Russia guaranteed themselves a spot at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 and FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup

The world No. 6 team defeated No. 9 Germany 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 25-14) at the 2013 CEV Volleyball European Championship – Women in Berlin on Saturday.

“It was definitely our toughest game,” said Russia’s head coach Yuriy Marichev following the game. “I told my players to focus on our strength at the net. It helped. I am very happy.”

As the winner of the 2013 CEV Volleyball European Championship – Women, Russia have qualified for the 2013 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup featuring a total of six teams per gender with the hosts Japan being joined by the continental winners from Asia, Europe, NORCECA and South America with an additional country selected by the FIVB.

The five best-ranked teams of the 2013 CEV Volleyball Women’s European Championship – Russia, Germany, Serbia, Croatia and Italy – as well as the organizers from Belgium and the Netherlands have qualified for the 2015 CEV Volleyball European Championship – Women.

Despite their loss on Saturday, Germany also qualified for the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, as the two best-ranked teams are allotted a spot.

Russia and Germany join hosts Italy and Japan and Thailand as the only teams to have qualified for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 so far.

The first World Championships were organised in 1949 for Men and 1952 for Women. Both gender events have remained the biggest events in volleyball, along with the Olympic Games since 1964.

For further information visit www.eurovolley2013.org and www.cev.lu for detailed match statistics.

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