preliminary round, they’re in a position where they probably have to beat Russia in their opening match  of the 2nd round to advance.

Thailand could play spoiler in this group. They almost beat Russia and the United States (both lost in 5 sets) in spite of being rocked by injuries to 3 of their top offensive weapons.

		Matches		Pts	Sets			Points
Rank	Team	W	L		W	L	Ratio	W	L	Ratio
1	#7 Italy	5	0	15	15	1	15.000	396	290	1.366
2	#2 United States	5	0	13	15	5	3.000	454	387	1.173
3	#1 China	4	1	12	13	4	3.250	407	342	1.190
4	#5 Russia	4	1	12	14	5	2.800	433	356	1.216
5	#16 Thailand	3	2	10	13	10	1.300	471	467	1.009
6	#12 Turkey	3	2	9	9	7	1.286	364	309	1.178
7	#24 Azerbaijan	2	3	6	7	10	0.700	393	383	1.026
8	#17 Bulgaria	2	3	6	7	10	0.700	361	383	0.943

Schedule

Pool E

Pool F

By Country

Azerbaijan

Brazil

Bulgaria

China

Dominican Republic

Germany

Italy

Japan

Mexico

Netherlands

Puerto Rico

Russia

Serbia

Thailand

Turkey

United States