USA Top China to Head Standings, Netherlands Overcome Germany to Book Finals Place

USA Top China to Head Standings, Netherlands Overcome Germany to Book Finals Place
Hong Kong Coliseum, venue for the Pool H1 matches of the Volleyball World Grand Prix, with USA leading China 14-7 in set 3. USA won the match 3-0 to go top of the Standings. Bill Cox/Epoch Times
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All 3 Pool rounds of the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2016 are now complete following conclusion of the matches on Sunday June 26, with the final standings table headed by USA, followed by China, Russia, Brazil and the Netherlands. These 5 teams plus the host nation (Thailand) make up the 6 teams to qualify for the final series in Bangkok from August 6 to 10.

For the finals series, the teams are split into two groups of 3 (Pools J and K). USA, China and the Netherlands are in Pool J. Russia, Brazil and Thailand are in Pool K. In the semi-finals the winner of Pool J will play 2nd in Pool K; while 1st in Pool K will play 2nd in Pool J.

Pool Matches

Hong Kong was host to Pool H1 in this last round of Pool matches. Four teams competed; China, the USA, the Netherlands and Germany. They played in a pool of four, with two matches each day, culminating on Sunday, with the 3rd and 4th place play-off, followed by the 1st and 2nd place final.

The Netherlands faced Germany in the first match. The Dutch team won 3-0; 25-22, 25-23, 25-21. The match was close at times, but the Netherlands always had the edge and closed-out each set without too much pressure.

Strong serving and spiking by Celeste Plak helped the Netherlands win against Germany in their final Pool match of the Volleyball World Grand Prix in Hong Kong on Sunday June 26, 2016. (Bill Cox/Epoch Times)
Strong serving and spiking by Celeste Plak helped the Netherlands win against Germany in their final Pool match of the Volleyball World Grand Prix in Hong Kong on Sunday June 26, 2016. Bill Cox/Epoch Times