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The 2014 Federation of International Volleyball Bureau (FIVB) World Grand Prix is in full swing as host Kazakhstan dispatched Australia in straight sets 25-21, 25-16, 25-16.

Top scorer Lyudmila Anarbayeva of Kazakhstan was unstoppable in the second and third sets, as she rallied his side onto the straight set victory. Anarbayeva scored a total of 15 points, eight points from attacks, six points from blocks and a service ace to lead the Kazaks while Rachel Rourke scored 12 points for the Australians.

There are 28 teams participating in the tournament and all are grouped into three divisions with the top 12 teams based on World rankings competing against each other in Division 1.

Kazakhstan falls under Division 3 along with Algeria, Australia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Kenya and Mexico.

There are two host nations for Division 3 namely Kazakhstan and Mexico where the eight teams have been split to four in two Pools.

Pool P is hosted by Kazakhstan which includes Australia, Croatia and the Czech Republic while the nations of Mexico, Algeria, Bulgaria and Kenya in Pool Q are playing in Mexico City.

The Czech Republic also won their match against Croatia in the opening bout in Kazakhstan winning three sets to one.

It was a different story for host nation Mexico at Pool Q as first time participants, Kenya, defeated them in four sets while Bulgaria ousted Algeria in a five-set thriller.

Division 2 also started its event Friday as hosts Puerto Rico were victorious in three straight sets against Argentina and the Netherlands also defeating the young team of Cuba in three sets in Pool K.

In Pool J, host nation Peru prevails over Canada 3-1 while Poland came out triumphant against Belgium also three sets to one.

The top 12 countries in Division 1 will start their competition on August 1 where the 2012 Olympic Gold medalist Brazil will defend their World Grand Prix title against the United States, Japan, Italy, China, Russia, Serbia, Dominican Republic, Germany, South Korea, Turkey and Thailand.

The top four of Division 1 and winners of Divisions 2 and 3 will comprise the final six that will battle it out in Japan for the covenant World Grand Prix title scheduled to take place late August.

Tags2014 FIVB World Grand Prix, grand prix, volleyball, women's volleyball