2018 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League

2018 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League
FIVB 世界女排聯賽 中国 2019
Tournament details
Host nationChina
CityNanjing (final round)
Dates15 May – 1 July
Teams16
Venue(s)21 (in 21 host cities)
Champions United States (1st title)
Runners-up Turkey
Third place China
Fourth place Brazil
Tournament awards
MVPUnited States Michelle Bartsch-Hackley
Best SetterTurkey Cansu Özbay
Best OH
Best MB
Best OPPBrazil Tandara Caixeta
Best LiberoBrazil Suelen Pinto
Tournament statistics
Matches played130
Attendance399,149 (3,070 per match)
Official website
Volleyball Nations League

The 2018 FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League was the inaugural edition of the FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League, a new annual international women's volleyball tournament contested by 16 national teams that replaced the former World Grand Prix in the international calendar.[1] The competition was held between May and July 2018, and the final round took place in the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, Nanjing, China.[2][3]

Six-time World Grand Prix winners, United States won the inaugural edition, defeating Turkey in five sets on the final.[4] This was Turkey's first ever final on a senior world-level premier competition (World Championship, World Cup, Summer Olympic Games and the aforementioned Grand Prix). Reigning Olympic champions and host nation, China defeated 12-time Grand Prix champions Brazil in straight sets for the bronze medal.[5] Michelle Bartsch-Hackley from USA was elected the MVP.[6][7]

Argentina was the last placed challenger team after the preliminary round and will be replaced by Challenger Cup winners Bulgaria in the 2019 edition.[8]

  1. ^ "FIVB announces the Volleyball Nations League". FIVB. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Pools Overview Release for Thrilling Inaugural Season VNL". FIVB. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Nanjing announced as FIVB Women's Nations League Finals host". FIVB. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  4. ^ "It's gold and glory for Team USA as Hill leads first VNL champions". FIVB. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Captain Zhu provides consolation for China with third-place finish". FIVB. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  6. ^ Keith, Braden (1 July 2018). "American Michelle Bartsch-Hackley named MVP of 2018 #VNL". Volleymob. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Michelle Bartsch-Hackley: The inaugural MVP VNL". Volleyball World. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Bulgaria amongst volleyball's cream for 2019 Women's VNL". FIVB. 25 June 2018. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2018.