Phase 1 of the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship is now in the books after the 24 participating teams completed the 60-match schedule in Pools A, B, C and D. Matches were played over ten days in Arnhem, the Netherlands, and Lodz and Gdansk, Poland.
Women's World Championship 2022
In pictures: World Champs Phase 1 completed
Published 08:03, 03 Oct 2022
The opening day of the tournament featured just two matches. The Netherlands met their home fans in Arnhem as the Dutch topped Kenya in straight sets.
Thailand wasted no time and caused the first upset of the tournament on the second day, when the Asians defeated Türkiye in five sets.
Defending champions Serbia made their debut on the third day and had no trouble downing Canada in straight sets with 23 points from star opposite Tijana Boskovic.
Day four had as many as three continental duels and, in one of them, Olympic champions the United States swept NORCECA rivals Canada.
Hosts Poland played in front of their home fans for the first time on the fifth day and delivered a brilliant performance to beat Thailand in Gdansk.
Another continental derby highlighted the sixth day of pool play, with China triumphing over Japan in straight sets.
The Dominican Republic scored the biggest win of the seventh day of the tournament, upsetting Poland in front of their home fans in Gdansk.
Britt Herbots led Belgium to victory against the Netherlands with a stellar 41-point performance on the eighth day of the World Championship.
China's unbeaten run in the tournament came to an end on the ninth day, when the Asians fell to Brazil in Arnhem.
Italy ended pool play with a 3-1 win over the Netherlands on the tenth day to finish the opening phase with the best campaign of all 24 teams.
