After qualifying for the last two World Championships, this is Kazakhstan's third appearance since the Soviet Union was disbanded in 1991. In 2010 they finished 21st after losing all five of their matches, a result that was lower than their 17th place finish four years earlier. Their World Championship debut in 2006 saw them win two sets in a defeat to USA, before beating Cameroon 3-0. However, this sole victory was not enough to qualify them for the second stage.

Kazakhstan has a strong volleyball tradition going back to some notable players from the region who formed part of the all-conquering Soviet Union teams. The new national side made their debut at the 1993 Asian Championship and came fifth. Their first medal at the competition came 12 years later, a silver in 2005, and in 2012 they added a bronze from the Asian Cup to their collection.

In a big breakthrough for Kazakhstan volleyball, the country qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games and went on to finish ninth in Beijing. Kazakhstan head to Italy on the back of a disappointing 2014 World Grand Prix campaign. The team qualified for the Final Round of Group 3, but lost their semifinal and were beaten by Croatia 3-0 in the bronze medal match. Their best result in the competition was a 10th place finish in 2007.