Volleyball Magazine 2014
Volleyball Magazine 2014
Volleyball Magazine 2014
BACK ON TOP:
USA HIT HEIGHTS
AT WORLD LEAGUE
FINALS
THINK
Feel
EDITORIAL
Cover photo
USA clinched their second FIVB
Volleyball World League crown in
Florence, Italy on July 20 with Taylor
Sander (pictured) playing a central role
top earn the MVP and Best Outside
Spiker award
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BIG PICTURE
COVER STORY
10
CALENDAR
12
FEATURE
US pairs lead the way, but
chasing pack close behind
16
SOCIAL MEDIA
18
CONFEDERATIONS
22 AVC 23 CAVB
23 CEV 24 CSV
24 NORCECA
BIG PICTURE
COVER STORY
COVER STORY
VolleyWorld looks back on all the action from the Final Six at the
Nelson Mandela Forum and across the tournament as a whole when
28 teams pitted their skills against one another in a record-setting
year for the worlds largest annual volleyball tournament.
It had been a long six years for the USA, the last time that they won
the World League title and a win that set them on the way to gold at
the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. They banished the ghosts of that
victory with a 3-1 (31-29, 21-25, 25-20, 25-23) win in the final, this
time over world No.1 Brazil, whereas six years ago in Rio de Janeiro
the US beat Serbia, albeit by the same 3-1 scoreline.
Brazil went into the final seeking their first World League title since
2010, but they were unable to cope with a USA side which included
22-year-old outside spiker Taylor Sander who was in inspired form.
He was subsequently voted tournament MVP for his efforts in the
renaissance city.
For USA coach Speraw the victory was just reward for injecting new
life into the team that slumped out of the London 2012 Olympic
Games at the quarterfinal stage.
Im thrilled for my guys, he said. I couldnt be happier. It was a
great final; the first set was just one point, two points the entire way
through. I was thinking that Brazil start slow and would come back.
The difference between the teams was small.
The week didnt start well for USA when they lost 3-0 (25-22, 25-21,
26-24) to an emotionally charged Italy, but they rallied and a 3-1 (2225, 25-18, 25-23, 25-19) win over Australia guaranteed their place in
the semifinals. There they saw off Iran in straight sets (25-18, 25-22,
25-16) to set up a final showdown with Brazil.
Sander was the finals top scorer with 24 points and and totalled 66
for the tournament, just behind Irans Amir Ghafour who collected
71 points over his teams four matches to top the leaderboard.
We lost the first game against Italy and didnt look so good, but we
always wanted gold, Sander said. We improved as the tournament
went on. We should remember that we almost didnt make the
World League Finals and it went down to the last match.
For Brazil there was disappointment in losing a second consecutive
final, but relief that the wobbles they had shown in the intercontinental
The Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence was packed to capacity for each
match of the Final Six
COVER STORY
round, with defeats at home to Italy and Iran, were overcome and
pushed firmly to the back of the mind.
With the defence of their FIVB Volleyball Mens World Championship
title beginning in August there is also relief that a team that was
showing signs of crumbling is finding its feet and displaying heart
and passion once again.
They had a great defence, they kept the ball alive, Brazil coach
Bernardo Rezende said. We made a lot of mistakes. It was a lesson
for us, and we are frustrated, but congratulations to them [USA]. We
Ivan Zaytsev was again at the heart of Italys bronze medal winning team
Brazil overcame a slow start to finish as silver medallists for the second year
running
in a row. Their win over Iran in the bronze medal match was a case
tournament.
While Mauro Berrutos team were unable to delight their home crowd
For USA the win sets them up nicely for the upcoming World
by winning gold, the bronze shows that the team led by Emanuele
the sport.
Looking ahead to the World Championships, its a confidence
We are still ambitious and we still think were a great team who
podium. That hasnt happened much for this team. Its a great
prove it. At least we ended our tournament with a victory. Well give
ourselves both a pat on the shoulders for today and a slap on the
optimistic. We can instil the value of teamwork in this side and get a
FINAL STANDINGS
GROUP 1
OVERALL
1
USA
USA
Brazil
Brazil
Italy
Italy
Iran
Iran
Australia
Russia
Russia
Serbia
AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Taylor Sander (USA)
BEST SETTER
Saeid Marouf (IRI)
Bulgaria
GROUP 2
7
Poland
France
Australia
Belgium
10
France
The Netherlands
11
Belgium
Argentina
12
The Netherlands
Canada
Portugal
13
Canada
Portugal
Finland
Czech Republic
16
Finland
Japan
19
Korea
Cuba
21
Cuba
Turkey
22
Turkey
China
23
China
Slovakia
24
Slovakia
Mexico
5
Mexico
25
Spain
Spain
Puerto Rico
7
Puerto Rico
27
Tunisia
Germany
Japan
11
Korea
Argentina
Czech Republic
Germany
GROUP 3
Tunisia
BEST LIBERO
Salvatore Rossini (ITA)
SERVING UP
THE WORLDS
BEST VOLLEYBALL
WORLD TOUR
GRAND SLAM
STAVANGER
NORWAY
24-29 JUNE
WORLD TOUR
GRAND SLAM
THE HAGUE
THE NETHERLANDS
15-20 JULY
WORLD TOUR
GRAND SLAM
WOMENS CLUB
WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP
WORLD TOUR
GRAND SLAM
LONG BEACH
USA
ZURICH
SWITZERLAND
GSTAAD,
SWITZERLAND
22-27 JULY
07-11 MAY
8-13 JULY
WORLD TOUR
OPEN
U17 WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS
PUERTO VALLARTA
MEXICO
ACAPULCO
MEXICO
06 - 11 MAY
15-20 JULY
WORLD TOUR
GRAND SLAM
KLAGENFURT
AUSTRIA
29 JULY - 3 AUGUST
U19 WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS
WORLD TOUR
GRAND SLAM
MENS CLUB
WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP
SAO PAULO
BRAZIL
BELO HORIZONTE
BRAZIL
23 - 28 SEPTEMBER
5-10 MAY
PORTO
PORTUGAL
29 JUL. - 3 AUG.
WORLD TOUR
OPEN
PARANA
ARGENTINA
28 OCT. - 2 NOV.
VOLLEYBALL
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
WORLD TOUR
GRAND SLAM
U23 WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS
MENS WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP
STARE JABLONKI
POLAND
MYSLOWICE
POLAND
POLAND
KOZALIN
POLAND
19 - 24 AUGUST
10-15 JUNE
30 AUG. - 21 SEPT.
AUGUST 15-16
(2ND GROUP)
WORLD TOUR
GRAND SLAM
WORLD TOUR
OPEN
(WOMEN)
WORLD TOUR
GRAND SLAM
WORLD TOUR
OPEN
BERLIN
GERMANY
PRAGUE
CZECH REPUBLIC
MOSCOW
RUSSIA
ANAPA
RUSSIA
17-22 JUNE
21 - 25 MAY
11-15 JUNE
27 MAY - 1 JUNE
WORLD TOUR
GRAND SLAM
WORLD TOUR
OPEN
SHANGHAI
CHINA
XIAMEN
CHINA
29 APR. - 4 MAY
7-12 OCTOBER
WORLD TOUR
OPEN
YOUTH OLYMPIC
GAMES
SAMOKOV
BULGARIA
FUZHOU
CHINA
NANJING
CHINA
16-17 AUGUST
22 - 27 APRIL
17-27 AUGUST
(3RD GROUP)
WORLD LEAGUE
FINAL ROUND
(3RD GROUP)
BURSA
TURKEY
TOKYO
JAPAN
28-29 JUNE
20-24 AUGUST
WOMENS WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP
ITALY
23 SEPT. - 12 OCT.
WORLD LEAGUE
FINAL ROUND
(1ST GROUP)
FLORENCE
ITALY
16-20 JULY
U21 WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS
WORLD TOUR
OPEN
(MEN)
WORLD TOUR
OPENS
LARNACA
CYPRUS
DOHA
QATAR
CHENNAI
INDIA
23-27 JULY
4-8 NOVEMBRE
25-30 NOVEMBER
WORLD TOUR
OPEN
WORLD LEAGUE
FINAL ROUND
(2ND GROUP)
MANGAUNG
SOUTH AFRICA
SYDNEY
AUSTRALIA
9-14 DECEMBER
11-12 JULY
12
FEATURE
BEACH VOLLEYBALL UPDATE
13
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FEATURE
BEACH VOLLEYBALL UPDATE
14
Back in late April the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour raised the
curtains on the 2014 season at the Fuzhou Open, with a wide open
We keep getting better and better. When Phil can serve and
their maiden World Tour title with victory in the mens event.
block like that and Im picking up tough balls at the back were
going to be a pretty tough team to beat, was Rosenthals
Facing Ross and Walsh across the net in the gold medal match was
With their success in Fuzhou, Nicolai and Lupo have been one
missed the entire 2013 season, but was now back and hit the ground
Antonelli.
womens pair on the World Tour and subsequently added titles at the
- nine finals and nine silver medals to be precise. But she and
15
Larissa Frana (pictured) returned and went straight to the top of the podium
at Klagenfurt with new partner Talita Antunes
Sean Rosenthal (left) and Phil Dalhausser have hit their stride in 2014
Shanghai.
Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt meanwhile have led the
way for Brazils men and eventually won their first gold together in
especially because its a Grand Slam and it was a big thing and its the
second year with Kira and we were doing a good job. I am so happy.
One team that is yet to fully make their mark in 2014 is defending
Ludwig and Walkenhorst were not the only teams topping the podium
for the first time in their careers in 2014 with the Czech Republics Kristyna
Kolocova and Marketa Slukova showing that once they tasted their first
The Latvian duo started the year well with silver in Shanghai and
victory at the Puerto Vallarta Open in Mexico. Since then though they
have failed to find their previous rhythm and have been unable to
They began with victory at home at the Prague Open and then won the
Whether they can find that rhythm and mount a late challenge to
retain the title they won in dramatic style at the 2013 Durban Open
I cant believe the season we are having, Slukova said following their
remains to be seen, but it will be one of the many twists and turns
the 2014 World Tour produces before this years victors are known.
SOCIAL MEDIA
16
The 2014 FIVB Volleyball World League had a huge impact on social media with global discussion about the intercontinental round and the
Finals fuelling the conversation. Join the FIVBs online community to share your thoughts and images with volleyball fans from across the
world. Fans can connect with the FIVB on the following social media accounts:
CONFEDERATIONS
18
CONFEDERATIONS
AVC
Iran celebrate rise
as world volleyball power
Irans rise through the ranks of world volleyball continued at the
2014 FIVB Volleyball World League when they recorded a best
ever finish of fourth place.
While they may have missed out on becoming the first Asian side
to step onto the World League podium when Italy downed them
in straight sets (25-22, 25-18, 25-22) in the bronze medal match,
they showed that there is no reason why they shouldnt reach the
top three in forthcoming tournaments.
We are not angry after losing this game, libero Farh Zarif said.
It is the best Iran has ever done at the World League. We came
ninth last year in our first ever World League and now we have
made the bronze medal match. Thats very good for us.
19
CAVB
Tunisia leave it late
for maiden win
Tunisia had to wait until their final pool match to make history
with a first ever FIVB Volleyball World League victory, defeating
Mexico in five thrilling sets 3-2 (25-23, 25-23, 21-25, 21-25, 1513).
Fethi Mkaouars team beat the Central Americans in a match
which saw Hichem Kaabi put on an impressive performance with
27 points from 26 attacks and one block.
This game was our last chance to have our first victory,
Tunisia captain Sallami Samir said. We didnt want to miss out
on that opportunity. We were so focused on our goal and we
concentrated on the weaknesses of our opponents.
CEV
Travica targets tournament win
Italian setter Dragan Travica believes that Italy have the potential
to win a future tournament after they claimed another FIVB
Volleyball World League bronze medal in front of their fans at
the Nelson Mandela Arena in Florence.
Mauro Berrutos team may have left the renaissance city in good
spirits following their 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-22) victory over
Iran, but it is the fourth bronze medal that they have won in
three since returning to the podium with bronze at the London
2012 Olympic Games. In 2013 they won World League and
Grand Champions Cup bronze too.
CONFEDERATIONS
20
CSV
Velasco calls for lessons
to be learned
Argentinas 2014 FIVB Volleyball World League campaign finished
in disappointing fashion when they lost 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 23-25,
25-16) to France in Paris and missed out on a place in the Finals.
Julio Velascos team went into the match needing a win to qualify,
but despite Federico Pereyra and Sebastian Sole leading the scores
with 14 points, they were unable to stop a France team that were
roared on by 2,350 fans.
The South Americans had won the first of the two matches, but
the defeat and subsequent elimination means that Velsaco has
plenty of work to do after the progress of the past two years when
Argentina finished sixth and 10th.
NORCECA
Sander leads the way
for US success
Taylor Sander was the standout player as USA won their second
FIVB Volleyball World League title in Florence, Italy on July 20.
The outside hitter topped the statistical charts to receive the
highest individual honour in the FIVB Volleyball World League
Dream Team the Most Valuable Player Award.
Those who have followed the 22-year-olds career closely would
not be surprised; back in 2012 he was voted MVP when a young
US team won the Pan-American Cup in the Dominican Republic
shortly before the full side failed to defend their Olympic title at
London 2012.