Lausanne, Switzerland, May 23, 2018 - The Netherlands look to bounce back from their first defeat Wednesday to USA in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, when they are hosted by Japan Thursday in Toyota - but the Asian side enjoy a slight lead in their head-to-head record, at 10-8.
Head-to-Head
• Japan lead the head-to-head versus Netherlands 10-8 at world level major tournaments.
• The women's world level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• The last two meetings ended in a 3-2 win for Japan at the 2017 World Grand Prix, and a 3-2 win for Netherlands at the 2010 World Grand Prix.
• The two matches prior to these two 3-2 results, ended in straight-sets wins for each team at the 2009 World Grand Prix.
• A total of only six points separates these two teams in their last four world level encounters combined - 352 for Netherlands and 346 for Japan.
Japan
• Japan have lost three of their five VNL matches. Their two victories were against Germany (3-1) and Belgium (3-0).
• Japan could win consecutive world level major tournament matches in straight sets for the first time since the 2015 World Cup (versus Peru and Republic of Korea).
• Japan have lost only one of their last seven world level major tournament five-setters. The only five-set defeat in that run was against United States at the 2017 Grand Champions Cup.
• Japan have had a different leading scorer in each of their last three VNL matches.
Netherlands
• Netherlands won each of their opening four VNL matches, before a straight-set defeat against United States.
• Netherlands could lose consecutive world level major tournament matches in straight sets for the first time since the 2013 World Grand Prix (versus Serbia and United States).
• Netherlands have lost the opening set in three of their five VNL matches. In both VNL fixtures they won the opening set, they went on to win the match in straight sets.
• Anne Buijs (68), Celeste Plak (61) and Maret Balkestein-Grothues (58) have all scored more than 50 VNL points for Netherlands.