Algeria finished sixth in Group 3 at this year’s World Grand Prix after two wins over Australia. At the 2015 African Volleyball Championship, they lost to Kenya in the group stage but progressed to the gold medal match. Again they lost to the Kenyans and had to settle for second place in the tournament. Algeria make their second appearance at the World Cup. In their debut in 2011, they won four sets, losing 3-1 to Argentina and defeating Kenya 3-1.
Until the 2015 African Volleyball Championship, defeating Kenya had generally become a habit for Algeria. In 2008 they eliminated them in the deciding match for a berth at the Beijing Olympic Games, and four years later the teams met again with a place at London 2012 at stake. Again the Algerians prevailed. They finished in equal-11th place in both Olympic tournaments. In two consecutive World Grand Prix appearances in 2013 and 2014, they failed to win a game. They have been a powerhouse of African volleyball in recent years, winning gold at the 2007 All Africa Games and 2009 Africa Championships. Lydia Oulmou will be their key player at the 2015 World Cup. She competed at Beijing 2008, captained the side in London four years later and plays professionally in France for Hainaut Volley.