Onsite contacts:
In Osaka Site A
Marcia Hill
FIVB Press Delegate. Cell phone: 00 81 908816 4997
Press working room: 00 81 72 885 7739 and 7820, Fax: 0081 72 885 7816 Email: press@fivb.org
In Osaka Site B
Terence O’Rorke, FIVB Press Delegate Cell phone: 0081 90 8816 1978
Press Working Room: 0081 6 6636 6586 and 8573, Fax: 0081 6 6636 6571 Email: t_ororke@hotmail.com

Final Day
Final Olympic berth goes to USA; China, Brazil already qualified
Osaka, Japan Nov. 15, 2003 –  USA soaked up the final Olympic berth on Saturday here at the World Cup of Women’s Volleyball, the first Olympic qualification tournament when Italy lost their first set in the match against Brazil thus putting themselves out of contention. China and Brazil were already qualified after Friday’s matches in this round robin 11-match series. And to close the tournament, China left as giant killers, defeating Japan (match stats)  in straight sets to exit the World Cup with a perfect scorecard - 11 consecutive wins to their credit. more Spanish German Pic: Most Valuable Player and top scorer, Malgorzata Glinka of Poland. Site A match reports; Site B match reports  Standings Results Match schedule  Best Players Pictures Team Profiles Player Profiles Coach Profiles


Final Rankings (win-loss ratio in parenthesis)
1, China, (11-0); 2, Brazil, (10-1); 3, USA (8-3) – all qualified for Athens 2004 Olympic Games ; 4, Italy (7-4); 5, Japan (7-4); 6, Cuba (6-5); 7, Turkey (5-6); 8, Poland (5-6); 9, Korea (3-8); 10, Dominican Republic (3-8);11, Argentina (1-10);12, Egypt (0-10).

World Cup Magnificent Seven
Best Scorer/ MVP: Malgorzata Glinka, Poland
Best Spiker: Zhao Ruirui, China
Best Blocker: Valenka Menezes, Brazil
Best Server: Zoila Barros Fernandez , Cuba
Best Setter: Feng Kun, China
Best Libero: Arlene Xavier, Brazil
Special award to Japan’s Yoshie Takeshita

USA takes third Olympic ticket after Italy loses 1-3 to Brazil
Osaka, Nov. 15, 2003 -  World Champions Italy’s last ditch attempt for fast track qualification into the 2004 Olympic tournament ground to a halt Saturday when they were beaten by Brazil 3-1 (match stats) here at the World Cup of Women’s Volleyball.  The match settled the final Olympic berth, which went to USA. Italy needed a 3-0 win against Brazil to assure their place. Brazil and China had already qualified after Friday’s matches. more Spanish Pic: Stylish spike by Virna Dias against Italy



USA defeats Cuba 3-0 on Saturday
Osaka, Japan, Nov 15, 2003 -USA crushed Cuba 3-0 (match stats) in their final match of the World Cup of Women's Volleyball series but still must wait for remaining matches to see if they have qualified for the Olympic tournament. Italy must now win 3-0 against Brazil to steal the final Olympic Qualifier. China and Brazil are already qualified. more Spanish Pic: a triumphant Prikeba Phipps was named Most Impressive Player after the match with Cuba 


FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta receives Prince Takamado Memorial Prize
Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 14, 2003 - FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta on Friday was presented with the Prince Takamado Memorial Prize for environmental excellence in a special ceremony in the Japanese capital in the presence of Japan's Princess Takamado, the widow of the late prince.  More Spanish  French German Pic: FIVB President Dr. Rubén Acosta



Day 14
Japan overpowers Cuba in thrilling tiebreaker
Osaka, Japan, Nov 14, 2003 - Japan ran off national heroes at the Namihaya Dome at the World Cup of Women's Volleyball on Friday after coming back from one set down to defeat Cuba in a thrilling tiebreaker that had 10,000 screaming spectators on their feet.Often technically outclassed by the Caribbean Volley machine the Japanese, a magic mix of youth and experience, won the match on pure grit, determination and heart.  More Spanish Pic: Japan rejoices at tiebreaker victory against Cuba Site A match reports; Site B match reports  Standings Results Match schedule  Best Players Pictures Team Profiles Player Profiles Coach Profiles

China continues unchallenged; defeats Italy 3-0  Osaka, Japan, Nov. 14, 2003 - Italy put on a brave showing, particularly in the third set, against so-far undefeated China but in the end conceded to superior height, muscle and skill to go down 3-0 and incur their third defeat in this 11-match round robin that rewards the top three with Olympic berths. In other action at Site B here in Osaka that did not challenge the top places, Turkey dismissed Korea 3-0 to improve their win-loss average to 4-6. Pic: the Artful Feng Kun setting for China Site A match reports; Site B match reports  Standings Results Match schedule  Best Players Pictures Team Profiles Player Profiles Coach Profiles


Brazil pulls off stunning victory against USA
Osaka, Japan, Nov 14, 2003 - Brazil steamrollered they way to virtual Olympic qualification on Friday with a compact win over USA in a match that could well give them their Olympic ticket. The South Americans went out went out hard and strong to hit the USA with any missile at their disposal in a match that was hopelessly one-sided. Brazil inflicted the USA’s most punishing defeat in the first set, allowing them only 15 points. More  Spanish


Day 13
Shakeout begins as teams fight for coveted Olympic berths
November 13, 2003, Osaka, Japan – China were primed for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens when on Thursday they scored their ninth win at the World Cup of Women’s Volleyball by defeating the USA in a tense tiebreaker. With two matches to go, they are the only undefeated team and the top three are automatic qualifiers for Athens 2004.“Although we had prepared well, the match was very hard and tough. When the set score was 1 - 2 we had really hard time, but managed to go through the difficult situation to the last set. More  Spanish Site A match reports; Site B match reports  Standings Results Match schedule  Best Players Pictures Team Profiles Player Profiles Coach Profiles Pic: Virna Dias celebrates a point for Brazil


China first team to qualify; defeat USA in tiebreaker
Osaka, Japan, Nov. 13, 2003 - The match between super powers China and the USA (match stats)went down to the wire at the 2003 World Cup of Women’s Volleyball as the teams levelled at 2-2 and forced the tiebreaker. But once China gained the edge they hung onto with tenacity to preserve their so-far unblemished record. (match stats)  More Spanish Site A match reports; Site B match reports  Standings Results Match schedule  Best Players Pictures Team Profiles Player Profiles Coach Profiles Pic: China steals victory against USA in tiebreaker

Cuba humbles Italy, Korea defeat Dom Republic
November 13, 2003, Osaka, Japan - World Champions Italy were handed a straight sets defeat at the hands of Cuba (match stats) in the Namihaya Dome in Osaka while Korea beat the Dominican Republic (match stats) by the same margin in the Osaka Prefectural Gym in the opening matches of round four of the 2003 Women’s World Cup in Japan on Thursday. Italy, who were second on the World Cup standings with only one defeat prior to their match against Cuba, came up against an inspired Cuban side who forced Italy into many mistakes in the 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 defeat. Cuban captain Yumilka Ruiz was joined by Yaima Ortiz and Zoila Barros in leading Cuba to a superb win, their sixth of the tournament from nine matches and one, which keeps the Caribbean team in contention for a top three finish, which will gain qualification for the 2004 Olympics, having started the match in sixth place on the tournament standings.  More  Spanish Pic: Cuba attacks against Italy in opening match


World Cup goes into final round
Osaka, Japan, Nov 11 – Coaches of the 12 competing teams at the World Cup of Women’s Volleyball gathered in this, the second biggest city in Japan, to give their views on this first Olympic qualifier tournament, now entering the fourth and final round. China leads the field with eight straight wins in this 12-match round robin series and must be favorite for the title, but the three top teams all win a ticket to the Athens 2004 Olympics.  more and What the coaches say Spanish  Pic: Coaches of the 12 competing teams Site A match reports; Site B match reports  Standings Results Match schedule  Best Players Pictures Team Profiles Player Profiles Coach Profiles