United States Becomes Second Team to Clinch a Spot in the Semifinals

2017 FIVB WORLD LEAGUE – GROUP 1

• June 2nd-July 8th, 2017
• Schedule
• Teams
• Event Page
• Final 6
• Arena da Baixada, Curitaba, Brazil

The United States joined Canada in clinching a semifinal spot after the Americans took down defending World League champion Serbia in four sets earlier today.

The U.S. lost its first match to France, but did so in five sets. That result drew one point for the U.S. and also handicapped France to two instead of a full three. They were also able to take down Serbia in four sets, which puts the United States at four total points with a 1-1 record. So although France can still finish ahead of USA in the pool standings, there is no scenario in which both Serbia and France can finish higher than the Americans.

Just one match remains in Pool K1, as the United States will sit back to see who their opponent will be in the semifinal round. The Serbia-France match will determine the other team that joins USA:

• If Serbia wins 3-0 or 3-1, all teams would finish 1-1. USA would finish first with four points, Serbia would finish in second with three points and France would not make the semifinals with just two points. The U.S. would then face the second best team from Pool J1.
• If Serbia wins 3-2, all teams would finish 1-1. USA would finish first with four points, France would finish in second with three points and Serbia would not make the semifinals with just two points. The U.S. would then face the second best team from Pool J1.
• If France win by any score, they would finish 2-0. That would put the U.S. in second at 1-1 and Serbia in last at 0-2. The U.S. would take on the winner of Pool J1 in this scenario.

Canada finished fifth with the United States in sixth as the two sides were the last two who made it into the Final Six. However, now both are the first two to clinch. The two sides could potentially meet in the semifinal round, depending on what happens in the final day of pool play tomorrow.