With seemingly every spectator holding aloft the green, white and red flag there was a deafening roar every time a player in blue attempted a smash, and this was just in the warm-up. The subsequent national anthems were equally stirring, with the passion and sheer volume conjuring memories of some of those sung during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil earlier this summer.

Once the action began, I was immediately struck, and both pleased and disappointed, by the absence of cheerleaders, which only seem to feature at male competitions. But the loud music between points was great and, to my delight, the playlist seemed to consist of all the songs that were the rage during my last year at university two years ago.

But all of this was soon overshadowed by the action itself. Like most sports, volleyball is a colossal physical, mental and strategic test, with some of the rallies simply magnificent. Even as someone with little experience of the sport, it didn't take long to understand the basic tactics, and the strengths and weaknesses of each team.

The United States team celebrate on the podium after their historic gold medal at the Women's World Volleyball Championships in Milan ©FIVB



While the Chinese in their victory over Italy, oozed efficiency, mental strength and teamwork, the US, who had never won either a female World Championship or Olympic title, were a team who hit their best form at the right time.

In both the semi-final and the final, they kept the ball in play on occasions they simply had no right to before clinically dispatching a winner when the chance arose. Even though they had their jitters, most notably in the third and mid-part of the fourth set of the final, they kept their composure to produce brilliance at the crucial moments to win a gold medal that was both historic and fully deserved.

A first ever victory for the US, which followed a first win for Poland's men in 40 years, as well as the rise of other nations, such as Asian Games gold medal winners Iran, shows a sport that is enjoying a heady period of growth and expansion. At a time when no sport on the Olympic programme can afford to be complacent, the FIVB clearly saw the warning signals, making a series of key appointments and moves designed to modernise and innovate the sport.

The announcement yesterday that Rosetta Stone has been appointed the governing body's Official Language Service Provider to help all referees and staff become proficient in speaking English - the first time any International Federation has made such an announcement - is one example of this.

Another was the LED-powered net hanging in the VIP section at the arena this weekend. A prototype at the moment, it is hoped that the net, which flashes with vibrant colours and messages, will be used in competition soon.

The innovative LED-lit net showcased by the FIVB at its World Championship in Italy and Poland that they hope to introduce to its events next year ©ITG



Speaking to insidethegames ahead of the final, FIVB President Ary S Graça emphasised the growing relationship between his sport and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since he himself admitted earlier this year that there had been much room for improvement in relations when he first assumed the Presidency in 2012.

IOC sports director Kit McConnell was among those in attendance during the final, while Graça spoke of his "extraordinary relationship" with IOC President Thomas Bach and its Executive Director for the Olympic Games, Christophe Dubi.

"My philosophy and concept is to work very closely with the IOC," said the Brazilian. "I am a member of the IOC's Sport for All Commission, and I hope that in the future we will be able to collaborate a little more. We had an excellent position in the London Olympic Games. Now it is going to be in Brazil and then we have 2020 in Japan, another country of volleyball.

"We are going to have a decade of volleyball."

There are clearly challenges ahead, including finding a resolution to the situation in Iran, where women remain banned from attending matches, with British-Iranian student Ghoncheh Ghavami arrested and imprisoned in June for violating the ban and attempting to attend a FIVB World League match between Iran and Italy. Her trial is due to begin tomorrow.

Graca has also spoken optimistically about the prospects of Iran hosting a bid for the 2018 Men's World Championships despite the ban, but has now suggested this will not happen unless Ghavami is freed.

Ghoncheh Ghavami has been detained in Evin Prison for more than 85 days after attending a men's volleyball match in Iran ©Change.org



More generally with regard to 2018, the FIVB is now focusing on the challenge of enticing a large number of bidders and of matching the success seen in Poland. One possible way to do this could be to have several countries acting as co-host, in a similar vein to what was seen in Japan and South Korea during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

"The Men's World Championships [in Poland] were the best ever, they were fantastic," Graca told insidethegames. "I haven't seen anything equal in any other sport. 

"It's going to be very difficult to do this again, but we will try. Qatar wants to make 2018 and probably I am going to try to have a conversation with the authorities in Russia.

"But what I am going to try is to have the Championships in two or three [neighbouring] countries. I think this will be very good, and something very different."

The 2018 Women's event has already been awarded to Japan, while no date has been confirmed when the men's decision will be made, with Graca explaining that it "depends on the arrangement and negotiation" but "cannot take a long time".

It may be four years until these next World Championships are held, but, with attention now shifting onto the sand for the Beach Volleyball World Championships next summer, the sport has huge potential for many similarly successful events in the future.

Despite the exhaustion and slight apathy beforehand, I can now vouch that it is not a sport to be missed.

Nick Butler is a reporter for insidethegames. To follow him on Twitter click here.