Lausanne, Switzerland, May 30, 2018 - With both standing at 7-1 records thus far in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, something has to give Thursday when The Netherlands host Brazil in Apeldoorn. But the odds stack up against the hosts, who have only ever once beaten Brazil in 23 head-to-head encounters - eleven years ago at the 2007 FIVB World Grand Prix.
Head-to-Head
• Brazil have won 22 of their 23 matches against The Netherlands at world level major tournaments, including the last eight.
• The women's world level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• They met most recently at the 2017 World Grand prix when Brazil won 3-1 and 3-2.
• The Netherlands' only win versus Brazil came at the 2007 World Grand Prix, 3-2 in the final round. The Netherlands went on to win their sole World Grand Prix title. The Netherlands had lost twice against Brazil in the preliminary rounds of the 2007 World Grand Prix.
• The Netherlands have not lost more matches against specific opponents at world level, than versus Brazil (22, United States also 22).
• This will be the first time these two sides meet at world level in Holland.
Netherlands
• In front of a home crowd in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands beat Poland 3-0 on Tuesday and Korea 3-0 on Wednesday to improve to seven wins and one defeat in the 2018 VNL.
• The Netherlands' only defeat was a straight set encounter against the United States on 23 May. They booked five of their seven VNL wins in straight sets.
• The Netherlands have now won six of their eight world level major competition matches on home soil. The wins all came in straight sets, the defeats all in five sets, against Puerto Rico in Doetinchem at the 2014 World Grand Prix and against Japan in Apeldoorn at the 2017 World Grand Prix.
• Lonneke Sloetjes was the top scorer in both matches this week, scoring 16 against Poland and 16 against Korea.
Brazil
• After a 3-1 defeat against Germany in the opening round of the 2018 VNL, Brazil have rebounded with seven straight victories.
• On Tuesday and Wednesday combined, Tandara Caixeta collected a whopping 54 points to lead her team to two victories.
• This week, Brazil play their first ever matches on Dutch soil in a world level major competition. The Netherlands is one of five countries where Brazil played at least once and never lost a world level major competition match, alongside Poland, Vietnam (3 wins each), Indonesia and Kazakhstan (6 wins each).
• Brazil could win eight matches in a row within a world level major competition for the first time since 10 straight at the 2015 World Grand Prix.