China keep a clean sheet; four second round spots still open

World No. 5 China have defeated Cuba 3-0 in Bari, to remain at the top of the standings in Pool D. The Asians remain the only team in this competition with faultless record, after earlier set losses by Russia, Brazil and Italy. The first place in the final rankings of Pool D will be decided in the all-Asian classic of China v Japan on Sunday.

USA have won their match in Verona against Thailand 3-0 to remain on full points, tied with Russia at the top of the Pool C standings. With both the defending champions and the second-ranked in the world Americans already through to the second competition phase, there will be a real battle when they meet on Sunday to decide who continues on full points. Thailand plays against Kazakhstan for a spot in Round II. 

In front of more than 10,000 fans at Palalottomatica in Roma, Italy have survived a first scare in the hands of Germany, to come away with a 3-1 victory that keeps them at the top of the Pool A standings, still on full points. It is between the hosts and the Dominican Republic, Sunday at 20:00, to decide who finish first and who second. Although both teams are undefeated in four matches, the Caribbean team have already dropped two points, on account of their two five-set victories. Germany can still tie with the Dominican Republic on ten points, but the European side have less wins.

In Pool B, Brazil have come back from the brink of a major misadventure, rallying from 0-2 down to just barely edge Turkey 3-2. It still means that the reigning Olympic champions and number one in the world will go into the next round with a deficit of at least one point. Turkey picked up a point, so they still need to beat winless Cameroon on Sunday to secure their own ticket to Round II.

A total of 60 matches are played during the first phase of the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, running from September 23-28 with the best four teams of the four pools advancing to the second competition round.

Pool battles end on Sunday with the fifth competition day of the 17th editions of FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship coming up.

Although four spots are still open, the composition of the two pools of the next round is taking shape. Here is how it stands on the completion of Saturday's action across the four host cities:

POOL E: Italy, Dominican Republic, Germany, Croatia, China, Japan. Two spots still open.

POOL F: Brazil, Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, USA, Netherlands. Two spots still open.

Tunisia- Croatia / 1-3 / VIEW

Dominican Republic-Argentina / 3-1 / VIEW

Italy- Germany / 3-1 / VIEW

Bulgaria- Cameroon / 3-0 / VIEW

Serbia-Canada / 3-1 / VIEW

Brazil-Turkey / 3-2 / VIEW

Mexico-Kazakhstan / 0-3 / VIEW

Russia-Netherlands / 3-1 / VIEW

USA-Thailand / 3-0 / VIEW

Azerbaijan-Belgium / 0-3 / VIEW 

Japan-Puerto Rico / 3-0 / VIEW

China-Cuba / 3-0 / VIEW

Polina Rahimova- 33 of Azerbaijan v Japan on 23-9-14

Brankica Mihajlovic- 31 of Serbia v Bulgaria on 24-9-14

Polina Rahimova- 32 of Azerbaijan v Puerto Rico on 25-9-14

Lise Van Hecke- 23 of Belgium v Azerbaijan on 27-9-14

33- Polina Rahimova of Azerbaijan v Japan on 23-9-14

32- Polina Rahimova of Azerbaijan v Puerto Rico on 25-9-14

31- Brankica Mihajlovic of Serbia v Bulgaria on 24-9-14

10- Kubra Akman of Turkey v Bulgaria on 25-9-14

5- Mizuho Ishida of Japan v Azerbaijan on 23-9-14

24- Brazil v Turkey on 27-9-14

18- Azerbaijan v Japan on 23-9-14

18- Turkey v Bulgaria on 25-9-14

18- Bulgaria v Turkey on 25-9-14

Top team serving performances

13- Croatia v Tunisia on 27-9-14

11- Japan v Azerbaijan on 23-9-14

11- Germany v Argentina on 24-9-14

36-34 Thailand v Mexico (2nd set) on 25-9-14

29-27 USA v Netherlands (1st set) on 25-9-14 

218- Azerbaijan v Puerto Rico 3-2 (25-20, 24-26, 26-24, 16-25, 17-15)

218- Croatia v Dominican Republic 2-3 (22-25, 13-25, 25-22, 26-24, 17-19)

217- Dominican Republic v Germany 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 15-13) on 23-9-14