Russia are unquestionably a volleyball superpower and can boast a long tradition of success. However, in the World League this year they finished bottom of their Group 1 pool with one win – against Iran – from 12 matches. This is their fourth appearance competing as Russia at the World Cup. Previously, they lost just one match en route to winning the gold medal in 2011, won the title in 1999, and were silver medallists in 2007.

Russia defeated Iran to take fifth place at the 2014 World Championship. They took gold in the World Leagues of 2011 and 2013 and also took gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games. In 2013 they added the European Championship gold to their recent achievements and they won the Youth World Championship in 2013. The USSR Volleyball Federation joined the FIVB in 1948 and the following year they sent a team to compete in the first World Championship. They were soon regularly topping the podium at international competitions such as the Olympic Games, World and European Championships and the World Cup. The Soviet Union won three Olympic titles (1964, 1968 and 1980), six World Championships, four World Cups and 12 European championships. FIVB considers Russia as the inheritor of the records of the Soviet Union and the CIS.